|
Rick Allen was born in 1963 in Sheffield, England. Allen began playing the drums when he was 10 years old, and by the age of 12, he became so proficient that he began performing with local groups. At 15, Allen became the drummer for Def Leppard. After their first two releases, On Through the Night in 1980 and High and Dry in 1981, Def Leppard became a leader of the New Wave of the British heavy metal movement. In 1983, Pyromania became their breakthrough hit album, selling over 9 million copies in the U.S. alone. In 1984, the band was taking a break before working on their follow-up album when Allen was involved in a car accident and lost an arm. Allen's life was forever changed, but he was able to turn personal tragedy into spiritual transformation and continue his musical career with the support of his band members, who stood behind him and convinced him to stay with the group. Allen constructed an electric drum set that was partially controlled by his feet, and by 1987, Def Leppard was ready to perform again with their fourth album, Hysteria, which outsold Pyromania. The band has faced other hardships throughout their long-lasting career, but they have continued to persevere as a model of resiliency and strength. In 2019, Allen and his longtime Def Leppard bandmates were inducted to the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Allen continues to tour worldwide with Def Leppard and inspire millions with his passion for music. Alongside his musical accomplishments, Allen has always been passionate about photography and art. In 2012, he debuted his first collection of art with raving reviews and continues to launch notable collections of mixed media art and paint on canvas through Wentworth Galleries located across the east coast of America. All of Allen's art is created with a desire to make a difference in the world that still motivates him today. His Purple Heart series, for example, is inspired by the courage of wounded warriors. Allen has given support to others in need all over the globe by sharing his personal experiences and his love of drumming. In 2002, Allen was awarded the Humanitarian Award by Maria Shriver's Best Buddies of CA, and in 2012, he was also awarded the prestigious Wounded Warrior Project's Carry It Forward Award. Rick Allen has been living in California for the past few decades with his singer-songwriter wife Lauren Monroe and their daughter. Together they live a life comprised of art, music, and philanthropy, having founded the Raven Drum Foundation and Project Resiliency with a mission to serve, educate, and empower veterans and people in crisis through the power of the drum. |