Rick Allen

Few other musicians in the history of rock have had to overcome such a severe, career-threatening injury as Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen had to in 1984, when his arm was amputated due to a near-fatal car crash. Born Richard John Cyril Allen on November 1, 1963, in Sheffield, England, Allen took up the drums at the age of 10. By the age of 12, he was accomplished enough to play in local groups, and he soon began emulating such drummers as Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, Thin Lizzy's Brian Downey, and Queen's Roger Taylor. Shortly after turning 15, Allen spotted an ad in a local n...