Def Leppard gig to aid stricken friend

Members of legendary rock band Def Leppard will step on stage in Birmingham this weekend to raise money for their "sixth member", who is from the Black Country and fighting a devastating illness.

Vivian Campbell and Joe Elliott have confirmed they will be playing – and it is also thought that one-armed drummer Rick Allen may also put in an appearance – at the Doin' The Decent Thing gig at The Roadhouse, Stirchley, on Sunday.

They are rallying, together with members of Uriah Heep and The Fabulous E Numbers, to help Dick Decent, from Dudley, who has toured with them as keyboard player and who they describe as their "sixth Leppard".

Dick, of Boundary Hill, Lower Gornal, was struck by fluroquinolone toxicity syndrome two years ago, caused by poisoning after taking antibiotics. He said today:

"It's very touching and moving that the lads from Def Leppard, as well as other bands, are coming to this little venue to raise awareness of this illness and raise money for me."

Dick, aged 51, who runs the Decent Pie Studios in Dudley, lives with his partner, Sara Beardes and their two children, Sophie and Harry Beardes-Hancocks.

He said today that he had spent the family's life savings of £20,000 on therapy in Georgia after being left often unable to walk, get out of bed, work or perform on stage, by the poisoning after taking antibiotics for a minor prostate infection. He has also bought a £1,200 laser machine to relieve some of the symptoms and is spending 300 dollars a month on drugs from America to treat his illness.

He plans to attend Sunday's gig, which runs from 3.30pm to 11.30pm, but he is not yet sure if he will be well enough to join the bands on stage.

Def Leppard star Joe Elliott said: "Unfortunately, Dick has been struck down with very nasty side effects from a prescription drug called Ciprofloaxin.

"Since then, Dick has been unable to work either at the university where he lectured, or on stage with the many bands that he had toured with previously.

"Daily life has become a nightmare of pain. Most days he is unable to even walk as the pain is so severe."

Tickets for the event cost £7.50 and are available from www.theroadhouserocks.com