Tuesday, 31st December 2013
Screenshot by DefDazz/Darren
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a near fatal car crash 29 years ago today in 1984.
Rick, who turned 50 this year, was driving back from the Ladybower Reservoir outside of Sheffield, England on the A57 road with girlfriend Miriam Barendsen when he was involved in an accident.
Rick lost control of his left hand drive Corvette and hit a wall. His seatbelt came undone and took off his left arm as he was thrown through the sunroof. Luckily a local nurse and a policeman passing by stopped to help. According to Phil Collen in 2013 the pair later married each other (they both appeared in the 1998 Behind The Music show).
Surgeons managed to reattach the arm but sadly on 4th January 1985 it had to be amputated. Rick managed to recover to play drums again within 3 months of his accident and has continued to be the drummer with Def Leppard to the present day.
Shown below is a thank you note written by Rick to fans in the Spring or Summer 1985 fan club newsletter after he returned to the band.
Earlier this month marked exactly 35 years since since Rick's first show with the band and in late November it was also 35 years since he joined.
2013 Photo Gallery - Rick Allen aka Camp Out
Rick Allen Thank you note - From 1985 Fan Club Newsletter
"Hello there,
Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to the many people who wrote to me whilst in hospital, I must say that the letters & cards were a great comfort to me, and made my stay in hospital much more bearable.
As for the future Def Leppard will carry on as before, and when the next album is complete we shall be back on the road ASAP.
I've recently been working with my new drum kit, and so far everything is going really well, thanks for all your support, and I'll look forward to seeing you in the near future.
Sincerely, Rick Allen."
- Def Leppard - Rick Allen Section
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