DEF LEPPARD'S RICK ALLEN Reveals KURT COBAIN/EDDIE VAN HALEN Legends Series Artwork

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Tuesday, 2nd March 2021

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Rick Allen 2021

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has revealed some of his new portraits as part of his Legends Series artwork collection.

Rick has recently shared a first look at many new portraits for his ongoing 'Legends Series' artwork collection.

New works include Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, Eddie Van Halen and Johnny Cash.

Rick posted work in progress photos on his Instagram account which can be viewed below.

He is currently not hosting any exhibitions due to the ongoing pandemic and last hosted one in ear;ly 2020 just before the worldwide lockdowns started.

Legends Series Artwork

The collection was first mentioned in 2017 and includes a Steve Clark portrait which was released in January 2018.

His collection also includes portraits of Janis Joplin, John Lennon, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Tom Petty.

Rick talked about the series in many interviews with quotes shown below from 2019 when talking about the Steve Clark picture.

View the link below to view high quality versions of some of them at the Wentworth Gallery website.

Rick performed as part of the Big Love Benefit Concert on 23rd January 2021.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

Rick Allen - September 2019 Interview Quotes - (Transcribed by dltourhistory)

Steve Clark Portrait

"This was the first in the Legends series and this is actually my, a band mate of mine who sadly is not with us any more. But this was the first piece in the Legends series and using this technique where I'll take a photograph and then I'll sketch the photograph on the canvas. Create a grey scale. So blacks, greys, whites and then after the fact what I'll do is I'll choose what the grey scale needs to be. if it needs to be a skin tone. Or if the white needs to blend with the skin tone a little more."

"And the cool thing about this technique is you look at the piece closely and it doesn't really make that much sense. It's like geometric shapes. But then as you back off the piece you start to realise or what happens in your mind fills in all the blanks which is brilliant."

"And then as I was doing this piece I took a photograph of it and sent it to my Mum. And she keeps in touch with Steve's mother. And I guess she shared the image with Beryl, with Steve's Mum, and she had a few tears. So it was the biggest compliment because you know obviously I captured the essence, you know."

"And then I went on to do Janis Joplin, Lennon, Bowie. More recently I did Freddie Mercury. Tom Petty. So I'm just sort of going through all these incredible artists that me and most of my band mates were influenced by over the years."

So when did you start painting?

"When I was very young. And I just loved the whole idea. No formal training, nothing like that. But it really ignited a passion in me. And then I discovered music and then after my youngest daughter was born we started painting together. And that kind of reignited my passion for painting again."