Philip Anthony Campbell[1] (born 7 May 1961)[2] is a Welsh rock musician, best known as the lead guitarist in Motörhead from 1984 to 2015. The band disbanded upon the death of founder and frontman Lemmy. He currently tours with his own band Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, featuring his three sons; Todd, Dane and Tyla.
Motörhead were an English rock band formed in June 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, who was the sole constant member, guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox. The band are often considered a precursor to the new wave of British heavy metal, which re-energised heavy metal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Though several guitarists and drummers have played in Motörhead, most of their best-selling albums and singles feature the work of Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor on drums and "Fast" Eddie Clarke on guitars.
Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister, was an English singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Motörhead.
Campbell was born in Pontypridd, and started playing guitar when he was 10 years old, inspired by guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, Jan Akkerman, Michael Schenker and Todd Rundgren. At the age of 12, Campbell met Lemmy after a Hawkwind gig and asked him for an autograph. By the age of 13, Campbell was playing semi-professionally with a cabaret band called Contrast. He later played with a pub-rock band called Roktopus (not to be confused with Rocktopus) at gigs in and around South Wales. He bought his first Les Paul in 1978 at a New Year's Day guitar sale at a shop on Ealing Broadway, London. The guitar was later stolen.
Pontypridd is both the county town of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales and a community. Often colloquially known as "Ponty", it is 12 miles (19 km) north of Cardiff.
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His mainstream career lasted only four years, but he is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in history and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music".
Black Sabbath were an English rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist and main songwriter Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler and singer Ozzy Osbourne. Black Sabbath are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped define the genre with releases such as Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), and Master of Reality (1971). The band had multiple line-up changes, with Iommi being the only constant member throughout its history.
In 1979, Campbell formed the heavy metal band, Persian Risk, playing on their 7" singles, "Calling For You" (1981) and "Ridin' High" (1983). Compilation albums have been issued which feature some of his work with Persian Risk.
Persian Risk are a heavy metal band from the new wave of British heavy metal era formed in 1979 and hailing from Cardiff, Wales. The brainchild of ex-Stoned Soul Party guitarist Phil Campbell, he recruited vocalist Jon Deverill, second guitarist Dave Bell, bass player Nick Hughes, and drummer Razz. The group was active until 1986. In 2012, the band was re-activated by vocalist Carl Sentance albeit without the involvement of any other past members.
On 8 February 1984, following the departure of Brian Robertson, Motörhead held auditions for a new guitarist, narrowing the candidates down to two guitarists: Michael "Würzel" Burston and Philip Campbell. Though Lemmy had first planned on hiring only one guitarist, he hired both Würzel and Campbell upon hearing them play together.
Brian David Robertson is a Scottish rock guitarist, best known as a member of Thin Lizzy and Motörhead.
Michael Richard Burston, commonly known by the stage name Würzel, was an English musician, who played professionally for three decades. He played guitar in British rock band Motörhead from 1984 to 1995, playing on six studio albums and two live albums. Burston died at the age of 61, following heart complications.
On 14 February 1984, Motörhead were the musical guest for The Young Ones episode "Bambi". One of the band's most popular compilations, No Remorse, followed shortly, it was released on 15 September. Campbell has since toured the world with the band and has remained a constant member of Motörhead, despite a number of changes to their line up over the years.
The Young Ones is a British sitcom, starring Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan, Alexei Sayle, written by Mayall, Ben Elton and Lise Mayer, and broadcast on BBC2 for two years, from 1982 to 1984. The comedy focused on the lives of four students and their landlord's family focused on different plots that often included anarchic, offbeat humour. Comedy often included slapstick gags, visual humour and surreal jokes sometimes acted out by puppets, with episodes also featuring a notable selection of guest stars, and a musical number from one of the noted performers during the programme's broadcast period.
No Remorse is a compilation album by the band Motörhead, released 15 September 1984, covering their years under contract with Bronze Records and including four newly recorded tracks.
On 28 December 2015, band founder and sole constant member Lemmy died. The following day, drummer Mikkey Dee announced that Motörhead had disbanded, stating: "We will not be doing any more tours or anything. And there will not be any more records. But the fire survives, and Lemmy lives on in the hearts of everyone."[3]
Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou, known by his stage name Mikkey Dee, is a Greek-Swedish rock musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer for the British rock band Motörhead from 1992 until the band disbanded in December 2015, due to the death of founder and frontman Lemmy. Dee is currently the drummer for the German rock band Scorpions with whom he became a permanent band member in September 2016.
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons
On February 2016, Campbell entered the studio along with Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn to record a new solo album.[4][5]
In August 2017, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons announced that they were to start recording their debut album.[7] On 26 October 2017, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons announced the title of the debut album as The Age of Absurdity, which was released on 26 January 2018 on Nuclear Blast Records . The album was produced by Romesh Dodangoda.[8]
The band's line up for the album features Phil and his three sons, together with former Attack! Attack! vocalist from South Wales Neil Starr. [9]
Phil Campbell - guitar
Todd Campbell - guitar/harmonica
Dane Campbell - drums
Tyla Campbell - bass
Neil Starr - vocals
Romesh Dodangoda - percussion and keyboards on 'Into the Dark'
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons released a cover of Hawkwind's "Silver Machine" on 21 April 2018 for Record Store Day. The track was previously available as a bonus track on some CD versions of The Age of Absurdity.[11]
Personal life
Campbell resides in Pontypridd, Wales with his wife Gaynor and their three children: Todd, Dane, and Tyla.[12]
Equipment
Campbell at Wacken Open Air 2013 with Framus guitar
Campbell uses an LAG Explorer Signature model[13] guitar both live and in the studio, fitted with two Seymour Duncanhumbuckers[14] and a single (volume) control. He also uses DBZ, Charvel, Caparison, a couple of Framus Custom Shop guitars on stage,[15] with an occasional acoustic Dean. He has also been known to play ESP, PRS, Minarik Infernos and a Parker Nitefly guitars.
Like Lemmy, Phil uses Marshall Amplifiers and Cabinets when playing live, currently using Marshall JVM410H, JVM410H-JS, JCM 900 4100 and 1959RR heads. In the studio he has been known to use Line 6, ENGL, Bogner and Laboga Amps. Earlier in his career he occasionally played Gallien-Krueger amplifiers.[19]
He mainly uses Dunlop pedals (Micro Amp, Micro Chorus, Phase 90 (Script or EVH), Carbon Copy, Smart Gate, Slash Octave Fuzz & 95Q wah), strings (10–46) and picks (.88).
Related Research Articles
Rock 'N' Roll is the eighth studio album by the band Motörhead, released 5 September 1987, and their last studio album with the GWR label, as more legal issues enthralled the band with yet another label. Reaching only No. 34 in the UK Albums Chart, Rock 'N' Roll was, in that respect, the worst performing of all of Motörhead's Top 40 chart hits.
Philip John Taylor, better known as Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, was an English drummer for the rock band Motörhead from 1975–1984 and 1987–1992, recording eleven studio albums and four live albums. The Motörhead line-up consisting of Taylor, Lemmy, and "Fast" Eddie Clarke is generally regarded as the 'classic' line-up of the band.
Sacrifice is the 12th studio album by the band Motörhead, released on 27 March 1995, on Steamhammer their first for the label. It was also the start of the distribution collaboration with CMC International in North America and certain territories.
Overnight Sensation is the 13th studio album by the band Motörhead released 15 October 1996, their second on the Steamhammer label.
25 & Alive: Live at Brixton Academy is the seventh live album by the band Motörhead, recorded at their 25th anniversary concert on 22 October 2000, at the Brixton Academy in London, but released on CD in 2003 on Steamhammer, their second live album and seventh album released with the label. It was the first live album under distribution with Sanctuary Records and their subsidiary Metal-Is for North America and certain territories.
'92 Tour EP is the final EP by the band Motörhead, released in 1992 on WTG, their last with the label.
"Hellraiser" is a song written by Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, and Lemmy Kilmister. The song was recorded by Osbourne for his 1991 album No More Tears and also by Motörhead for their 1992 March ör Die album. Motörhead's version was released as a single.
"Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me" is a song by the British heavy metal band Motörhead. It was written by Lemmy and released as a single in 1993. The song is covered with "Born to Raise Hell", which was released as a separate single, and "Death or Glory". All three songs are from the Bastards album.
"Born to Raise Hell" is a song by the British heavy metal band Motörhead. Originally written by Lemmy for the German band Skew Siskin, it plays over the opening credits of the 1994 film Airheads in which Lemmy makes a cameo appearance.
Kiss of Death is the 18th studio album by the band Motörhead, released on 29 August 2006, on Steamhammer, their ninth with the label.
Hellraiser: Best of the Epic Years is a compilation album by the band Motörhead, released in 2003.
Motörizer is the 19th studio album by the band Motörhead, released on 26 August 2008, their eleventh and last on the Steamhammer label.
The Wörld Is Yours is the 20th studio album by the band Motörhead, released on 14 December 2010, as an exclusive edition, and a month later on 17 January 2011, as a standard release and it is dedicated by Lemmy to Ronnie James Dio, who had died from cancer seven months earlier.
Bastards is the 11th studio album by the band Motörhead, released 29 November 1993, on ZYX Music, the first and last for this label.
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons is a musical group established by longtime Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell following the 2015 death of Motörhead frontman Lemmy.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
