Def Leppard's drumming legend Rick Allen has opened up about the lingering aftershocks of a random street assault that occurred in Florida in 2023. The 61-year-old British rocker was standing outside his hotel in March of that year when he was abruptly shoved to the ground by a teenage tourist, his head slamming against the pavement. Now, two years later, Allen admits that the incident still lingers heavily in his mind, and he's striving to move past it.
"I've been navigating some tough times, somewhat tied to what transpired in Florida," he confessed during an interview on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk. "The aftermath of being beaten up outside the hotel is still ongoing. I've been trying to cope with it as best I can, and I really needed to take a step back from some of the side projects I was engrossed in, just to spend more time at home."
Despite joining Def Leppard on their stadium tour last summer and preparing to do so again in May, Allen revealed that working on other endeavors has taken a significant toll on him. "It's been a genuine struggle for me. Hopefully, I can put it all behind me and return to as normal a life as possible given the circumstances," he said. "But it was incredibly traumatic, and, yes, it's been difficult. But I'm hopeful that I can soon leave it in the past."
Allen shared that he participated in a cruise but found it "arduous" to be amidst so many people at once. "I decided, 'Rick, don't bite off more than you can chew. Just focus on what's in front of you and spend as much time at home as you need,'" he revealed. "I yearn to get back to some of my side projects, particularly my art. Let's hope I can soon."
The arrest report obtained by PEOPLE at the time detailed how Allen was smoking in the valet area outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Fort Lauderdale when his alleged attacker, a 19-year-old visitor from Ohio, emerged from behind a pole and ran "full speed" towards him, striking Allen and causing him to fall backward, his head hitting the ground. The suspect also assaulted a woman who came to Allen's aid, grabbing her by the hair and dragging her out of the hotel lobby after she retreated inside to escape. He fled the scene but was apprehended later when found breaking car windows in a nearby hotel parking lot. He was charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an elderly or disabled adult.
Two months after the assault, Allen spoke about the incident in an interview with Good Morning America, recalling how he "saw this dark flash" before falling on his back and hitting his head on the pavement. "I don't think he knew who I was, but he must've seen that I wasn't a threat because, you know, I've only got one arm," said Allen, who lost his left arm in January 1985 after a car accident. "I immediately felt grateful for having an amazing wife and an incredible family. I started thanking a higher power for still being here."
Allen was in town with Def Leppard for a concert when the attack occurred. Days later, he issued a statement expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received. "Thank you everyone for your support. Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, working on recovering in a safe space," he wrote.
