From: "Mike N. Reinemann" Date sent: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 01:57:25 -0400 Subject: Def Leppard's Rick Allen has every reason to be euphoric. July 30, 1999 It's From baby formula to Formula One racing, those are the important things in life for Def Lep's drummer Sandra Sperounes Journal Music Writer Edmonton Def Leppard's Rick Allen has every reason to be euphoric. The British rockers were almost written off after their last album, Slang, failed to make a noticeable dent on the charts. Now, the erasers are out as the band's ninth and latest album, Euphoria, has already spawned a Top 10 single, Promises. "It's a classic Def Leppard song. It could be any one of five or six songs and as soon as you hear it, it conjures up the classic sound of Def Leppard," says Allen, a 21-year veteran of the group. Despite the quintet's turnaround in fortunes, Allen is not all that pleased. The 35-year-old drummer would rather be at home with his wife and two- year-old daughter than on the road plugging the new disc. "I mind touring," he says curtly and emphatically. As Sammy Hagar is attached to his Mexican bar, Allen is attached to his family. While his bandmates were recording Euphoria at singer Joe Elliott's pad in Dublin, Ireland, Allen added the drum tracks from his own home in Sheffield, England, so he wouldn't have to leave his wife and baby. "I felt like I was taking care of a very important part of my life," he says. "And I think my state of mind was more important than me being there for the making of the album." In hindsight, it was a smart decision. It took the band 10 months to record the disc. During that time, the band collaborated with former producer Mutt Lange and an unlikely musician, Formula One driver Damon Hill. Lange co-wrote three of the tunes on Euphoria while Hill played guitar on Demolition Man. Allen speaks highly of the band's work with Lange, the man who produced four of Def Leppard's best albums, including 1982's Pyromania and 1987's Hysteria. "It was a huge, huge education," says Allen of Lange's input on Euphoria. "It was like a refresher course to remind us how we used to do it. He's very creative, a great musician, a great singer. He really is the perfect person to work with." Not so perfect was Damon Hill. Allen treats the band's collaboration with the Formula One driver as little more than a joke. As Allen tells it, Hill got involved after meeting the album's producer, Pete Woodroofe at a Christmas party. "I think Pete was just being polite and saying, 'Come over. Maybe you can play a solo or two.' Maybe Pete had the odd glass of beer too many," says Allen. Hill took it seriously. He turned up at Elliott's house the next day, with a guitar strapped to his back. And the verdict? "He's a great driver," says Allen, who also has a penchant for racing. He likes to drive go-karts every so often, even though he lost his left arm in a car accident 15 years ago. Many Formula One insiders think Hill should go back to racing go-karts too. He's had a dismal season this year and some feel he should retire. Allen doesn't agree. "I'd say don't give up your day job," he chuckles snidely. His tone and comments finally turn sincere when talking about his daughter, Lauren. Earlier this week, Allen got a chance to spend time with her in New York as the band was recording a special for VH1's Storytellers. Lauren even attended the taping of the program, but got pooped out waiting for Alanis Morissette to finish her segment. "By the time everything was done, she was getting tired and all she wanted to do was sit on dad's knee and play drums," says Allen. "So I put her on my knee and played drums for awhile. Then, a few people started cheering and she was like, 'Wow! This is fun.' " But Allen doesn't think Lauren will necessarily follow in her father's footsteps. He believes kids of all ages like to bang on a drum kit. "It's just getting in touch with that rhythmic side of you," he says. "Anybody can play drums." Even Damon Hill.