On this day December 31 1984, Rick Allen, drummer for Def Leppard, lost his left arm in a serious car crash. The accident threatened to end his music career at the height of the band’s success during the 1980s rock boom.
After an extensive recovery, Rick Allen returned to Def Leppard by adapting his drumming technique and using a custom electronic drum setup that allowed him to play with one arm. His determination and innovation became one of the most inspiring comeback stories in music history, reinforcing Def Leppard’s place as one of the defining rock bands of the decade.
80s insight: The 1980s celebrated resilience and reinvention as artists overcame personal setbacks to continue shaping music history.
After an extensive recovery, Rick Allen returned to Def Leppard by adapting his drumming technique and using a custom electronic drum setup that allowed him to play with one arm. His determination and innovation became one of the most inspiring comeback stories in music history, reinforcing Def Leppard’s place as one of the defining rock bands of the decade.
80s insight: The 1980s celebrated resilience and reinvention as artists overcame personal setbacks to continue shaping music history.
