Rick Allen

Richard John Cyril Allen was born on November 1, 1963, in Dronfield, Derbyshire, England. Joining Def Leppard in November 1978 at just fifteen years old, Allen's thunderous drumming and rhythmic precision propelled the Sheffield band to multi-platinum global success with 'High \'n\' Dry' (1981) and 'Pyromania' (1983).

On New Year's Eve 1984, while driving his Corvette near Sheffield, Allen was involved in a horrific rollover crash that severed his left arm. Rather than allowing his disability to end his musical journey, Allen and his bandmates refused to surrender. Collaborating with engineers from Simmons, Allen designed a custom electronic drum kit where his left foot operated pedals triggering the snare and tom sounds previously played by his left hand.

In August 1986 at the Donington Monsters of Rock Festival, Allen made an emotional, triumphant return to the stage. The following year, Def Leppard released 'Hysteria' (1987), which sold over 20 million copies and generated seven smash singles including 'Pour Some Sugar on Me'. In 2019, Allen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and co-founded the Raven Drum Foundation to support veterans with PTSD.