http://www.toacorn.com/news/2003/0717/Front_Page/001.html Drum foundation beats to heal Rick Allen, the one-armed drummer of rock supergroup Def Leppard, brought his Raven Drum Foundation to town Sunday and hosted a Drum Circle at the Chumash Interpretive Center in the Lang Ranch area. Allen, who started with the rock group at age 15, lost his left arm in a 1984 automobile accident. Meeting the challenge of keeping his career alive, Allen devised a drum set that allows his left leg to take over the drumming actions usually accomplished with the left arm. The accident and his subsequent recovery took the path from a life in the fast lane of the rock world to a life of spiritual enrichment. Lauren Monroe, co-founder of the foundation that started in 2001, said that the drum circle was for the "empowerment of the spirit," of those attending. "At the Raven Drum Foundation, we educate the spirit through the arts. We bring people together and try to empower them no matter what challenges they may face." She said the foundation will work with those fighting substance abuse, physical challenges, abused women and many other areas. A drum circle is basically a group of people sitting or standing in a circle playing drums and percussion instruments together. It is a time-tested method for bringing people together, helping them connect to one another and making them stronger for that connection. Allen said that once everyone's ancestors sat around a fire together to stay together for survival. He said that the drum is an elemental, ancient form of communication that works to bond those within the circle. There are no solos in the drum circle. For more on the Raven Drum Foundation, call (310) 586-7647, or visit www.ravendrumfoundation.org. -John Phane Copyright © 2003 J.Bee Publications All Rights Reserved