Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has opened up about the lasting impact of a random attack outside a Florida hotel, revealing that the incident continues to affect him two years later.
The 61-year-old musician discussed the experience during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk, saying he has been going through a difficult period while trying to process what happened.
“I’ve been going through some challenging times, kind of related to what happened in Florida,” Allen said.
“And that whole thing is ongoing, when I got beaten up outside the hotel.”
Allen said the experience prompted him to step back from some of his side projects so he could spend more time at home and focus on recovering.
“That’s been a real challenge for me,” he said, adding that he hopes to eventually put the incident behind him and return to some sense of normality.
“It was very traumatic for me, and yeah, it’s been difficult,” Allen said.
The incident took place in March 2023, when Allen was in Fort Lauderdale for a performance.
He was smoking outside a hotel near the valet area when 19-year-old Max Hartley allegedly ran towards him and knocked him to the ground.
According to police reports at the time, Allen hit his head on the ground during the fall and suffered injuries.
A woman who witnessed the incident reportedly intervened, but Hartley allegedly attacked her as well, knocking her down and repeatedly striking her.
She managed to return to the hotel, but police said Hartley followed her, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her outside.
Hartley was later arrested after fleeing the scene.
Police said he was found by hotel staff walking through a nearby parking garage and allegedly damaging vehicles.
He faced multiple charges, including felony criminal mischief, misdemeanor battery and aggravated battery.
The attack was particularly traumatic for Allen given his history of overcoming a devastating injury.
In 1984, the drummer was involved in a near-fatal car crash that resulted in the loss of his left arm.
Despite the life-changing injury, he taught himself to play drums again and continued his career with Def Leppard.
After the 2023 attack, Allen thanked fans for their support and said he and his wife, Lauren, were focusing on healing in a safe environment.
Now, as Def Leppard prepares for its stadium tour this summer, Allen remains committed to performing while continuing to deal with the psychological aftermath of the assault.
He said he hopes to move forward soon and get back to normal “given the circumstances”.
