Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen says he hit his head on the pavement after being attacked following a present in Florida final March, however is now feeling “grateful” for his family members amid his restoration.
The musician sat down for his first and to date solely interview concerning the incident with Good Morning America, revealing particulars of the assault that occurred in Fort Lauderdale on March 13. Within the metropolis to carry out on the Seminole Arduous Rock Lodge and On line casino, he was assaulted whereas taking a smoke break exterior a lodge.
“I heard a few steps, after which I simply noticed this darkish form of flash. And the subsequent factor I knew, I used to be on the bottom,” he stated. “I landed on my bottom, after which continued on and hit my head on the pavement.”
“I reached my hand into the air as I believed I used to be going to get attacked once more,” he continued on.
The drummer stated he didn’t assume his assailant “knew who I used to be, however he will need to have seen that I wasn’t a menace as a result of I’ve solely received one arm.” Allen misplaced his left arm on the age of 21 after a near-fatal driving accident in 1984 in England.
In response to the Related Press, Allen’s attacker was hiding behind a pillar exterior the identical lodge Allen was at. He ran on the drummer earlier than knocking him to the bottom and attacking a girl who tried to assist Allen. (She was not significantly injured.)
A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged within the assault towards Allen. He has pleaded not responsible.
The Def Leppard member says he was “100%” ready for the assault and the trauma that got here with it due to what he’d already skilled together with his 1984 crash.
“I instantly simply went to that place of feeling grateful for the truth that I’ve an incredible spouse and an unimaginable household. I simply began thanking the next energy for the truth that I’m nonetheless right here,” he stated.
For the reason that assault, he has been targeted on his restoration, he and his spouse, Lauren Monroe, stated. “My coronary heart simply fully sank into me. I do know the journey of trauma. Every part stopped in our home and targeted on him,” Monroe stated.
Allen first publicly spoke concerning the assault on his Instagram in a prolonged March 19 message that noticed him give due to these exhibiting their “overwhelming assist.”
“My spouse Lauren was fortunately not with me on the time of the incident. We’re collectively now, and dealing on recovering in a protected house. We’re specializing in therapeutic for everybody concerned. We ask you to hitch us in our effort to maneuver from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy,” he wrote on the time. “We perceive this act of violence may be triggering for thus many individuals.”
“To all the followers, veterans, and first responders in our world group, we’re pondering of you all,” he continued. “Along with love, we will all get by these tough instances.”
He adopted that submit with one other round a month in the past, noting that he was “getting my thoughts and physique prepared for the upcoming Def Leppard tour.”
Whereas talking to GMA, Allen spoke about his music profession and objectives following the assault. “I do know that I’m not going to be enjoying music in a band perpetually,” stated Allen. “However whereas I’m, I plan on making as many individuals glad as I probably can. And that is my time. That is my alternative.”
