TV presenter Richard Hammond from the BBC show Top Gear is featured on the cover of the new Def Leppard album 'Songs From The Sparkle Lounge'.



Richard, nicknamed the 'Hamster' by fellow presenters, is shown in the bottom right next to a 1987 shot of drummer Rick Allen. And both are above a crash test dummy.

Like Rick Allen, Richard was involved in a near fatal car crash in England. In September 2006 he was filming for Top Gear at RAF Elvington near York. His challenge was to drive a jet-powered dragster called the Vampire and hit it's afterburner. After one successful run without it, and another having switched it on, he attempted a third run but the right front tyre failed sending his car into a roll, at over 288mph. The car finished on it side with Richard's head dug into the ground. He suffered a significant brain injury but pulled through and regained full health.

Richard returned to Top Gear in January 2007, just four months later, and watched back the crash day footage with his fellow presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson (see links). In September 2007 he released a book titled "On The Edge: My Story" detailing his career and his recovery from the accident. Richard is pictured below in November 2007 at a London book signing.



Richard's picture on the album cover possibly comes from the press photos for the Led Zeppelin reunion concert at London's O2 Arena. Joe Elliott was also in attendance that night.

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News -- The Telegraph | The Times

Link -- BBC Top Gear Site

Link -- Top Gear Magazine

Link -- Top Gear Blog Crash Entry