INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Oct. 16, 2009) 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 contribution to the world of drumming is legendary. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him join our Yamaha family, and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with him,” comments John Wittman, Manager of Artist Relations for Yamaha Corporation of America.
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.
In 1986, Rick’s drumkit was completely electronic, but since 1995, many more parts are acoustic again, depending on his studio or live setting.
Def Leppard became a household name in 1983 with their hit single “Photograph.” Their second album Hysteria featuring “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Love Bites” and “Armageddon” skyrocketed their fame to a whole new level, and the band went on to become 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.
For more information on Yamaha artists or the extensive Yamaha product catalog, please visit
www.yamaha.com.
