FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen is still coping with the aftermath of a March 2023 incident in which a 19-year-old man allegedly attacked him outside a Florida hotel. In a recent interview on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk,” Allen discussed scaling back on non-performance activities, such as showcasing his paintings on this year’s Monsters of Rock cruise, as he continues to recover.
“I’ve been going through some challenging times, kind of related to what happened in Florida,” Allen said, according to a Blabbermouth transcription. “The whole incident is ongoing. When I got beaten up outside the hotel, it was traumatic. I’ve been trying to deal with it the best I can, which meant taking a break from side projects to spend more time at home.”
The assault occurred outside a Fort Lauderdale hotel when an Ohio man allegedly rushed at Allen, knocking him to the ground. According to a police report, the assailant hid behind a pillar and attacked Allen, causing him to hit his head. When a woman attempted to assist Allen, she was also allegedly attacked. The suspect was later arrested at another hotel and charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult; Allen lost his left arm in a 1984 car accident.
Following the assault, Allen went on a cruise and found it “difficult to be around a lot of people,” leading him to spend more time at home. “I decided, ‘Don’t try and bite off more than you can chew. Deal with what’s in front of you,"” he said. “I’m hoping to put it behind me and eventually return to side projects, particularly my art.”
Despite the trauma, Allen will join Def Leppard on tour this year, starting May 15 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with North American festival and amphitheater dates scheduled through October.