Def Leppard Band Member Rick Allen (Drums)

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Def Leppard Band Member / Rick Allen

drums since 1978

A section for Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen with details of all releases and tours played on and personal information.

rick allen 1978 to Present

Instrument - Drums/Backing Vocals.
Joined Band - 27th November 1978.

Main Information

Full Name - Richard John Cyril Allen.
Birth Date - Friday, 1st November 1963.
Birth Location - Dronfield, Derbyshire, England.
Nicknames - The Thundergod/Bushead
Joined Band - 27th November 1978
Car Accident Date - 31st December 1984
Previous Bands - Grad.
Previous Bands - Smokey Blue.
Previous Bands - Rampant.
Previous Bands - The Johnny Kalendar Band.
Lives In - California.
Father - Geoffrey Allen (Died 3rd September 2012 aged 74).
Mother - Kathleen Glenda Allen (formerly Moore)/(now remarried as Daly).
Brother - Robert Allen (ex-DL/Tim McGraw tour manager. Current manager of Taylor Swift).
Wife - Lauren Monroe (married 10th October 2003).
Ex-Wife - Stacy Gilbert 1991-2000 (married 29th September 1991).
Children - Lauren Shane (Daughter - 20th May 1998 w/ ex-wife).
Children - Josefine (Daughter - 1st December 2010 w/ current wife).
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rick allen / band member info

Rick was born in Derbyshire, England and began drumming in his parents house as a toddler using a biscuit tin.
His first drum kit was bought for £60 at age 11 and he played with local bands.
He met the other members of Def Leppard and joined the band in November 1978.
Having seen an article called 'Leopard Loses Skins' in a local newspaper.

Rick Allen (2018)

"I was so fortunate I was one of those kids, I came straight out of school. And obviously my parents, they didn't think I was gonna be a brain surgeon."
"They said let him go, let him follow his dreams. And that's exactly what I did, I got a private tutor."
"And I ended up staying with Def Leppard. It's one of those success stories."

Car Accident

Rick lost his left arm in a car crash on 31st December 1984 while driving back to Sheffield on the A57 road.
He recovered, re-learnt to play drums using an electronic kit and continues to play for the band to this day.

Rick Allen (On the accident - 2018)

"At first it was, when I finally came round, it was terrible and it was horrible. I thought it was all over."

"But I discovered the strength of the human spirit. With the help of family and friends and band mates and the guys in the band I got back into it."

Artwork

Rick debuted his first artwork collection called 'Electric Hand Rhythm + Change' in March 2012. Since then he has shared many more collections and hosted various artwork exhibitions/Meet And Greets at Wentworth Galleries across the USA.
In 2018 he unveiled his 'Legends Series' which includes portraits of departed musical icons. The first portrait was of Steve Clark and other include Dabid Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie Mercury and Tom Petty.

Rick Allen (on artwork inspiration) 2019

"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."

rick allen / releases featured on