Def Leppard’s Inspirational Drummer Rick Allen Is Rocking The Art Scene!

Rick Allan, the drummer for 80’s iconic band Def Leppard, put his artistic skills on display at The Wentworth Gallery in Short Hills, NJ Saturday night. Those ‘of a certain age’ (cough cough), best know Rick as the guy providing the beat behind some of our favorite hits like Pour Some Sugar On Me, Armageddon It, Hysteria, Photograph… the list goes on. More impressive? He was doing it with only one arm! In 1984, during Def Leppard’s height of fame, an accident caused Rick to lose his left arm. Rather than allow such a tragedy to stop him, he used it as a way to inspire and give hope. Structuring a drum kit that allowed his left foot to fill in for his missing arm while retraining his brain, Rick successfully continued his rockstar destiny. Mr. Allen not only showed an ability to persevere through his own life’s challenges, he reached out to help others. Known for his work with veterans and helping wounded warriors, he has also reached out to at-risk youth, teenage cancer patients, as well as families of domestic violence. A true hero. It is no wonder he is admired by fans across the world.

Wentworth Gallery packed with excited fans.

It was in 2012 though that Rick put his other creative passions on display. His debut exhibit featuring 300 pieces sold out! Having an abstract style of using drumsticks to create rhythm seemed to hit the right ‘beat’ with art connoisseurs. It was after releasing another sold-out collection in 2013, titled “Rock On Canvas”, that  Rick partnered with Wentworth Gallery to display his work across the country.

A Rick Allen original.

Warmly greeting the fans!

“Music and photography have been passions of mine since I was a boy, and now I am bringing these artistic expressions to life with paint, light, and canvas. My life has been a journey of transformation, and my art is a reflection of the many facets of dreams and perceptions that have shaped me to be the person I am today.” – Rick Allen, Source: Modern Drummer

A variety of stunning pieces on display.

Shown center is a heartwarming piece in honor of the late Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark.

I must admit, that while I consider myself a big fan of Def Leppard, I only recently became aware of Mr. Allen’s artistic endeavors. It was by pure chance that I noticed his event listed this weekend… or, was it fate? Either way, the opportunity to see a childhood icon display a shared passion was one that could not be missed. While I was unable to actually speak with Mr. Allen, it was a pleasure to view his incredible artwork and to observe his genuine love for the artistic realm. His breathtaking collection contains mixed-media originals utilizing his personal photography, light art, and painting.

Rick incorporated a photograph of his daughter into a breathtaking work of art.

Creativity beyond the canvas.

“Each piece has a story and a connection to my life from my roots in England, my life-changing car accident, journey to America, travels around the globe, and to my deep connection to Wounded Warriors and their struggle to heal.” – Rick Allen, Source: Modern Drummer

Examples of Rick’s ‘Phonebooth’ and ‘Flag’ series of work.

Excited buyers meeting Mr.Allen.

A personalized dedication on all the purchased pieces.

The Wentworth Gallery director indicated that Rick tries to take part in exhibiting every year. I very much look forward to attending another event and hopefully being a buyer. 🙂 To put a price on art is challenging, but it is heartwarming to know that a part of the proceeds from each sale during the event is donated to Project Resiliency’s Warrior Resiliency Program. A worthy cause indeed. Follow Rick Allen on social media to keep updated with his latest news and appearances. Facebook: @theofficialrickallen Twitter: @rickallenlive

Check out the video below to experience Rick’s exhibits. Do you wanna get rocked?