<Tr> <Th> Associated acts </Th> <Td> Def Leppard </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> rickallen.com </Td> </Tr> <P> Richard John Cyril Allen (born 1 November 1963) is an English drummer who has played for the hard rock band Def Leppard since 1978 . He overcame the amputation of his left arm in 1985 and continued to play with the band, which subsequently went on to its most commercially successful phase . He is known as "The Thunder God" by fans . </P> <P> Allen started playing drums at the age of nine . He performed in bands called Grad, Smokey Blue, Rampant, and the Johnny Kalendar Band . When Allen was 14, his mother replied on his behalf to an advertisement placed by a band called "Def Leppard" looking for a drummer to replace Tony Kenning ("Leppard loses skins" was the advertisement's headline). Later, on 1 November 1978, his 15th birthday, Allen joined the band . In 1979, he dropped out of school (other band members left their jobs around the same time) to concentrate on a career in music . In September 1979, they opened for Sammy Hagar at London's Hammersmith Odeon . Subsequently, Def Leppard played shows as a support act for AC / DC during October and November 1979 . Allen celebrated his 16th birthday with a performance at the Hammersmith Odeon . On 14 March 1980, the band released their first album, On Through the Night . Since their first album, Allen continues to record and tour with the band . </P>

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