Def Leppard was at the height of their powers in 1984!
Pyromania became one of the biggest selling albums of all-time, the band finished a massively successful world tour, and at a time when pop ruled the 80's the band had absolute star status after becoming video darlings on the new video channel MTV. The future could look no brighter for drummer Rick Allen, when unfortunately on New Years Eve Allen was involved in a car crash with his then-girlfriend Miriam Barendsen, in his Corvette C4, which hit a dry stone wall. His left arm was entangled in the seat belt and severed, in the car while Allen was flung out. Doctors initially re-attached the arm, but it later had to amputate due to infection, and just like that Rick Allen's world was shattered.
The band refused to look at other drummers as they waited for Rick to recover before making any future plans for their next album. Determined to bounce back from the accident, Allen was genius in creating a way to play the drums with only his right hand. He assembled four electronic pedals for his left foot to play the pieces he used to play with his left arm, which can trigger sounds of a closing hi-hat, bass drum, snare drum, and a tom drum. The rest he plays with his right hand on a fully assembled drum kit. The band was shocked and amazed at his design and began to work with Allen in the studio on their next album "Hysteria".
To see if Rick could play live on tour, Def Leppard took a hiatus from performances until August 5th 1986, which became Allen's first live performance since losing the arm. They continued doing a small run of rehearsal shows in Ireland leading to their comeback on August 16th 1986 at Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington. Joe Elliot announced the return of the Thunder God and Allen made history as the one-armed drummer of one of the biggest bands on the planet.
All Hail The Thunder God!