Page 68 - Classic Rock - The Complete Story of Def Leppard 2019
P. 68
RICK ALLEN
BRIAN RASIC/GETTY
Their faith was rewarded not long after Band of brothers: But I listen to On Through The Night now was actually being conscious after I left
Hysteria-era
with the Phonogram deal, What do you and I really like it. I have no problems the car… I’d been trying to pass this car
Leppard, hanging
you think of the band’s first album On out backstage. with it. For maybe a couple of years after but every time I tried to pass him, he
Through The Night now? we made it I wasn’t as happy as I could would speed up. Finally, after about four
I think at the time all the songs were tried have been but that’s what happens with miles of this, I put my foot down and
and trusted. Nothing really needed to get experience… passed him but it was a left-hand drive car
changed in the studio. There’s always that and I didn’t really see this corner that was
danger when you’re a new band that all Recording the follow-up, High ’N’ Dry, coming up and ended up rolling the car.
you have to do is take the songs into a was Mutt Lange’s perfectionism initially As it rolled the seatbelt came undone and
studio and record them – because you’ve a pain? Or exciting? I was catapulted through the sunroof.
played them so often on the stage you It was exciting. He had this really gifted Fortunately, I had the sunroof open – but
don’t need to hone them. So, really, Tom way of challenging you without telling the seatbelt took my arm off and that
Allom’s job was not being a producer as you that you were doing it wrong – so you stayed inside the car while I landed in a
such – it was more recording the songs. ended up challenging yourself. You really field yards away.
There was a little bit of production here wanted it to be as good as it could be. You It was the fact that I stayed conscious
and there, but nothing like we what we wanted to make Mutt happy. It was like a that saved my life. My body just tensed, so
experienced when we got involved with fast track to self-awareness and actually I didn’t bleed. There was no blood and
when we met Mutt Lange. realising what you could do and what you that’s probably what saved me – initially.
I think we got lulled into a bit of a false couldn’t do, and then pushing that Then I just remember standing up in this
sense of what hard work was because the envelope and so that you became a better field thinking: “I’m a drummer and I’ve
first album seemed too easy to make, the musician and a better person. lost my arm…” It was surreal.
alcohol was flowing way too freely, and Then Roger and Eileen Pearce – Eileen
everything else… it wasn’t really until Inevitably, I’d also like to ask you about was a district nurse and Roger was a cop
High ‘n’ Dry that we got a taste of what the accident… – they were right behind the accident and
hard work was all about. The thing that I remember most clearly were first on the scene. Eileen went and
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