Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen Allegedly Attacked Outside Hotel

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was allegedly attacked outside a Four Seasons Hotel in South Florida. 19-year-old Max Edward Hartley was arrested following the violent incident.

As a police report shared by The Daily Mail notes, Hartley was apparently hiding behind a pillar before he attacked Allen, causing the drummer to fall and hit his head and become injured. The Daily Mail has contacted Def Leppard for comment but hasn’t yet received a response.

The police confirmed that Allen “hit his head on the ground causing injury,” Not long after, a woman rushed to his aid before Hartley allegedly attacked her as well.

According to the police report, “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 defendant then grabs [her] by her hair and drags her out of the lobby and back onto the sidewalk before fleeing the area.”

Hartley then attempted to flee the scene but was arrested while he was breaking car windows near the hotel.

In a sworn statement, Allen said that he wanted Hartley prosecuted. Hartley has been charged with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief, and abusing an “elderly or disabled adult,” Consequence Of Sound reports.

Rick Allen lost his left arm in 1984 following a tragic car accident but continued to play with Def Leppard, learning that he could use his legs for some of the drumming his left arm used to do.

A few months ago, Def Leppard were chosen to lead a series of comic books based on real-life musicians, alongside Metallica, The Beach Boys, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, and Redman. 

Headshell, coming from Vault Comics, is dedicated to presenting “original stories inspired by artists' careers and music, giving fans an all-new way to connect with the artists and music they love,” the website reads. 

Brian Monaco, Sony Music Publishing President and Global Chief Marketing Officer, shared, "We're honoured to partner with Def Leppard and Vault Comics to help bring Headshell's Hysteria to life. There are many exciting opportunities for songwriters across the graphic novel space, and I look forward to working with Vault to amplify the stories of SMP songwriters further."