Solid as Oak: Def Leppard Drummer Plays Yamaha

Rick Allen

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Yamaha is proud to announce the addition of Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen to their artist roster. Allen plays Yamaha Oak Custom drums with a matching Subkick. Rick's inspirational story begins when he joined Def Leppard at the age of 15, just before the band signed a major label record contract. At the height of worldwide fame, he lost his left arm in a car accident in 1984. However, Allen did not let the life-altering incident stop him. Instead, with the help of a semi-electronic drum kit, Rick became "a better drummer than he was when he had two arms," as stated by lead vocalist and bandmate Joe Elliott. Def Leppard was one of the top-selling rock bands of the '80s, selling more than 65 millions albums worldwide. They just wrapped a 41-city summer tour with Poison and Cheap Trick in the United States.

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