Rick Allen is the drummer of the hard rock band Def Leppard. Fans refer to him as “The Thunder God.”

According to the UK website Gigwise, he is listed as the seventh greatest drummer of all time. He played in the bands’ Smokey Blue, Grad,  Rampant, and the Johnny Kalendar Band.

He recovered from having his left arm amputated in January 1985 and performed with the band. He is the co-founder of the charity Raven Drum Foundation with his wife.

The company primarily offers merchandise with “Stick Rick,” an illustrated figure representing Allen.

How Did Rick Allen Lose An Arm?

On the afternoon of December 31, 1984, Allen and his then-girlfriend Miriam Barendsen were involved in a car accident on the A57 road in the countryside west of Sheffield.

He crashed his Corvette C4 against a dry stone wall and into a field while trying to pass another vehicle at a high rate of speed. His left arm was amputated.

He spent two weeks unconscious. They reattached the arm during that period but subsequently developed a severe infection; at that point, the doctors opted to remove the arm entirely.

When he lost his arm, he felt self-conscious and defeated and wanted to disappear.

How Does Rick Allen Play Drums With One Arm?

After losing his arm, Allen decided to continue playing drums with Def Leppard, switching to a custom-made electronic drum set. The group went on hiatus until August 16, 1986, when Allen could resume playing the drums live during the Monsters of Rock concert at Castle Donington.

In an interview, he stated that he was able to put things on the kit in different places, and he could put a kick drum where he could play with his right hand. The electric drum made him think outside the box and not get caught down in traditional drum placement but instead be able to push the boundaries truly.

He is thankful that his band members gave him time to decide if he wanted to continue or not. The letters from his fans and support from his family and friends helped him get through his situation.

Who Is Rick Allen Married To?

Allen is married to his wife, Lauren Monroe; the couple exchanged their wedding vows in 2003 at Firestone Vineyards in Los Olivos, California. The pair first met through a mutual friend and instantly clicked and eventually got close. In October 2002, Rick got down on one knee during an outing in the Santa Monica Mountains.

In 2010, they were blessed with a daughter Josefine Allen.

Allen was previously married to Stacy Lauren Gilbert in 1991, but the ex-couple got divorced in 2000. Allen was detained for spousal abuse in 1995, sentenced to a work crew, and told to attend sessions of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The couple had a daughter Lauren Shane Allen together.

How Much Is Rick Allen’s Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Allen has an estimated net worth of $50 million.

When Def Leppard advertised for a drummer to replace Tony Kenning when Allen was 14 years old, his mother responded on his behalf. He joined the band on his 15th birthday.

He stopped going to school in 1979 in order to focus on his musical career; Def Leppard opened for AC/DC at the Hammersmith Odeon on Allen’s 16th birthday, where he also performed.

After his accident, he worked on the albums Slang, Hysteria, Euphoria, Def Leppard, Yeah! and many more.