DNA. We can’t get away from that. It’s part of our ancient past. Standing around a fire in mourning or celebrating, it seems drumming was a way to celebrate or otherwise. Speaking of high-octane careers that are known to take their toll on physical health and personal lives—does being a busy touring musician still come with high levels of pressure and anxiety? It’s part of being an adrenaline junky. The difference in my situation is that I understand my own anxiety before I play. These days I really have to give it up to a higher power and trust that everything is going to work out. As soon as I count the band in for that first song, time becomes so condensed. A 90-minute show feels like about 15 minutes. Once you’re on, everything falls into place. It becomes this open-eyed meditation. I call it the zone. The problem [for people suffering from extreme anxiety] is when you think you’re managing the trauma but, in reality, you’re not—and the people around you will see the vulnerabilities. Susan [Farren] says— you can’t read the label from inside the jar. They’re the people we really want to help. Ozzy Osbourne was instrumental in Def Leppard’s early success, bringing you guys on as the opening act for the American leg of his Blizzard of Ozz tour in 1981. What are your memories of Ozzy? Ozzy influenced a lot of people, inspired a lot of people. He was a wild man. Between him and Sharon they really embraced Def Leppard. Took us out in ‘81 on the Blizzard of Oz tour—what an education. It was pretty amazing. Just very thankful to them for embracing us and taking us under their wing. My brother worked for Def Leppard and then left in ‘84 just before my accident and, through his dealing with Def Leppard, he ended up tour managing Ozzy Osbourne. I visited them a few times in England. We got to know Ozzy, good and bad. He could be a wild man, but what an incredible career. It was just so sad he went through that concert [Black Sabbath’s final show, “Back to the Beginning,” on July 5, 2025]—and then weeks later he was gone. Maybe he needed some sort of closure. Def Leppard will celebrate 50 years in 2027. When the Rolling Stones turned 50 in 2013, Charlie Watts, their late drummer, remarked that at that point in his life he considered drumming for the band a “job,” but one he gets to work
with his best friends. Is Def Leppard a job, or something more? Good question. I know what [Charlie Watts] means when he said it’s a job. In many respects it is. There are rules around what’s expected of me and the high standard I hold for myself. As a team, we’re unstoppable. I have a certain standard and refuse to drop below that standard. Every single person who comes to a Def Leppard show is in for a treat and they deserve that. My behavior should not have any bearing on my position as an active member of the band. Has the job gotten easier or harder? We’ve got all the wisdom of playing all these years. There was room for some craziness in the early days, but now we have this legacy we want to maintain. It begs for people to keep coming back. We take a lot of pride in how much work we put into this—the most important thing is to maintain the standard. The Stones keep raising the bar. They’re 20 years older than us. We have no room for any complaints. You turn 62 next month. It seems one of the band’s most well-known choruses— “rock of ages, still rollin,’ keep a-rollin’”— has played out. My daughter is about the age I was when I embarked upon a most incredible career. I guess kids were different back then. I know what I wanted to do and wasn’t bogged down in technology. I try to convey to kids these days what it was like to grow up without technology and actually hang out with real people. Dronfield [Allen’s hometown in Derbyshire] was a nice, soft landing to grow up in. Dirt bikes and playing soccer with friends. It rained a lot in England. And to think, all these bands that came from a tiny little island. g
Raven Drum Foundation R aven Drum Foundation was born in 2001 from the idea that powerful healing comes from mindful experiences of learning and community interaction. As the foundation says at its website: “Our experience shows us that when music, intention and healing wisdom all meet on the path of evidence- based science and psychology we can harmonize our inner mental and emotional states to effect positive change in all states of wellness and disease.” Since launching, the foundation has served nearly 50,000 people, around half coming from the military community. Raven Drum has allocated funds to 14 nonprofits that support veterans and first responders. Raven Drum hosts drum circles which provide skills and methods to navigate physical and emotional symptoms of trauma, anxiety, pain and isolation. “Drum circles are a place to heal,” the foundation says at ravendrumfoundation.org . “When we come into one, we enter a sacred place as a community without judgment and mistrust, with respect and compassion to heal one another and bring into focus the possibilities of who we truly are.” For information on upcoming events, visit ravendrumfoundation. org . Those who can’t attend an event, can instead donate to purchase a seat for a first responder or veteran.
Please email comments to jwalsh@NorthBaybiz.com
October 2025
NorthBaybiz 29
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker