Def Leppard’s Rick Allen thanks fans for support after Florida attack
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has spoken out after he was assaulted in Florida last week, thanking fans for their “overwhelming support”.
Allen, 59, was attacked outside the Four Seasons hotel in Fort Lauderdale on March 13. Police arrested Max Hartley, 19, who allegedly threw the musician to the ground, and has since been charged with four counts of criminal mischief, one count of misdemeanour battery and one count of aggravated battery, according to ABC News.
A woman who tried to intervene during the incident – which took place the day after the band performed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel – was also allegedly attacked.
In a series of tweets shared yesterday (March 19), the musician wrote: Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support. Your love and prayers are truly helping.”
He also confirmed that his wife, Lauren Monroe, was not with him during the attack. “We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space,” he wrote.
(1/3) Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support. Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space. pic.twitter.com/e8mIbSwFiu
— Rick Allen (@rickallenlive) March 19, 2023
(2/3) We are focusing on healing for everyone involved. We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy. We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people.
— Rick Allen (@rickallenlive) March 19, 2023
(3/3) To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community we are thinking of you all. Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times.
Rick Allen & Lauren Monroe— Rick Allen (@rickallenlive) March 19, 2023
“We are focusing on healing for everyone involved. We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy. We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people,” he continued.
He concluded: “To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community we are thinking of you all. Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times.”
Lawyer Sam Halpern described Hartley as an “extremely sweet young man” who had “never been in trouble with the law before”, according to the Miami Herald. Halpern did not comment on the alleged attack.
Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe will kick off the UK and European and leg of their co-headline tour in Sheffield on May 22, which includes a date at London’s Wembley Arena on July 1.
The bands toured North America last summer, writing in a statement that they were “beyond thrilled to be bringing this massive stadium tour to major cities all over the world”. They will return to North America additional US dates in August, where Alice Cooper will open in New York, Ohio, Texas and more.
