| Rockin' News for June 22 ,2009, p. 2 |
Drummer’s foundation capitalizes on music’s healing powers
At the height of his group’s worldwide fame in 1984, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen had a
life-changing experience when he lost an arm in a car accident. Instead of letting that stop
him, he found a way to continue his musical career. Seventeen years later, he and his then-
soon-to-be wife, Lauren Monroe, founded the Raven Drum Foundation to share his journey and
help others discover their own paths to recovery.
“I was kind of the inspiration for the thing, and Lauren had the language for some of the
things I went through,” he said in a recent phone call from Nashville as his band was gearing
up for a summer-long tour with Poison and Cheap Trick that brings them to Moosic on Sunday.
“This is our way of helping other people heal.”
“We started from both of our backgrounds,” said Monroe, who is also a musician and has a
master’s in dance choreography, a bachelor’s in education and advanced certification in massage
therapy. “We found we had a lot of things we shared and a lot of things to share with others.”
At the height of his group’s worldwide fame in 1984, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen had a
life-changing experience when he lost an arm in a car accident. Instead of letting that stop
him, he found a way to continue his musical career. Seventeen years later, he and his then-
soon-to-be wife, Lauren Monroe, founded the Raven Drum Foundation to share his journey and
help others discover their own paths to recovery.
“I was kind of the inspiration for the thing, and Lauren had the language for some of the
things I went through,” he said in a recent phone call from Nashville as his band was gearing
up for a summer-long tour with Poison and Cheap Trick that brings them to Moosic on Sunday.
“This is our way of helping other people heal.”
“We started from both of our backgrounds,” said Monroe, who is also a musician and has a
master’s in dance choreography, a bachelor’s in education and advanced certification in massage
therapy. “We found we had a lot of things we shared and a lot of things to share with others.”
The Raven Drum Foundation, founded in 2001 by the couple, who wed in October 2003, is a nonprofit organization based in Malibu, Calif. Its
mission, according to its Web site, is “to serve, educate and empower veterans and people in crisis through the power of the drum.”
The foundation’s Resiliency Program is an innovative healing program for veterans, active-duty military and their families that uses self-care
modalities to aid in healing combat-related trauma and the everyday stress, anxiety and depression the military and their families experience.
“The drum is the vehicle; that’s how we bring the program to those in need,” Allen said. “If you study our ancestry, there was always some
form of percussive instrument used.
“What we do is get in a circle, find the rhythm and help each other.”
Monroe said, “We chose the raven for its significance as a bird of healing. That’s what we’re doing; we are transforming them, and bringing
them to a new place.”
At this summer’s Def Leppard tour stops, including the one at Montage, interested parties can meet with Allen, see his specialized drum kit,
tour the backstage area and watch the show as they are being introduced to the foundation’s work. Def Leppard also is arranging ticket
giveaways to veterans throughout the tour.
For more information, visit the organization’s Web site at www.ravendrumfoundation.org. (Courtesy of timesleader.com)
mission, according to its Web site, is “to serve, educate and empower veterans and people in crisis through the power of the drum.”
The foundation’s Resiliency Program is an innovative healing program for veterans, active-duty military and their families that uses self-care
modalities to aid in healing combat-related trauma and the everyday stress, anxiety and depression the military and their families experience.
“The drum is the vehicle; that’s how we bring the program to those in need,” Allen said. “If you study our ancestry, there was always some
form of percussive instrument used.
“What we do is get in a circle, find the rhythm and help each other.”
Monroe said, “We chose the raven for its significance as a bird of healing. That’s what we’re doing; we are transforming them, and bringing
them to a new place.”
At this summer’s Def Leppard tour stops, including the one at Montage, interested parties can meet with Allen, see his specialized drum kit,
tour the backstage area and watch the show as they are being introduced to the foundation’s work. Def Leppard also is arranging ticket
giveaways to veterans throughout the tour.
For more information, visit the organization’s Web site at www.ravendrumfoundation.org. (Courtesy of timesleader.com)
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Lamb of God to support Metallica on North
American tour
Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD will be the
main support act on the fall leg of METALLICA's North
American tour, starting on September 14 in Nashville and
running through the end of November. According to LAMB
OF GOD drummer Chris Adler, "We will be doing a
considerable amount of headline shows throughout this
tour as well." He added, "This will be our final U.S. tour
of 2009."
LAMB OF GOD's new album, Wrath, has sold 157,000
copies in the United States since its February 24
release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Wrath was produced by Josh Wilbur and was recorded in
studios in New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire.
(Courtesy of blabbermouth.net)
American tour
Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD will be the
main support act on the fall leg of METALLICA's North
American tour, starting on September 14 in Nashville and
running through the end of November. According to LAMB
OF GOD drummer Chris Adler, "We will be doing a
considerable amount of headline shows throughout this
tour as well." He added, "This will be our final U.S. tour
of 2009."
LAMB OF GOD's new album, Wrath, has sold 157,000
copies in the United States since its February 24
release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Wrath was produced by Josh Wilbur and was recorded in
studios in New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire.
(Courtesy of blabbermouth.net)