Rick Allen, the legendary drummer of Def Leppard, is going through a tough time after being the victim of a random attack. The incident took place last week on March 13, outside the Four Seasons in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
A 19-year-old spring breaker from Ohio named Max Hartley approached Allen while he was smoking and, under the influence of alcohol, hit him in the head and threw him to the ground. Despite the attack, Allen remains one of the most highly regarded rock drummers in the world, with over 35 years of experience playing with Def Leppard.
A recent police report stated that a man named Allen was hurt after falling and hitting his head. A heroic woman who remained anonymous attempted to help Allen, but the attacker, Hartley, targeted her instead.
View this post on Instagram
Hartley physically assaulted the woman, pulling her hair and continuously hitting her while she was on the ground. In an effort to escape, the woman ran into a hotel while Hartley fled to a nearby parking garage and began vandalizing cars before being apprehended by the police.
According to the released 911 audio tapes, there was a chaotic situation in front of a hotel where a man named Allen and a woman were attacked. A caller told the 911 dispatcher that a guest had assaulted the woman and was beating her in front of the hotel building.
Another caller, who owned a nearby restaurant, urgently asked for police assistance and reported that they were holding the suspect. The attack was a shock to many witnesses, including fans of Allen, who is a famous personality. Some people were initially worried that the person who helped Allen was his wife, but it turned out she wasn’t.
View this post on Instagram
A statement was released by Allen a week after the attack took place. In the statement, Allen expressed his gratitude towards the fans for their “overwhelming support”. He also shared that his wife Lauren was not present during the incident and they are currently recovering together in a safe space.
Allen recently performed a show in Florida at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Despite losing his left arm in a 1984 accident, he continued to play the drums with one arm and had to re-learn how to play. He is well-known for his exceptional talent and humble personality, and is nicknamed “The Thunder God” by his fans.
“They wanted to re-attach it, but an infection set in, and because it was so close to my heart, they didn’t risk it. Looking back, the doctor told me that if the re-attachment had been successful, I would have been going back for operation after operation. I wouldn’t have wanted to go through that. I suffered enough pain, both physically and mentally,” Allen said in 2011.
View this post on Instagram
Allen has experienced many difficulties in his life, but the recent and unprovoked attack in Florida has affected him deeply. He has taken to Facebook to say that they are working on healing for everyone involved and have asked for support in moving from shock and confusion to empathy and compassion.
The attack may be triggering for many people. The 19-year-old suspect, Hartley, has been charged with four counts of criminal mischief. His lawyer informed the Miami Herald that Hartley has no prior criminal record.
Sending well wishes to Rick Allen and the lady who assisted him.
