Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen discussed his ongoing struggles in a recent interview with SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk.
“I’ve been going through some challenging times, kind of related to what happened in Florida,” Allen revealed. “And that whole thing is ongoing, when I got beaten up outside the hotel.”
“I’ve been trying to deal with that the best that I can, and really, I just needed to take a break from some of the side projects that I was busy with, just so I could spend more time at home,” he continued.
“That’s been a real challenge for me,” Allen added. “Hopefully, I can put it all behind me and I can just kind of get back to as normal as I could possibly be given the circumstances. But that was very traumatic for me, and yeah, it’s been difficult. But hopefully I can put it behind me soon.”
The drummer’s current mental state and need for family time have created uncertainty about his participation in upcoming Def Leppard performances.
The 2023 incident continues to affect Allen’s personal and professional life.
Blabbermouth highlighted the attack’s particular significance. The drummer had already lost his left arm in a car accident at age 21 in 1984.
Louder Sound detailed the violent nature of the assault. Allen was knocked to the ground and hit his head. The 19-year-old assailant faced multiple charges, including battery and abuse of an elderly or disabled adult.
Audilous reported on the incident’s impact on Allen’s public life. He recently missed part of a cruise where his artwork was being showcased.
Allen has expressed gratitude for his family’s support during recovery. His ongoing healing process has created uncertainty about his future commitments.
