FULL NAME: Richard John Cyril Allen
BORN: November 1, 1963, Derbyshire, England
PARENTS: Geoffrey Allen and Kathleen Daly (remarried)
SIBLINGS: One older brother, Robert. Robert was the band's tour manager in the early days, and is currently Tim McGraw's tour manager.
EDUCATION: Left school at the age of 15 to become a full-time member of Def Leppard.
DRUMMER INFLUENCES: Ian Paice, Stuart Copeland, Keith Moon, John Bonham, Simon Kirk, Gene Krupa.
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Lauren (Monroe) on October 10, 2003.
CHILDREN: One daughter, Lauren Shane, born May 20, 1997, with first wife, Stacy.
RESIDENCE: Malibu, California
HOBBIES: Swimming, photography, spiritual books, meditation, participating in drum circles, and using music and the arts as a form of healing.
PERSONALITY TRAITS: Incredible sense of humor, posesses a positive outlook, determination and courage. Rick describes himself as "a kid, giving, fun."
EQUIPMENT: Zildjian cymbals & Ahead sticks, Drum Workshop drums (DW), Acupad drum pads, Marshall Amps. His kit is a combination of foot pedals, Acupad drum pads, and the natural snare, high hats and bass drum.
SIDE PROJECTS:
Rick and his wife, Lauren, founded the Raven Drum Foundation in 2000. It is a nonprofit organization that helps the physically challenged which employs spiritual methods as well as music and ancient wisdom to achieve this. Rick received a humanitiarian award on August 29, 2001 for his efforts with this cause. On March 18, 2007, Rick and Lauren were presented with a "Hero Award" for their efforts to provide nonviolence and peace within the community through Raven Drum.
In 2005, as part of an outreach program, Rick began inviting soldiers who have returned from Iraq as amputees to meet him. Many of these men and women are around the same age that Rick was when he lost his arm and he feels a strong desire to reach out to them.
In 2007, Rick organized the "One Hand Drum Company" in an effort to aid funding to the outreach projects Raven provides. Part of this includes artwork of Rick's now famous "Stick Rick" drawings.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Rick, who could very well be described as the "heart" of Def Leppard, got his first drum kit at the age of 10. After years of banging on his mother's countertops and denting the wood furniture, Rick's mom agreed to get him the drum kit on two conditions - that he pay for half, and that he take lessons and stick with them. With that out of the way, Rick joined his first semi-pro band at the age of 12.
A few days after his 15th birthday, he saw an ad in the newspaper titled "Leppard Loses Skins" from a local band who were in need of a drummer. Rick asked him mom to call and he auditioned for the band. Rick then became the permanent drummer for Def Leppard. When the band got their first record deal, Rick's dad had to sign the contract as Rick was too young.
On New Year's Eve 1984, Rick and his then girlfriend Miriam were involved in a severe car accident just outside Sheffield, England on their way to Rick's parents' house. Rick's left arm was severed at the shoulder as he was thrown from the car. Doctors re-attached the limb, but after an infection set in they had to remove it.
At the tender age of 21, Rick's courage and determination refused to let this tragedy ruin his career and eventually led to the custom-built drum kit that he still plays today. Rick's left foot does the job that his left arm used to by utilizing a series of foot pedals. Thanks to modern technology and an incredible drive to overcome the odds, Rick's position with Def Leppard was secured and he would thereafter be known as the one and only "Thunder God."
While initially relying heavily on electronic drum sounds with Hysteria and Adrenize, 1996's "Slang" saw Rick on all acoustic set for the first time. Rick now uses a combination of the two to achieve the sound that he desires. Def Leppard's tenth studio album, "X" (released in 2002), marked a first for Rick in that he was given co-writing credit for the majority of songs on the album.
Currently Rick and the band are on tour promoting their latest CD entitled "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge."