Rick Allen, the legendary drummer from Def Leppard, broke his silence nearly one week after being attacked outside the Four Seasons Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The 59-year-old musician expressed gratitude for the “overwhelming support” following the unprovoked attack last week when Max Hartley, 19, allegedly knocked him over near the valet stand while Allen was smoking a cigarette. Allen was injured when he hit his head on the ground, according to police.
“Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support,” he wrote on Twitter. “Your love and prayers are truly helping.
“My wife Lauren was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space.”
DEF LEPPARD’S DRUMMER RICK ALLEN ATTACKED BY 19-YEAR-OLD: POLICE
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen broke his silence Sunday on the unprovoked attack at his Florida hotel that left him with a head injury. (Michael Tran)
“We are focusing on healing for everyone involved,” Allen 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.”
DEF LEPPARD DRUMMER RICK ALLEN ‘DIDN’T WANT TO BE HERE’ AFTER LOSING HIS ARM
Upon witnessing the attack, an unnamed woman came to Allen’s defense and was then also attacked by Hartley, who then knocked her to the ground and began repeatedly striking her.
She was able to return to the hotel and was followed by Hartley. He then allegedly pulled her hair and dragged her outside before fleeing the area.
Police later released 911 audio tapes that led to Hartley’s arrest. In the first call, a woman working security for the Four Seasons called around three minutes after the alleged attack.
Rick Allen is healing following a vicious attack in Florida last week (Getty Images)
“Apparently a guest, some guy assaulted her and was actually beating her up in front of the front of our building,” the woman told dispatch, adding that the female victim was in the lobby of the hotel, but the suspect had fled. She didn’t mention Allen.
Another frantic caller who said the suspect was trying to break into his restaurant – the Wine Garden, which is near the Four Seasons – told 911, “Send the police here right now!…I’m sitting on a f—–g suspect.”
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A third caller from the nearby Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Hilton said, “I have an individual who has been running around breaking windows and has beat up a couple of guests at the Four Seasons, as well.” He added the suspect was allegedly “very highly intoxicated.”
Allen learned how to drum again after losing his arm in a near-fatal collision in 1984. (Chelsea Lauren)
The English rock band formed in the late ’70s, and found fame with “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” and “Hysteria.” (Michael Ochs Archives)
Authorities later found Hartley damaging vehicles in a nearby parking garage.
“To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community we are thinking of you all,” Allen wrote. “Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times. Rick Allen & Lauren Monroe.”
Following the attack, Allen gave a statement to police requesting prosecution for Hartley.
Police noted in the report that the victim had lost his arm in 1984. Allen was involved in a near-fatal car crash that year that took his left arm. Afterward, he had to re-teach himself how to play drums.
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Fox News Digital’s Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
