Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen says he banged his head on a pavement after being attacked after a show in Florida last March, but is now feeling “grateful” for his loved ones during his recovery.
The musician sat down for his first and so far only interview about the incident good Morning AmericaRevealing details of the March 13 attack in Fort Lauderdale. He was attacked while taking a smoke break outside a hotel, on his way to perform at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in town.
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“I heard some footsteps, and then I saw this dark kind of flash. And the next thing I knew, I was on the ground,” he said. “I landed on my back, and then continued on and hit my head on the pavement.”
“I raised my hand in the air because I thought I was about to be attacked again,” he continued.
Dholakia said she did not think her assailant “knew who I was, but he must have seen that I was not a threat because I only had one arm.” Allen lost his left arm at the age of 21 following a fatal driving accident in 1984 in England.
according to the associated pressAlan’s assailant was hiding behind a pillar outside the same hotel that Alan was in. He ran before knocking the drummer to the ground and attacking a woman trying to help Allen. (She was not seriously injured.)
A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with the attack against Allen. He has pleaded not guilty.
The Def Leppard member says he was “100 percent” prepared for the attack and the accompanying trauma he had already experienced with the 1984 crash.
“I immediately went to a place of feeling grateful for the fact that I have an amazing wife and an incredible family. I just started thanking a higher power for the fact that I’m still here,” They said.
He and his wife, Lauren Munroe, said their focus has been on recovery since the attack. “My heart has completely sunk into me right now. I know the journey of trauma. Everything in our house stopped and focused on him,” Monroe said.
Allen first spoke publicly about the attack on her instagram In a long message dated March 19, he thanked those who had shown “overwhelming support”.
“My wife Lauren was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on a safe place to heal. We are focused on healing for everyone involved. We look forward to hearing from you.” We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy,” he wrote at the time. “We understand that this act of violence can be a trigger for so many people.”
“To all the fans, veterans and first responders in our global community, we are thinking of you all,” he continued. “Together with love, we can all get through this difficult time.”
they followed that post another about a month agonoting that he was “preparing my mind and body for the upcoming Def Leppard tour.”
talking to GMAIn , Allen talked about his music career and goals after the attack. “I know I won’t be playing music in a band forever,” Allen said. “But as long as I am around, I plan to make as many people happy as possible. And this is my time. This is my opportunity.”
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