Def Leppard Drummer Says He's Recovering

Rick Allen was assaulted outside a Fort Lauderdale hotel
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 17, 2023 12:36 AM CDT
Updated Mar 21, 2023 2:00 PM CDT
Def Leppard Drummer Attacked After Florida Show
Rick Allen, of Def Leppard, arrives at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Barclays Center on Friday, March 29, 2019, in New York.   (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
UPDATE Mar 21, 2023 2:00 PM CDT

Rick Allen has thanked fans for their support after he was attacked outside a Florida hotel earlier this month. "Your love and prayers are truly helping," Allen wrote, per Deadline. The Def Leppard drummer posted that he's relieved that his wife, Lauren, wasn't with him at the time, per the AP. The two are now "working on recovering in a safe space," he said. In a photo posted on Instagram, Allen is wearing a Fort Lauderdale police T-shirt. "We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy," he wrote. "To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community we are thinking of you all."

Mar 17, 2023 12:36 AM CDT

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was attacked outside a Fort Lauderdale hotel Monday night after the rock band performed in nearby Hollywood, Florida. The 59-year-old was smoking a cigarette in the valet area at the Four Seasons Hotel when someone ran at him and knocked him down, according to WSVN. An Ohio 19-year-old who may have been in town for spring break was arrested, USA Today reports. Max Edward Hartley, 19, is charged with abuse of an elderly or disabled adult with great harm, battery, and criminal mischief. While the police report does not identify Allen, it says the victim was in a traffic accident in 1984 that caused him to lose his left arm; Allen lost his left arm after a 1984 car crash.

"I have an individual who has been running around breaking windows and has beat up a couple of guests at the Four Seasons, as well," said a caller on one of the 911 calls made about the incident. According to the police report, Hartley was hiding behind a pillar before attacking Allen, and after Allen hit his head on the ground, a woman ran to help him and Hartley attacked her as well. He then allegedly ran to another hotel and started breaking car windows and throwing chairs around. (More Florida stories.)

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