DEF LEPPARD's RICK ALLEN On New York Benefit Show (Radio Transcript/Video)

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Tuesday, 12th March 2024

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Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has been interviewed by New York radio ahead of his benefit show with Lauren Monroe.

Rick and his wife Lauren Monroe will take part in a benefit show in New York.

Read more about the event at the Cutting Room venue in New York on 14th March.

They also have other live shows and events taking place tomorrow and in April/May.

New York Radio Interview

Rick was interviewed alongside his wife Lauren Monroe and musical director Billy Amendola on 11th March by The Jim Kerr Rock & Roll Morning Show on Q104.3 radio.

A New York based station that he and other members of Def Leppard have appeared on many times before.

Rick and Lauren were travelling by car in Boston as they were interviewed via Zoom.

New York Benefit Show

They talked about the benefit show at the Cutting Room and the all-star band line-up.

Musician performing include Paul Schaffer and Will Lee from the David Letterman Show band.

As well as members/former members of The Bangles, The Rascals and KISS.

Read the full interview transcript below and view the video.

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

Rick Allen 2024.

Rick Allen/Lauren Monroe - 11th March 2024 Interview Quotes - (Transcribed by dltourhistory)

Introduction

Question - "New York's Classic Rock, Q1043. Very pleased to have with us via Zoom, Rick Allen of Def Leppard and Lauren Monroe. Now, hey are one of the most philanthropic couples that I've ever come across, ever."

"And Billy Amendola, who is producing a very special show that they are going to be telling us about in a moment, is also with us via Zoom this morning."

"So, Rick and Lauren, good morning to you. Good morning. Yes, we woke up this morning. A blessing. It's always a blessing. Well, you know, modern technology is kind of, you know, it still blows me away."

"Right now we're having this conversation on the radio here in New York, and you guys are in a car in Boston, moving. I can see, I can see out your car window as you're as you're heading. Where to? Where are you going?."

Rick Allen

"We're actually heading off to a radio station here. Somebody help me here."

Question - "OK, so you're heading to a radio station in Boston while you're on a radio station in New York. It's pretty wild. I was on the elevator this morning at 410 in my apartment building, and there was a woman going down the elevator. And I said, boy, you're up early. I don't usually see people at this hour. And she said, I have a meeting at nine o'clock this morning in Dallas. So it is kind of amazing what we can do in today's world."

Rick Allen

"But we're covering a lot of ground."

Cutting Room NYC

Question - "Yep. Now, you two are going to host an All-Star Jam benefiting the Raven Drum Foundation, which is your organization that you started, and Friends of Firefighters. And taking a look at this lineup of talent here is just unbelievable. It's Thursday night at the Cutting Room here in Manhattan. That's on 32nd Street by Park Avenue South. You gathered quite the All-Star group."

Rick Allen

"Well, we just feel very blessed, you know, that all of these incredible people, they resonate with what we do and obviously they resonate with, you know, our first responders."

"And I always say, you know, if it wasn't for first responders, I probably wouldn't be here."

"So it's the least I can do and we can do as Raven Drum. So we're happy to be doing it."

Lauren Monroe

"And Billy Mendola was the ringleader in like rounding up half of the talent that's coming."

"We've never met some of these folks and it's going to be a really special night for everybody."

New York Show Line-Up

Question - "Well, some of these people, you know, are like legendary that are going to be there. And I mean, let me go through a partial list, OK, because the list is just so long. There will be Paul Shaffer and Will Lee, you know, the world's most dangerous band. Peter Chris. Well, he's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for Kiss. Jim Keltner, one of the greatest musicians worked with Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Traveling Wilburys. Local legend Eddie Brigati, New Jersey's own from The Rascals. Legendary Billy Joel drummer, Liberty DeVito. Corky Lang of Mountain, Simon Kirk, Bad Company and Free. Vicki Peterson of The Bangles. I mean, the list goes on and on and on and on. And they'll be part of the All-Star Jam, which is the second part of the show. The first part of the show is you two. So what are you going to be doing?."

Lauren Monroe

"We'll be there with our band from California doing some original music."

"And that's how I think everything started around us coming in and fundraising and doing the performances that we normally do."

"Billy's like, let me introduce some of my let me try to bring us some other folks in, you know, some other."

"Turned into this mega event, which is so exciting."

Rick Allen

"So now we now we've got half of New York that are going to be there in the same room, which is fantastic. So, yeah. So be careful what you ask for, Billy."

Question - "And the cutting room is an intimate venue. By the way, they have good food there, too. And the fact is, Rick and Lauren, Billy's one of the most popular guys in town and the whole music industry. Everybody knows him and likes him."

Rick Allen

"We noticed."

All-Star Band

Question - "I mean, if anybody can get can get on the on the phone or online and put an All-Star band together in New York City, he certainly can. And he certainly did. But you've got all these great musicians. You're not going to have time to rehearse them or put I mean, how is it going to work?."

Rick Allen

"Well, here's the thing, you know, all of these songs are they're in our DNA. So, you know, is literally a case of getting up there and just sort of recalling your, you know, your youth and just playing these songs from, you know, from memory."

"So, you know, I think I think we're all kind of preaching to the choir. You know, it's it's something we all know. All these songs are so familiar. So it shouldn't be too difficult. What could possibly go wrong?."

Question - "So if you're looking across the stage and you see Eddie Brigati and you think, ah, The Rascals, let's do Good Loving. Let's do everybody just does Good Loving."

Rick Allen

"Yeah, it's true. And same with Simon Kirk. You know, it's it's it's just it's just going to be one of those nights where every everybody is just, you know, it's just familiar with what's going on. So we're we're really excited to be part of it."

Rick Allen Artwork

Question - "OK, so nobody we're going to do all right now. Yes, I I see a musical cacophony on the stage. There will also be a VIP reception with an artist meet and greet and a silent auction beginning at six thirty p.m. And I guess there's going to be a little food and drink involved with that as well. And you'll you'll be you'll have some of your original artwork there, right?."

Rick Allen

"Yes, we thought that was quite fitting to bring some some some of the artwork. And, you know, it's always it's always a great talking point. And it raises it raises some money for, you know, for a great cause."

Musical Director Billy Amendola

Question - "And then so the six thirty p.m. VIP reception will take place there at the cutting room and then the doors open to the public at eight p.m. Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe will perform their set and then join this all star band that Billy Amendola put together. Billy."

Billy Amendola

"Yes, sir. Happy anniversary to you, by the way."

Question - "Oh, thank you. So thank you so much. Yeah, that's coming up. We also have as master of ceremonies that night, Maria Milito."

Billy Amendola

"Yes."

Question - "And she will be she will be taking the stage to see the show. And Billy, you are officially the musical director."

Billy Amendola

"Yes, I am. And it's been a challenge because I love what I do. And most of these people are my friends and I've played with all of them before."

"So as Rick was saying, it's pretty easy to just call up a couple of songs because on occasion we have played them before. And like you said, with modern technology, we talk by Zoom or, you know, everybody goes over what they need to go over and we'll have it together pretty well. But I want to say one thing."

"It's really the whole focus of this thing is the Raven Drum Foundation and Rick and Lauren's band is phenomenal."

"So everybody's going to be really, really excited and surprised at that set because I love that band. I really do."

"And people people here in New York, I've been trying to get them to come to the cutting room for two years now. So it's finally going to happen."

Rick Allen

"Thank you, Billy."

Live Shows/Events

Question - "Rick, Lauren, real real quickly. What else? What else have you two been been up to? Have you had any art shows? Have you been touring new music? Have you been, you know, well, you spend a lot of time doing a lot of good for a lot of people. Just quickly, what have you been up to?."

Lauren Monroe

"We'll be playing the city winery in Boston tonight. Also raising some funds for tomorrow night. So Wednesday at the Boston City Winery."

"And so we're here promoting that. And we've met a bunch of firefighters and first responders last night at Ernie Bach. Generously have had an event and we met so many people here."

"And I just want to bring the story back around to why we're doing this and how important it is to support our firefighters and first responders. They're the first people there when we need them."

"And they're constantly under the stress. A lot of post-traumatic stress and healing needs to happen."

"And we need to talk about it publicly and help give them aid and solutions. And rhythm and music is one way."

"And so it's really important to give people the experience of healing through music. That's why we do what we do."

"And we do a lot of that. And that will continue. We'll be going back to California and having another three different events to raise money for firefighters through music and drumming. And that's our life until he goes back on the road."

Rick Allen

"Yeah, I mean, in reality, if it wasn't for first responders, I might not be here. So it's the least I can do, like I said before."

"So, you know, it just seems like a natural thing for us to do, you know?."

Question - "And besides the great musical performances, auction items that will be available at night include, as I mentioned before, and original artwork by Allen and Monroe. I like that. Allen and Monroe."

Rick Allen

"Yeah, it's got a nice ring to it."

Lauren Monroe

"The way you say it, it sounds great."

Jim Kerr

"Allen and Monroe."

Rick Allen

"You've got that radio voice, man. It's beautiful."

Question - "Summer tour tickets for Def Leppard, meet and greet packages, autographed memorabilia from the participating artists, a fire helmet signed by Steve Buscemi. Lots of great stuff. It's The Cutting Room, Thursday, March 14th, cuttingroomnyc.com for tickets."

"It's the Raven Drum Foundation benefit show, put together by Lauren Monroe, Rick Allen, and our friend Billy Amendola. Thank you for taking the time to join us this morning. We appreciate it."

Rick Allen

"You're very welcome. You've always been really supportive of us, and we're always really grateful for that, Jim."

Jim Kerr - "Okay. Thank you very much. Enjoy the rest of your day. It's 8.15 here at Q104.3."