December 7, 2025 • 23 mins
Join host Lynn Hoffman in this powerful replay episode of The Music Saved Me interview podcast as she sits down with legendary Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen and his wife Lauren Monroe for an unforgettable conversation about music and resilience, purpose, and the healing power of music.
Rick Allen’s story is one of rock and roll’s most inspiring tales of triumph over adversity. As the iconic drummer for Def Leppard, Rick faced what seemed like an insurmountable challenge when he lost his left arm in a tragic accident in 1984. But rather than let tragedy end his career, Rick Allen transformed his approach to drumming and returned to Def Leppard stronger than ever, helping the band achieve some of their greatest commercial success with albums like “Hysteria” and “Pyromania.”
In this intimate replay conversation which is one of the episodes now part of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives courtesy of Buzz Knight Media Productions, Rick and Lauren Monroe open up about their deep commitment to helping others through the healing power of music. Together, they founded the Raven Drum Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving, educating, and empowering veterans and people in crisis through music and the arts. The foundation provides critical support and therapeutic programs that harness music’s transformative abilities to help those facing physical and emotional challenges.
Rick and Lauren also discuss their vital work with Musicians On Call, bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Their dedication to using music as a healing force extends far beyond Def Leppard’s stadium stages, reaching into hospitals, veteran centers, and communities where the healing power of music can make a profound difference in people’s lives.
This replay episode captures Lynn Hoffman’s heartfelt discussion with two remarkable individuals who prove that music truly does save lives. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about overcoming adversity, giving back, and the incredible healing power of music..
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Music Saved Me.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
You know, I get moments during the show or whenever
I play where I get to observe people and they
get to see people's faces. You know, I can sense
when somebody's just having a really deep moment, and that
to me is I think one of the reasons I
do it is to be able to connect with somebody
(00:23):
in that way.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
I'm Lynn Hoffman and this is the Music Saved Me Podcast,
the podcast that explores the healing power of music.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Today.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Our guests are def Leppard drummer Rick Allen and his
wife Lauren Monroe. They are actively supporting those in need
with their amazing charity, the Raven Drum Foundation, and they
certainly know firsthand about how music heals. Music Saved Me
is a proud supporter of Musicians on Call who introduced
us to Rick and Lauren. So glad they did. Rick
(00:54):
and Lauren, Welcome to Music Saved Me.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Hi, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you as well.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I'm feeling like we must have crossed paths at some
point in time, but time has just goes so fast
in Boston, and.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Think er, maybe you and Rick have met in an interview.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
I'm thinking like, maybe once I worked at VH one
for a few years.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Could have been there.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I did some work at A and E and then,
But I'm feeling like it had something to do with
with fantasy camp.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Oh okay, could I've been in Vegas for Vegas?
Speaker 1 (01:29):
I thought, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I think I think the only fantasy camp I did
a fantasy camp, but I think it was me Phil,
I think Sab. Yeah, I think that was Vegas and
that that was an interesting experience. I've never done that
before and we ended up really enjoying.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
It, and the campers did too.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
For sure reminds me of kind of why we're here
together too, because although that was a fantasy camper se,
it really did change people's lives. I think getting up
close and personal like that and having that one on
one connection with somebody.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
But in any case, I digress.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I don't want to take up too much more of
your time, but I wanted to thank you so much
for being on the podcast Music Save Me, and thank
you to our friends at Musicians on Call for connecting us,
and I wanted to start off our time together by
talking about this fantastic organization Musicians on Call. Lauren, I'll
start with you, what does musicians on call and their
(02:34):
work mean to you?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Well, I think it's a really positive way to bring
people to a place of awareness and healing while they're
in the hospital, to give them hope, to give them encouragement,
to give them a sense of belonging. I think it's
a really important piece to bring music into that healing environment.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
That's so true, Rick, how about you?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
I can only imagine what it feels like for somebody
to you know, to be It's like it would be
like having your own private concert, you know, and having
some of your favorite artists there, you know, playing world
famous songs and you being the focus of attention. How
(03:24):
how incredible is that? I just think the work that
they do is pretty amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Very special. And Lauren, you've talked about music sort of
being a doorway to the soul as you consider the
superpowers of music. Would you elaborate a little more on
that for us, Well, I think when.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
You use music as a way to transform, you use
it by all the lyrics, the sounds, the silence. We're
energetic beings, you know, ration and frequencies. What we're constantly
relating to on an everyday basis, subconsciously. So music is
(04:07):
definitely a doorway to be able to change from being
outward to being inward, to being isolated to being connected.
And we all know that when we go to a concert,
when we listen to music from the past, we get
connected to a time or an experience where we've felt
loved or we were connected with friends. So music is
(04:28):
definitely a doorway to healing and all aspects.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I think, do you think, Rick, that music has supernatural
healing powers? And if yes, do you have a specific
example you could give us.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
It really not a specific exam but Laurde alluded to it.
You know, music is a time machine. It can it
can take you to a moment in time, you know,
maybe a coming of age moment or whatever. It doesn't
even have to be that, you know. Music is one
(05:03):
of those things that we can go back to, even
to times that we can't remember, you know, when we
were when we were retaling little babies, you know, like
growing up around music and being familiar with something that
you can't necessarily remember anybody actually specifically putting musical like
(05:27):
I just mentioned Glenn Miller. Glenn Miller was music. It
was obviously around before I was but when I started
listening to Glenn Miller as a you know, as a
as a young kid, there was something really comforting about
about listening to it. And yeah, I just I just think,
(05:51):
you know whatever, I sit down behind the drums, or
I call it the zone, you know, I played for
a few moments and it's almost like an open eight meditation.
I'm able to go to a place where I'm completely
in the moment. I'm not thinking about what I could
(06:11):
have done better or what's for dinner. I'm literally right
there in the moment, and that moment seems to last
forever while you're in So I think that to me,
is that is part of the healing power?
Speaker 1 (06:28):
What is specific?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Do you do you think that there's anyone specific thing
about music that makes it so healing? Is it perhaps
is it the audible part or the vibration part.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I think all of it.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
I think I think the valibration, and I think the
intention behind the people that made the music, or if
you see a live performance, you know, are the performance,
are they happy? Are they sad? Or you know, there
are all these different factors that go into it. I mean, Lauren,
help me out. I mean, that is a lowed question.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I think music across the board is very key to healing,
but I think live music specifically is extremely powerful because
everybody is there in this quantum field of energy, and
when you're playing with intention, whether it's a sad song
(07:26):
or a happy song or song that wants to elevate people,
you're expressing that. I'm an energetic language person, like everything
to me is energy. The way I feel things and
see things, and music is that and people can recognize that.
In music. People can recognize, you know, when you're performing
and you're on stage and it starts with one note,
(07:48):
you hear that one note and it may ring out
and have space, and people respond to that. If you
play one note, people can tell you whether that makes
them feel happy or sad. It's not a good, incredible
one sound. One sound, and it can be different for
everyone really, so it's so interpretive. I work right now
(08:09):
with these frequencies called sofregio frequencies, and they're very ancient tones,
and I'm adding them to music. And you know, there's
a lot of things going on now called binaural beats,
you know, for the brain, and people are listening to
these frequencies to help them sleep and I'm finding that
and we're going to bring that to live music too,
(08:31):
to help people like really engage in various ways with
their body the music. So yeah, I hope you can
come to the show in Boston if you're there.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Oh, I'd love to go.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
And you know, and speaking of going to shows, I'm
curious what musicians have influenced your views about music special powers,
seeing how that that's how we're sort of speaking of
it as powers that come from the not just the
people at the show, but from the stage to the audience.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
It's it's pretty incredible.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Yeah, I think I mentioned this, I've mentioned this before,
but uh, Tom Petty was my first concert when I
was young, and I really got the bug, you know,
from from him. Uh But prior to that too, I
I listening to Linda Ronstadt. Her vocal performance has always
(09:24):
really resonated with me, as well as Janis Joplin, who
was this really raw, guttural like she she didn't save
anything for herself kind of performer, which can you know,
reaches you right here. So yeah, Tom Petty and Linda Ronstad,
the doors, Jim Morrison, who was a mystic, you know,
they they all influenced me.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
It's like they knew something that we didn't and then
we figured it out.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Rick, What about you? What musicians have influenced your views
about music and its powered many?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I mean, yeah, yeah, I know. I mean that's that's
the thing, like who you know, there's so many, uh
from you know Hendrick's you know, John Lennon, the Beatles, uh,
the Who, the Stones? I mean I mentioned, uh, you
(10:14):
know Glenn Miller that there's something something magical about that
Frank Sinatra. Whatever I listened to Frank Sinutra. It just
takes me to a happy place. You know.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
The list really.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Is is endless, and the soundtrack in my life is
still you know, ongoing.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I still, I still hear new things and I'm still touched.
You know, what is it about piano played in a
certain way, or or somebody playing a violin or or
you know, cello. What is it about that the the
that makes me sort of well up, you know, or
(10:57):
start feeling in emotion like I can't explain, I can't
explain what that is. Like I said, the question you
asked initially is allowed to question because I'm not sure
anybody can really answer it in an adequate way. I
think it's different for everybody.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Yeah, there's definitely no one answer that I've found, because,
like you said, it does you know? For me, it
would be harmonies, certain harmonies that just get you, or
chord progressions and then others with the vibrations. But speaking
of that, Lauren, I know does some special healing work,
(11:39):
and I'm curious, is music the primary source of your
healing work that you do to help others or do
you work in other aspects of you know, energy and
healing And did we touch a little bit on that
just a moment ago.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
No, Well, I have music as a component, but I
do a lot of long distance healing work with people
over the phone. I also work with people as an
energy medicine practitioner, and so I use a lot of
my gifts. I have clairvoyant gifts and I'm an intuitive
so I so I'm able to tap into some things
that you know, might not be obvious to people. And uh,
(12:15):
it's it's separate from music. But then I do like
to use music in my sessions too, and I use
a lot of music that has harmonies in it because
they do that it takes you out of the mind
into the body into more of a higher vibration. So
I love harmony.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
That just got me.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I mean, especially like you know, string sections and orchestral
harmonies and vocals, they just really do seem to resonate.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Yeah for me too, I get like truth bumps, you
know when I yeah, I do too. Well.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Watching you perform Rick with Lauren, It's it's obvious you
can see your joy just radiates out to your audience.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Can you talk about how meaningful it is in your
life to be able to collaborate with Lauren.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I mean, it's it's a huge gift, and you know,
I sit back there. I think the thing that gets
me is that I've heard Lauren tell stories about these songs,
you know, many many times. But I still I still
ask the bass player if he's got a box of
(13:24):
tissues that I can borrow. I know what's probably, but
I don't know what it is about about Lauren, you know,
telling these stories, playing this music in front of people. Uh,
whether there's this energy exchange that goes on between between
all of us, you know, whether you're on stage as
(13:45):
a musician or whether you're an audience. But but something
inexplicable happens and I'm just really thankful that that I've
been given this and I'm able to experience that, particularly
with the woman that I love.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
You know, it's very special, very special. Lauren.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Can you talk about what it means to you when
your music connects deeply with people, especially in time of
deep need?
Speaker 1 (14:19):
A loaded question.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
There's so many things, but I think I for me,
it's a I fulfilled purpose. I know I've always been
here to do that, and so when I fulfill that
and I feel people connect in that way, and it
just makes me feel grateful and very blessed, and I'm
(14:40):
happy for them to be able to experience something maybe
that they haven't before. And one of the things that
I think is the biggest blessing to when I get
to perform is that people get connected in the room
and they're all strangers, you know, no one knows each other,
but by the concert, there's a real connection with everyone.
(15:01):
And I just feel like the world needs that. I
need that, I need that. I mean, we're very private people,
you know, our shows, It's like we get happy because
we feel like, wow, we're creating family, We're creating people
who understand the idea of healing together. Which is very
foreign to American people. You know, we don't do that
(15:23):
outside of like churches or whatever, you know, where we
gather for spirituality. We find it. I think it, you know,
football games, rock shows, but it's not it's not with
this much intentionality. So for us to create that is
really special.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
And have people.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
But I didn't know I needed this. We hear this
a lot. I didn't know I needed this as much
as I'm feeling. I really needed this, and that makes
me feel really happy to do that.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
How vital is it to you, Rick when your music
connects with your audience.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
To me, that is the key. You know, I get
moments during the show or whenever I play where I
get to observe people and they get to see people's faces,
and I, you know, I can sense when somebody is
just having a really deep moment, and that, to me,
(16:19):
it is I think one of the reasons I do
it is to is to be able to connect with
somebody in that way. And that happens quite regularly, whether
I'm playing with with Lauren or whether I'm playing with
with def Leopard. It just seems that the music unlocks
(16:45):
something in people that is sometimes inexplicable.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
I wonder how many people enter into the world of
music today and don't even realize this factor of it.
They just think it's, you know, going to go perform,
do a show, make people happy, and leave, and then
they're struck by this power that surrounds them and hopefully
they use it for good. Like you two, let's talk
(17:14):
about doing good. Let's talk about the Raven Drum Foundation,
which is an amazing call to action that provides incredible
healing services. Could you both talk a little bit about
the inception of URDF and how it came to be
and also about the impactful work that's being done right
now and for the past twenty three years.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
I can't believe that.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Same it's gone by like that. Well, we started the
foundation naturally out of the work that we started doing together,
myself with my energy medicine background, with my healing arts background,
and also I was a percussionist and a songwriter, and
then Rick with the knowledge of his journey through his
(17:53):
trauma and his work with the drums. I feel like
we came together and started sharing it with people and
we saw the impact. We saw that it didn't matter
you know how old you were where you were, from,
what population of people, culture you were, that music was
the language language, a universal language. And then when we
put the intention of awareness, of meditation, of inward thinking
(18:17):
about teaching people how to breathe, how to ground, how
to connect together, how to put a problem in front
of them, and then drum and use the rhythm and
breathing and and various mental health techniques, they really were
able to take away with them something that helped them
in their lives and they connected around the circle with
people that they didn't even know. So I think that
(18:39):
feeling of belonging is important, and that's why we kept
doing it all these years, and we worked with so
many people and we were never disappointed. It's always uh,
it's always connecting, it's always the path for us and UH.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
A big pivot I think was when Rick went to
Walter read.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
UH and he started meeting a lot of the military
that we're in there, and that's when we decided to
work with military and first responders. And Rick had a
big impact going there the first time.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Rick tell me about that, when when did you realize
that you had to do this work?
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Well, we were always doing this work, but not necessarily
focused on our veterans or first responders, and going to
Well to Read was really an I opened up for me.
The level of suffering was off the chart, and I
conveyed that to Lauren when I got back to my hotel,
(19:38):
and I got really emotional. I was really upset, and
I think Lauren already knew it, but I was like,
you know, we have to focus more on our veterans
that they really needed. This is a really critical time
(19:58):
and she she agreed, and that's when we started to
focus more on our veterans and we started to work
with wounded warrior projects and we just got deeper and
deeper into, you know, into working with our military, and
it's been extremely rewarding for both of us.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Amazing.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Can you also tell us about the work that Lorie
Baker does for the Foundation?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Larry Baker is our director, so she runs the show
and she definitely wears many hats and she's just essential
to the events that we put on and the work
that we do. So we're really happy to have her
as part of the team.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
All Right, last question, and this goes out to both
of you. First, Lauren, since we're already here, where do
you feel we would be almost as a really wide question,
But where do you think we would be as a
society or I can even say as a plan it
without the healing power of music.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
I you know what, I can't even imagine that, right,
But we would be very disconnected and we would lose
a huge piece of how we express ourselves. I could
never imagine. And I love the title of this podcast
because music does save my life. It has saved my life,
(21:25):
and I know many many people feel that way. I
can't imagine a world without music.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Yeah, I feel the same way. I experienced music in
a certain way as a kid, you know, when I
first got into playing music, playing drums. But I had
a renewed sense of the power of music after I
had my accident. I realized that music was a very
(21:53):
just a very powerful vehicle for just carrying healing and
intention and just the way that I would organize my
thoughts and my feelings after I went through that drama.
Music definitely brought that into folks, and I'm just really
(22:17):
grateful for that. I can't imagine where I'd be if
I didn't have that to lean on.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
That is probably the most powerful thing I can even imagine,
especially after what you went through and persevered, And for
anyone listening to this podcast right now that doesn't know
the story he's referring to look it up. It definitely
explains a lot about how you were able to come back.
I can't even imagine how that works. And I'm so
(22:47):
happy that we're here talking about it all these years later,
and that music did help save you and all of us.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
And thank you so much for being on the show.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
And it's just such a pleasure to meet both of
you and hear about all the good things you're doing,
and thank you for sharing your story, and more importantly,
thank you for all the work you continue to do
to make the world a better place. Where just thrilled
to have the opportunity to spotlight you both.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Thank you, thank you so much.
Music Saved Me.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
You know, I get moments during the show or whenever
I play where I get to observe people and they
get to see people's faces. You know, I can sense
when somebody's just having a really deep moment, and that
to me is I think one of the reasons I
do it is to be able to connect with somebody
(00:23):
in that way.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
I'm Lynn Hoffman and this is the Music Saved Me Podcast,
the podcast that explores the healing power of music.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Today.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Our guests are def Leppard drummer Rick Allen and his
wife Lauren Monroe. They are actively supporting those in need
with their amazing charity, the Raven Drum Foundation, and they
certainly know firsthand about how music heals. Music Saved Me
is a proud supporter of Musicians on Call who introduced
us to Rick and Lauren. So glad they did. Rick
(00:54):
and Lauren, Welcome to Music Saved Me.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Hi, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you as well.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I'm feeling like we must have crossed paths at some
point in time, but time has just goes so fast
in Boston, and.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Think er, maybe you and Rick have met in an interview.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
I'm thinking like, maybe once I worked at VH one
for a few years.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Could have been there.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I did some work at A and E and then,
But I'm feeling like it had something to do with
with fantasy camp.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Oh okay, could I've been in Vegas for Vegas?
Speaker 1 (01:29):
I thought, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I think I think the only fantasy camp I did
a fantasy camp, but I think it was me Phil,
I think Sab. Yeah, I think that was Vegas and
that that was an interesting experience. I've never done that
before and we ended up really enjoying.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
It, and the campers did too.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
For sure reminds me of kind of why we're here
together too, because although that was a fantasy camper se,
it really did change people's lives. I think getting up
close and personal like that and having that one on
one connection with somebody.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
But in any case, I digress.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I don't want to take up too much more of
your time, but I wanted to thank you so much
for being on the podcast Music Save Me, and thank
you to our friends at Musicians on Call for connecting us,
and I wanted to start off our time together by
talking about this fantastic organization Musicians on Call. Lauren, I'll
start with you, what does musicians on call and their
(02:34):
work mean to you?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Well, I think it's a really positive way to bring
people to a place of awareness and healing while they're
in the hospital, to give them hope, to give them encouragement,
to give them a sense of belonging. I think it's
a really important piece to bring music into that healing environment.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
That's so true, Rick, how about you?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
I can only imagine what it feels like for somebody
to you know, to be It's like it would be
like having your own private concert, you know, and having
some of your favorite artists there, you know, playing world
famous songs and you being the focus of attention. How
(03:24):
how incredible is that? I just think the work that
they do is pretty amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Very special. And Lauren, you've talked about music sort of
being a doorway to the soul as you consider the
superpowers of music. Would you elaborate a little more on
that for us, Well, I think when.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
You use music as a way to transform, you use
it by all the lyrics, the sounds, the silence. We're
energetic beings, you know, ration and frequencies. What we're constantly
relating to on an everyday basis, subconsciously. So music is
(04:07):
definitely a doorway to be able to change from being
outward to being inward, to being isolated to being connected.
And we all know that when we go to a concert,
when we listen to music from the past, we get
connected to a time or an experience where we've felt
loved or we were connected with friends. So music is
(04:28):
definitely a doorway to healing and all aspects.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I think, do you think, Rick, that music has supernatural
healing powers? And if yes, do you have a specific
example you could give us.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
It really not a specific exam but Laurde alluded to it.
You know, music is a time machine. It can it
can take you to a moment in time, you know,
maybe a coming of age moment or whatever. It doesn't
even have to be that, you know. Music is one
(05:03):
of those things that we can go back to, even
to times that we can't remember, you know, when we
were when we were retaling little babies, you know, like
growing up around music and being familiar with something that
you can't necessarily remember anybody actually specifically putting musical like
(05:27):
I just mentioned Glenn Miller. Glenn Miller was music. It
was obviously around before I was but when I started
listening to Glenn Miller as a you know, as a
as a young kid, there was something really comforting about
about listening to it. And yeah, I just I just think,
(05:51):
you know whatever, I sit down behind the drums, or
I call it the zone, you know, I played for
a few moments and it's almost like an open eight meditation.
I'm able to go to a place where I'm completely
in the moment. I'm not thinking about what I could
(06:11):
have done better or what's for dinner. I'm literally right
there in the moment, and that moment seems to last
forever while you're in So I think that to me,
is that is part of the healing power?
Speaker 1 (06:28):
What is specific?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Do you do you think that there's anyone specific thing
about music that makes it so healing? Is it perhaps
is it the audible part or the vibration part.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I think all of it.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
I think I think the valibration, and I think the
intention behind the people that made the music, or if
you see a live performance, you know, are the performance,
are they happy? Are they sad? Or you know, there
are all these different factors that go into it. I mean, Lauren,
help me out. I mean, that is a lowed question.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I think music across the board is very key to healing,
but I think live music specifically is extremely powerful because
everybody is there in this quantum field of energy, and
when you're playing with intention, whether it's a sad song
(07:26):
or a happy song or song that wants to elevate people,
you're expressing that. I'm an energetic language person, like everything
to me is energy. The way I feel things and
see things, and music is that and people can recognize that.
In music. People can recognize, you know, when you're performing
and you're on stage and it starts with one note,
(07:48):
you hear that one note and it may ring out
and have space, and people respond to that. If you
play one note, people can tell you whether that makes
them feel happy or sad. It's not a good, incredible
one sound. One sound, and it can be different for
everyone really, so it's so interpretive. I work right now
(08:09):
with these frequencies called sofregio frequencies, and they're very ancient tones,
and I'm adding them to music. And you know, there's
a lot of things going on now called binaural beats,
you know, for the brain, and people are listening to
these frequencies to help them sleep and I'm finding that
and we're going to bring that to live music too,
(08:31):
to help people like really engage in various ways with
their body the music. So yeah, I hope you can
come to the show in Boston if you're there.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Oh, I'd love to go.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
And you know, and speaking of going to shows, I'm
curious what musicians have influenced your views about music special powers,
seeing how that that's how we're sort of speaking of
it as powers that come from the not just the
people at the show, but from the stage to the audience.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
It's it's pretty incredible.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Yeah, I think I mentioned this, I've mentioned this before,
but uh, Tom Petty was my first concert when I
was young, and I really got the bug, you know,
from from him. Uh But prior to that too, I
I listening to Linda Ronstadt. Her vocal performance has always
(09:24):
really resonated with me, as well as Janis Joplin, who
was this really raw, guttural like she she didn't save
anything for herself kind of performer, which can you know,
reaches you right here. So yeah, Tom Petty and Linda Ronstad,
the doors, Jim Morrison, who was a mystic, you know,
they they all influenced me.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
It's like they knew something that we didn't and then
we figured it out.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Rick, What about you? What musicians have influenced your views
about music and its powered many?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I mean, yeah, yeah, I know. I mean that's that's
the thing, like who you know, there's so many, uh
from you know Hendrick's you know, John Lennon, the Beatles, uh,
the Who, the Stones? I mean I mentioned, uh, you
(10:14):
know Glenn Miller that there's something something magical about that
Frank Sinatra. Whatever I listened to Frank Sinutra. It just
takes me to a happy place. You know.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
The list really.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Is is endless, and the soundtrack in my life is
still you know, ongoing.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I still, I still hear new things and I'm still touched.
You know, what is it about piano played in a
certain way, or or somebody playing a violin or or
you know, cello. What is it about that the the
that makes me sort of well up, you know, or
(10:57):
start feeling in emotion like I can't explain, I can't
explain what that is. Like I said, the question you
asked initially is allowed to question because I'm not sure
anybody can really answer it in an adequate way. I
think it's different for everybody.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Yeah, there's definitely no one answer that I've found, because,
like you said, it does you know? For me, it
would be harmonies, certain harmonies that just get you, or
chord progressions and then others with the vibrations. But speaking
of that, Lauren, I know does some special healing work,
(11:39):
and I'm curious, is music the primary source of your
healing work that you do to help others or do
you work in other aspects of you know, energy and
healing And did we touch a little bit on that
just a moment ago.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
No, Well, I have music as a component, but I
do a lot of long distance healing work with people
over the phone. I also work with people as an
energy medicine practitioner, and so I use a lot of
my gifts. I have clairvoyant gifts and I'm an intuitive
so I so I'm able to tap into some things
that you know, might not be obvious to people. And uh,
(12:15):
it's it's separate from music. But then I do like
to use music in my sessions too, and I use
a lot of music that has harmonies in it because
they do that it takes you out of the mind
into the body into more of a higher vibration. So
I love harmony.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
That just got me.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I mean, especially like you know, string sections and orchestral
harmonies and vocals, they just really do seem to resonate.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Yeah for me too, I get like truth bumps, you
know when I yeah, I do too. Well.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Watching you perform Rick with Lauren, It's it's obvious you
can see your joy just radiates out to your audience.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Can you talk about how meaningful it is in your
life to be able to collaborate with Lauren.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I mean, it's it's a huge gift, and you know,
I sit back there. I think the thing that gets
me is that I've heard Lauren tell stories about these songs,
you know, many many times. But I still I still
ask the bass player if he's got a box of
(13:24):
tissues that I can borrow. I know what's probably, but
I don't know what it is about about Lauren, you know,
telling these stories, playing this music in front of people. Uh,
whether there's this energy exchange that goes on between between
all of us, you know, whether you're on stage as
(13:45):
a musician or whether you're an audience. But but something
inexplicable happens and I'm just really thankful that that I've
been given this and I'm able to experience that, particularly
with the woman that I love.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
You know, it's very special, very special. Lauren.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Can you talk about what it means to you when
your music connects deeply with people, especially in time of
deep need?
Speaker 1 (14:19):
A loaded question.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
There's so many things, but I think I for me,
it's a I fulfilled purpose. I know I've always been
here to do that, and so when I fulfill that
and I feel people connect in that way, and it
just makes me feel grateful and very blessed, and I'm
(14:40):
happy for them to be able to experience something maybe
that they haven't before. And one of the things that
I think is the biggest blessing to when I get
to perform is that people get connected in the room
and they're all strangers, you know, no one knows each other,
but by the concert, there's a real connection with everyone.
(15:01):
And I just feel like the world needs that. I
need that, I need that. I mean, we're very private people,
you know, our shows, It's like we get happy because
we feel like, wow, we're creating family, We're creating people
who understand the idea of healing together. Which is very
foreign to American people. You know, we don't do that
(15:23):
outside of like churches or whatever, you know, where we
gather for spirituality. We find it. I think it, you know,
football games, rock shows, but it's not it's not with
this much intentionality. So for us to create that is
really special.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
And have people.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
But I didn't know I needed this. We hear this
a lot. I didn't know I needed this as much
as I'm feeling. I really needed this, and that makes
me feel really happy to do that.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
How vital is it to you, Rick when your music
connects with your audience.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
To me, that is the key. You know, I get
moments during the show or whenever I play where I
get to observe people and they get to see people's faces,
and I, you know, I can sense when somebody is
just having a really deep moment, and that, to me,
(16:19):
it is I think one of the reasons I do
it is to is to be able to connect with
somebody in that way. And that happens quite regularly, whether
I'm playing with with Lauren or whether I'm playing with
with def Leopard. It just seems that the music unlocks
(16:45):
something in people that is sometimes inexplicable.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
I wonder how many people enter into the world of
music today and don't even realize this factor of it.
They just think it's, you know, going to go perform,
do a show, make people happy, and leave, and then
they're struck by this power that surrounds them and hopefully
they use it for good. Like you two, let's talk
(17:14):
about doing good. Let's talk about the Raven Drum Foundation,
which is an amazing call to action that provides incredible
healing services. Could you both talk a little bit about
the inception of URDF and how it came to be
and also about the impactful work that's being done right
now and for the past twenty three years.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
I can't believe that.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Same it's gone by like that. Well, we started the
foundation naturally out of the work that we started doing together,
myself with my energy medicine background, with my healing arts background,
and also I was a percussionist and a songwriter, and
then Rick with the knowledge of his journey through his
(17:53):
trauma and his work with the drums. I feel like
we came together and started sharing it with people and
we saw the impact. We saw that it didn't matter
you know how old you were where you were, from,
what population of people, culture you were, that music was
the language language, a universal language. And then when we
put the intention of awareness, of meditation, of inward thinking
(18:17):
about teaching people how to breathe, how to ground, how
to connect together, how to put a problem in front
of them, and then drum and use the rhythm and
breathing and and various mental health techniques, they really were
able to take away with them something that helped them
in their lives and they connected around the circle with
people that they didn't even know. So I think that
(18:39):
feeling of belonging is important, and that's why we kept
doing it all these years, and we worked with so
many people and we were never disappointed. It's always uh,
it's always connecting, it's always the path for us and UH.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
A big pivot I think was when Rick went to
Walter read.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
UH and he started meeting a lot of the military
that we're in there, and that's when we decided to
work with military and first responders. And Rick had a
big impact going there the first time.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Rick tell me about that, when when did you realize
that you had to do this work?
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Well, we were always doing this work, but not necessarily
focused on our veterans or first responders, and going to
Well to Read was really an I opened up for me.
The level of suffering was off the chart, and I
conveyed that to Lauren when I got back to my hotel,
(19:38):
and I got really emotional. I was really upset, and
I think Lauren already knew it, but I was like,
you know, we have to focus more on our veterans
that they really needed. This is a really critical time
(19:58):
and she she agreed, and that's when we started to
focus more on our veterans and we started to work
with wounded warrior projects and we just got deeper and
deeper into, you know, into working with our military, and
it's been extremely rewarding for both of us.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Amazing.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Can you also tell us about the work that Lorie
Baker does for the Foundation?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Larry Baker is our director, so she runs the show
and she definitely wears many hats and she's just essential
to the events that we put on and the work
that we do. So we're really happy to have her
as part of the team.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
All Right, last question, and this goes out to both
of you. First, Lauren, since we're already here, where do
you feel we would be almost as a really wide question,
But where do you think we would be as a
society or I can even say as a plan it
without the healing power of music.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
I you know what, I can't even imagine that, right,
But we would be very disconnected and we would lose
a huge piece of how we express ourselves. I could
never imagine. And I love the title of this podcast
because music does save my life. It has saved my life,
(21:25):
and I know many many people feel that way. I
can't imagine a world without music.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Yeah, I feel the same way. I experienced music in
a certain way as a kid, you know, when I
first got into playing music, playing drums. But I had
a renewed sense of the power of music after I
had my accident. I realized that music was a very
(21:53):
just a very powerful vehicle for just carrying healing and
intention and just the way that I would organize my
thoughts and my feelings after I went through that drama.
Music definitely brought that into folks, and I'm just really
(22:17):
grateful for that. I can't imagine where I'd be if
I didn't have that to lean on.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
That is probably the most powerful thing I can even imagine,
especially after what you went through and persevered, And for
anyone listening to this podcast right now that doesn't know
the story he's referring to look it up. It definitely
explains a lot about how you were able to come back.
I can't even imagine how that works. And I'm so
(22:47):
happy that we're here talking about it all these years later,
and that music did help save you and all of us.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
And thank you so much for being on the show.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
And it's just such a pleasure to meet both of
you and hear about all the good things you're doing,
and thank you for sharing your story, and more importantly,
thank you for all the work you continue to do
to make the world a better place. Where just thrilled
to have the opportunity to spotlight you both.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
Thank you, thank you so much.
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