On this day in music history…
In 1984, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a serious car crash. Allen, who was 21 years old at the time, was driving his Corvette C4 near Sheffield, England, on a country road. He was attempting to pass another car when he lost control of his vehicle on a curve. Allen’s car rolled several times and he was ejected through the sunroof. His left arm, however, got tangled in his seat belt, and it was severed from his body when he was thrown from the car. A reattachment surgery was unsuccessful after doctors discovered an infection. With the support of his bandmates, Allen learned how to play the drums with only three limbs. One and a half years after the crash, Allen triumphantly returned to the stage with Def Leppard.
In 2015, Mötley Crüe played the last show of their Final Tour at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the band’s hometown. Despite the tour literally being billed as “The Final Tour,” Mötley Crüe announced their return to touring in 2019.
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