Rick Allen "good of thunder" nickname to the fans (and also his band), is an example in the music world for is accident and the fact that he never give up from being a drummer. Was a violent car accident were Nick lost is left arm, what for a drummer is a big problem, but he got with a drums company, developed a electronic system were is left leg made the job of the lost arm, using two more pedals. Since that time is still the professional drummer of one of top bands in the world, call Def Leppard. If is work is impressive, after te accident Rick participate in concerts like unpluged with a normal drum, were he play only with one arm, what is a blast and proves a great drummer he his. More important, is condition never was an excuse for to give up from his work and the band.
Since the first album of Def Leppard that Rick Allen is the Drumer, and if the first two discs were weak in sales, the third "Phyromania", reveled the sucess of the group in Europe, but also in the important market of USA. But a tragedy it happened when the drummer had an ugly trafic acident, and lost his left arm. For a musician was almoust the end, but not for Rick, that when we recovered watched a test for another drummer to Def Leppard, had the idea with his drum mark "Pearl" to make a special drum with four pedals insted the usual two. So the legs substitute the left arm in his kit, what in teory was possible, but in practise, with one of the more famous band, in four example a arena? But, Rick was good and the group wanted to try.
So, how would will be? In the first concert a substitute drummer was ready for what could happen, and he stay for some shows, but was clear that was no nead, beacause the drums and the drummer work fine. Like a life buoy for the kids, to have a second drummer was a secure for everybody, but quickly came the day that all understood that was no need. Concert after concert, the music had a more electronic sound in the percurssion, but was the only change to old albuns sound. In this new staff with "hysteria", the record process was made with this new kit so live it is exacly like the one was recording. Besides, this "new sound" gives a diferent aproach to hard rock, making Def Leppard one of the most unique bands in the hard rock scene.
But soon another tragedy heapen in the band universe. Steve Clark was found dead in house by is girlfriend and again the group had a dark period to cross. Def Leppard is in fact considered in rock world like a band with no luck, since again ins this decade, Vivian Campbel (who substitude Clark), had cancer and still figh with the damn desease. The band still rocks, with a tour in the next summer, with Poison, in USA, and never stop much time with the members problems, doing a rotine album/tour with some paralele projects from the diferent staff but Rick prefers is fundation call The Raven Drum (only make two shows with Mark Mason Project and a colaboration in one cd with Krishna Das).
Remains one of the few disable musiciens in the industry and he his a professional drummer in a band with world sucess. Not always easy, with mariage problems im past and alcool dependence that ended in the first years of this century, and that the trauma associate to is violent accident have a considerable impact in Rick life. Again, he manage is "ghosts" like was possible to him, with of course problems in the way, but still is a person with a future doing what he likes. And that is the most important in this days. Again, bravo Rick for never give up and still be the "God of Thunder", and a example to the world. Keep going Allen.
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