By Gina Morton
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen said anyone who attends the band's concert in Scranton on Sunday is bound to have a "jolly good time." But he has more to offer.
Allen and his wife, Lauren Monroe, are the founders of the Raven Drum Foundation, an organization that seeks to heal individuals through drumming.
"I'm kind of the inspiration for the foundation itself," he said. "... I'm coming from a place of experience."
Allen was involved in a serious car accident on Dec. 31, 1984, outside his hometown, Sheffield, England. In the accident, he lost his left arm, but he returned to drumming after his recovery.
"It's not something that I had to learn to do, I was thrown into it," he said. "One comment I always get is, 'I don't know what I would have done if I went through what you did.' Well, neither do I, but the logical thing is to help other people who are going through similar things."
At the time, Monroe helped him through the experience, and he was able to recover much easier than he would have otherwise.
She said music was the center of Allen's recovery, and after seeing the benefit it had for them both, they decided to help others.
So they established the foundation in 2001 and have been working with individuals around the world since.
"We developed the foundation around what we began doing," Monroe said. "We work with drums and lead people through healing with guided imagery, breathing, teaching how to relieve stress through acupuncture, stretching. Along with drumming, it turned out to be a powerful experience and gave people a way to balance their lives."
The process is based on a drumming circle, although there are a variety of programs. One is a community drum circle, where everyone is invited and specific rhythms are played. Monroe said the contrast of silence and drum rhythms has an effect on people.
Additional smaller programs are becoming the main focus "” including one working with veterans, active servicemen and women and their families. Even the practitioners who work with the veterans are involved.
Focus on veterans
They have worked with a variety of other individuals as well, such as at-risk teens in penitentiaries and medium-security facilities, cancer patients, women recovering from domestic violence and those with special needs. But they plan to focus more attention on veterans.
"There's such a tremendous need," Monroe said. "With all the amputees coming home, because (Allen) has been through the recovery process and found a unique way to create balance in his life, that's why we're focusing on that."
Allen said it's been amazing to share his experiences with others, and he finds it comforting to know he can help others deal with what he has been facing himself.
"It's fantastic being able to walk into a room and not necessarily use words to connect with people," he said.
Support systems
Allen and Monroe said they will continue to establish events in hopes of giving individuals tools they can take home with them and use to create support systems in their communities.
And the response from those taking part in the events has been wonderful, they said.
"People don't know what to expect," Monroe said. "Fans (of Allen) come if there's a big event, and a lot of times they just want to see Rick and feel the Def Leppard vibe, but by the end of it they are like, 'wow', they never thought they'd experience something like this."
Allen agreed.
"It's really a trick," he said, joking. "We bamboozle them into coming to Raven Drum, they think it's a Def Leppard thing, and they get there and realize it's completely different."
And every circle they hold has a slightly different aspect, and intense things happen for those involved, Monroe said. People experience breakthrough moments and those with limitations discover new ways to express themselves.
A lot of times there are tears, she said, especially from Allen.
"Normally it's me who ends up crying," he said with a laugh. "I tend to be that way. I see where I'm still going through my process and everyone goes through theirs. You never categorically say you're finished, it's like peeling back layers of an onion. You really discover new aspects, finer aspects, of the same thing.
More information about the Raven Drum Foundation can be found online at www.ravendrumfoundation.org, and the couple encouraged individuals to stop by an event.
Still touring
But as the foundation continues to gain popularity, Allen and Monroe still travel with his original band and continue to entertain fans with their well-known hits.
"What we've seen over the years is a massive cross section of population," he said. "It's fantastic. With Def Leppard, you hear the music and you're like 'wow,' it piques your curiosity and once you see us live and experience the participation in the classic songs, everyone singing along, you're hooked."
"The music is timeless," Allen said. "For the last six years, we've been touring every year. We're working more recently then we ever have. We're really blessed."
