Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon from Canada's The Metal Voice recently interviewed Def Leppard Drummer / Artists Rick Allen. Rick Allen spoke about his upcoming Art exhibitions and his charities. He also spoke about coping with his post traumatic stress, famed producer Mutt Lange, Rush Drummer Neil Peart, former guitarist Pete Willis, the drum production on Pyromania and the crowds of Montreal Canada
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When asked about his upcoming Art Exhibition at the Wentworth Galleries
"I recently did some in person art shows in South Florida. I did three shows and it was the first time I did them since March of last year. It was cool to get out there amongst the people again and you can tell people really want to get out there and really do something. It was pretty special doing that so these next dates are really just a continuation of that. When we heard the Def Leppard tour was going to be pushed again. I said I might as well do the entire Wentworth gallery tour, so that is what I am planning on doing. "
Tell us about Wings of Hope 2021 collection
"All the proceeds of all the pieces to various projects under the umbrella or 'Raven Drum'. 'Project Resiliency' is really focused on the suffering of some of our wounded warriors. Not too many people know this but I suffer from PTSD (Posttraumatic stress disorder) not through combat trauma but through a car accident (where he lost his arm). I just saw a lot of the same traits, same triggers in them that I did in myself. I've been passionate about it ever since. I think the reason I do it is to inspire people to ask for help "
What can people expect to see in regards to your art exhibition
"I think the Legend series is really interesting because it's like a history of all the people that inspired me and probably the reason why I became a musician in the first place."
When asked about the next Def Leppard studio album
"There is always new music on the go and I am happy to announce in the not too distant future we will be able to present that. I think that the nice thing about technology these days is that we can be all over the planet and still share ideas or come up with new songs. So that is a given it's always something we pride ourselves in, is the fact that we come up with new music and we don't try and rest on Christmas past. "
When asked if there has been any contact with former guitarist Pete Willis
"If you hear Joe's speech from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I thought it was beautiful the way it included everybody and anything to do with the success of Def Leppard. I think the tone of that speech sort of sums up what we are about and there is no long lasting animosity towards anybody. It just so happens that Pete didn't do well when we got out on the road, he was fine when he got home but there is no animosity. In fact Pete was very welcoming when I first joined the band. Pete Willis was so welcoming, he was kind of the first person to really put my mind at ease. I will always be thankful to Pete for that. We did all the right things and we asked him (to join the induction ceremony) . He was happy but he declined to be there."
When asked about the recording of the drums on Pyromania
"The songs were evolving as we were in the studio so it seemed easier to me to put down a basic drum track or drum machine and to go back in and punctuate the songs after wards instead of second guessing what the songs were going to become. It then became a hybrid. some of the drum machine remained and I would overdub things or go back in and redo, it was whatever the song needed. Pyromania and Hysteria were like experiments in how to record differently, how to come up with hit songs."
When asked about the accuracy of the Def Leppard Story (Movie) a few years back
"The Def Leppard story I feel was pretty accurate but the things that weren't so accurate were the characters themselves. For example, Mutt Lange would challenge you but the way you would challenge yourself, it wasn't like cracking the whip. It was more he would push you to the limits of your physical and mental abilities. He was one of the sweetest guys I ever encountered. Mutt Lange was very instrumental in my recovery (car accident)."
When asked about his fondest memories of playing Montreal, Quebec, Canada
"Not too many people realize this but per capita Def Leppard is probably bigger in Canada then anywhere else on the planet. I think the Montreal crowd for us is the loudest thing we have ever heard. I think the crowd is in the region of 110 decibels and our sound engineer was having a hard time competing with the sheer volume of the crowd at Montreal."
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Gallery info
Legendary drummer of Def Leppard, will be making two special appearances next month at the Wentworth Galleries in Atlantic City and King of Prussia to celebrate his newest creations. Allen will appear on Saturday, July 10 at Wentworth Gallery in the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Atlantic City in addition to Sunday, July 11 at Wentworth Gallery in the King of Prussia Mall. These events are open to the public and follow the latest CDC recommendations.
This new and extraordinary collection houses originals, limited editions, the painted drum series, mixed media originals, plus the “Legends Series,” featuring new portraits of Eddie Van Halen, Kurt Cobain and Johnny Cash. A portion of each sale will benefit his Project Resiliency where for over the last 12 years Rick and his wife Lauren Monroe have worked passionately with veterans from Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. Allen and Wentworth Galleries will donate a portion of each and every acquisition to benefit the Foundation.
Rick Allen became the drummer for Def Leppard at age 15. As one of the world's best-selling music artists, Def Leppard have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, two albums with RIAA diamond certification (10 million albums sold) and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. At the height of worldwide fame in 1984, he had a car accident that changed his life. Rick lost an arm, but turned personal tragedy into spiritual transformation and continued his musical career. While he was already a hero to millions of young people, he soon added millions of new admirers. Since then Rick has been reaching out and giving support to others all over the globe by sharing his personal experiences and his love of drumming. Over the past 13 years Rick has reached out to teenage cancer patients, children with special needs, at risk youth in crisis, families of domestic violence and veterans who have served in Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Humanitarian Award by Maria Shriver’s Best Buddies of CA in 2002 and in 2012, was also awarded the prestigious Wounded Warrior Project’s Carry It Forward Award. Rick continues his work helping wounded warriors through Project Resiliency’s Warrior Resiliency Program sponsored by his charity foundation the Raven Drum Foundation. An integral part of Rick's creative life went public in 2012. After years of personal photographic work, Allen ventured into the fine art world with a blockbuster debut collection of abstract artwork built from rhythm. Allen has become a pioneer in the new medium, utilizing drumsticks and rhythm to dictate abstract visuals on canvas. That debut collection, in 2012 featured 300 pieces, quickly sold-out in its initial offering to the public and boasted a sold out exhibition. A second collection, released in 2013, and titled “Rock-On-Canvas” met with a similar exceptional reception and helped to forge a relationship with America's leading fine art retailer Wentworth Galleries. The Artist is pleased to present this new Collection: “Wings of Hope 2021” in May 2021. IN GALLERY APPEARANCES BY RICK ALLEN (artist will be in attendance at both showings) SATURDAY, JULY 10 6-9 PM Wentworth Gallery at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City Address: 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 (609) 300-5095 SUNDAY, JULY 11 1-4 PM Wentworth Gallery at King of Prussia Mall Address: 690 West Dekalb Pike #2084, King of Prussia, PA 19406 (610) 337-8988
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