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Phil Campbell (musician)
Encyclopedia
Philip Anthony Campbell has been the lead guitarist of the British
heavy metal
band Motörhead since 1984. He is also the former guitarist of Persian Risk
.
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 got Lemmy's autograph after a Hawkwind
gig. By the time he was 13, he was playing semi-professionally with a cabaret band called Contrast. Later he played with a pub-rock band called Roktopus (not 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; following the fate of many of his guitars, it was stolen.
In 1979 he 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.
In 1984, following the departure of Brian Robertson
, Motörhead frontman, Lemmy, held auditions for a new guitarist, narrowing the candidates down to two guitarists - Michael "Würzel
" Burston and Philip Campbell. Lemmy had first planned only to hire one guitarist, but upon hearing Würzel and Campbell play together, Lemmy hired them both.
On February 14, 1984, Motörhead recorded the backing track for The Young Ones
episode "Bambi
". One of the band's most popular compilations, No Remorse, followed shortly, it was released on September 15. 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.
humbuckers and a single (volume) control. He also uses a Minarik Inferno Guitar on stage. He has also been known to play a Parker Nitefly, a Claymore custom, Kramer guitars, ESP guitars, and PRS guitars.
He also uses guitars built by luthier
TC Ellis. So far, Ellis has built him a Les Paul
-styled, a Stratocaster-styled, and one modeled after Lemmy's custom-built Rickenbacker
4004.
Like Lemmy, Phil uses Marshall Amplifiers and Cabinets when playing live, currently using two Marshall JVM410 heads. In the studio however he has been known to use Line 6 amps, Engl
amplifiers, and Laboga Amps. Earlier in his career he occasionally played Gallien-Kruger amplifiers.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Motörhead since 1984. He is also the former guitarist of Persian Risk
Persian Risk
Persian Risk were 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...
.
Early life and career
Campbell started playing guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
when he was 10 years old, inspired by guitarists such as: Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
's Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
, Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
and Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
. At the age of 12, Campbell got Lemmy's autograph after a Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
gig. By the time he was 13, he was playing semi-professionally with a cabaret band called Contrast. Later he played with a pub-rock band called Roktopus (not Rocktopus) at gigs in and around South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. He bought his first Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
in 1978 at a New Year's Day guitar sale at a shop on Ealing Broadway, London; following the fate of many of his guitars, it was stolen.
In 1979 he formed the heavy metal band, Persian Risk
Persian Risk
Persian Risk were 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...
, 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.
Motörhead
Brian Robertson
Brian "Robbo" David Robertson is a Scottish rock guitarist, best known for his work with Thin Lizzy and Motörhead.-Early life:...
, Motörhead frontman, Lemmy, held auditions for a new guitarist, narrowing the candidates down to two guitarists - Michael "Würzel
Würzel
Michael Burston commonly known by the stage name Würzel, was an English musician and formerly a guitarist in the British heavy metal band, Motörhead....
" Burston and Philip Campbell. Lemmy had first planned only to hire one guitarist, but upon hearing Würzel and Campbell play together, Lemmy hired them both.
On February 14, 1984, Motörhead recorded the backing track for The Young Ones
The Young Ones (TV series)
The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
episode "Bambi
Bambi (Young Ones episode)
"Bambi" was the seventh episode of British sitcom The Young Ones. It was written by Ben Elton, Rik Mayall and Lise Mayer, and directed by Geoff Posner. It was first aired on BBC2 on 8 May 1984...
". One of the band's most popular compilations, No Remorse, followed shortly, it was released on September 15. 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.
Personal life
Campbell currently resides in Pontypridd, Wales with his wife Gaynor and their three children, Todd, Dane and Tyla.Equipment
Phil uses an LAG Explorer Signature model guitar both live and in the studio, fitted with two Seymour DuncanSeymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
humbuckers and a single (volume) control. He also uses a Minarik Inferno Guitar on stage. He has also been known to play a Parker Nitefly, a Claymore custom, Kramer guitars, ESP guitars, and PRS guitars.
He also uses guitars built by luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
TC Ellis. So far, Ellis has built him a Les Paul
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
-styled, a Stratocaster-styled, and one modeled after Lemmy's custom-built Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
4004.
Like Lemmy, Phil uses Marshall Amplifiers and Cabinets when playing live, currently using two Marshall JVM410 heads. In the studio however he has been known to use Line 6 amps, Engl
Engl
ENGL is a German company that makes high-end tube amplifiers for electric guitars. Over the years ENGL has succeeded in becoming a global player in this market...
amplifiers, and Laboga Amps. Earlier in his career he occasionally played Gallien-Kruger amplifiers.