http://www.insidevc.com/vcs/co_valley/article/0,1375,VCS_166_2241413,00.html

Def Leppard percussionist leads drum circle in T.O.

Rick Allen's foundation makes rhythms to heal

By Sue Davis, sdavis@insidevc.com
September 8, 2003

Rick Allen knows the healing power of drums and came to share it in Conejo
Valley on Sunday afternoon.

Allen's nonprofit organization, Raven Drum Foundation, sponsored a drum circle
at Chumash Interpretive Center in Thousand Oaks that was attended by about 70
people.

The drummer from rock group Def Leppard, Allen lost his left arm after his
Corvette rolled over in 1984. He resumed his career by using electronic
technology to adapt his drum kit to his needs and still plays with the group.

"He's a very inspiring guy," said Jeff Turner-Graham of Thousand Oaks. "I kind
of see him as the Lance Armstrong of music."

Allen founded the Raven Drum Foundation with fiancee Lauren Monroe in 2001.

Allen said that the purpose of the organization is to empower and heal others
through drumming and the arts. The group sponsors drum circles to help create a
sense of community and for healing.

"When we come together through drumming and our intention, we can heal ourselves
and make breakthroughs," said Monroe, speaking to the group.

The organization seeks to bring music to cancer patients, at-risk youth, abused
women, and others that need physical or emotional healing.

Led by Allen, Monroe, and others from the Raven Drum Foundation, the group began
playing together, with some people following the beat and drumming vigorously,
others timidly tapping a few beats here and there.

Sitting in a large circle under the shade of ancient oaks, the participants
ranged in age from 3 to senior citizens. A family with three boys in matching
striped shirts sat near tattooed young women in flowing cotton skirts.

They brought drums of all different types. Middle Eastern doumbeks were played
side-by-side with Irish bodhrans and Japanese taiko drums. Raven Drum Foundation
brought a lending library of about 50 brightly-colored drums and percussion
instruments.

"The good thing is that even if you're not a musician, you can still be part of
the group and connect to things that way," said Marcos Lopez-Iglesias, a former
music teacher at Chaparral Elementary School in Calabasas.

Jenni Buchanan brought her 3-year-old daughter, Delaney, who wore a flowered
pink dress and clutched her own tiny drum.

"It's a great cause, the people are wonderful, and I like the fact that drumming
and community can better the world and ourselves," said Buchanan.

The proceeds from Sunday's event were split between Raven Drum Foundation and
the Chumash Interpretive Center.

The center, located off Lang Ranch Parkway, seeks to provide information about
the history and culture of the Chumash people. The facility sponsors educational
programs for school children and the public and has weekend hikes to a cave that
contains rock pictographs.

"They find peace and comfort here because it is such a spiritual place," said
center director Bob Vann as the drum circle played behind him. "People come here
just to get away from the hustle and bustle of life."

2001 © The E.W. Scripps Co.
Ventura County Star