Saturday, 21st March 2015
Screenshot by dltourhistory
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was interviewed live by Let's Talk Live on ABC News 7 yesterday and the full video/transcript are available.
Rick talked about starting out as a drummer for local bands, joining Def Leppard at such a young age, his 1984 car accident and his artwork and current collection Angels And Icons.
Watch the full video (as posted by the Wentworth Gallery) below and read a transcript of the interview.
Rick's art collection titled "Rick Allen: Angels and Icons." is currently on display at various Wentworth Galleries across the USA. He had already visited one in Short Hills, NJ on 6th December 2014.
Rick is visiting galleries in Bethesda, MD and McLean, VA today.
Let's Talk Live - Rick Allen Interview Transcript
Starting Out
"Well I've been playing drums since I was about ten years old. And at the ripe old age of sort of fourteen, I decided I wanted to give up the business. So you know it was a difficult time. I was playing with local bands and they were all playing cover songs and I really wanted to break out and do something more. We saw this article in a newspaper and it said Leppard Loses Skins so I went and I got the audition and I got the job. So I never looked back."
Youngest In The Band?
"Yeah I still am. They'll never let me forget that."
Mother Approved Of Joining Def Leppard?
"Yes and no. She was really happy for me that I was doing something that I really loved. The only problem was myself and my brother. We were both involved with Def Leppard at the - you know once I got the job. And so when she said goodbye, she said goodbye to both of us."
"At the time I was young and I was just loving doing what I loved to do best. I wasn't really seeing into the future. But now when I look back at the whole experience of it it's just been a huge gift. And you know to have come through everything that I've come through and be here today is a blessing."
His New Year's Eve 1984 Car Accident
"Yeah it was actually New Year's Eve day and I was out driving in the countryside and this guy wouldn't let me pass. I started to lose my temper, put my foot down and as I overtook him I overshot the corner and I ended up rolling the car. Fortunately the sun roof was open. So I actually left through the sun roof. The seatbelt took my arm off. I landed in a field. But you know part of the collection - you know talking about angels. There were a couple driving down the road you know shortly after me and they must've been right behind, pretty much right behind me. And Eileen, she was a district nurse and Roger he was a policeman and they took care of me and I think they probably saved my life."
Drumming With One Arm
"I developed - my friend helped me develop these foot pedals so I could play electronic drums using my feet and that's how I go on. And the fact that we all really love each other. All the guys in the band you know through the ups and downs we end up getting closer. And of course I pull a lot of my inspiration you know from my family from my wife, my kids. So you know I have a good support team around me."
- News Source - wjla.com
- Def Leppard - Let's Talk Live 2015 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Television 2015
- Previous News - 20th March 2015