Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen said he was recovering with his familiy, and thanked supporters for their well-wishes, after being attacked outside his hotel in Florida last week.
Allen shared the statement on social media March 19, saying, “Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support. Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space. We are focusing on healing for everyone involved.”
Allen was allegedly attacked by a 19-year-old man, Max Edward Hartley, according to a Fort Lauderdale Police report obtained by Rolling Stone. Hartley — an Ohio resident visiting the Fort Lauderdale area — was arrested and charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and a count of abusing an elderly or disabled adult after lunging at the musician “at a full run” while outside of the Four Seasons hotel.
Allen’s statement continued, “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. 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.”
The seemingly unprompted attack caused the 59-year-old drummer — who lives with one arm due to a 1984 car accident — to “hit his head on the ground causing injury,” per the report, viewed by Rolling Stone. Hartley was allegedly watching the musician from “behind a pole” before the attack.
After striking Allen, Hartley allegedly hit another woman who had come out to help the musician. “While she is on the ground, the defendant continues to batter her by striking her. [She] attempts to escape by running into the hotel,” the report read. “The defendant then grabs [her] by her hair and drags her out of the lobby and back onto the sidewalk before fleeing the area.”
Hartley was arrested near the Conrad hotel after he damaged “numerous vehicles” in the parking garage, per the report. Allen provided a sworn statement to the police and “expressed his desire” for prosecution.
The incident occurred while Allen and the band were staying in the Fort Lauderdale area for their co-headlining show with Mötley Crüe in the city on March 12.
A rep for the band declined to comment.
This story was updated at 3:10 pm ET to include reference to the police report obtained by Rolling Stone. This story was updated again on 3/20/23 @ 8:44 a.m. ET with a statement from Allen.
