here's phil lipof. >> reporter: he's been one of the best drummers of all time, with hits like "pour some sugar on me." def leppard has sold more 100 million records worldwide. all the money that comes with it, those who know rick best tell you that's not what's most impressive about him. to really understand that, we need to go back to the '80s. rick joined def leppard when he was just 15. by the time he was 21, the band was a huge success. rick was on top of the world. >> hi, we're def leppard on mtv. music television 24 hours a day. >> reporter: and then, you buy a corvette. >> ah, yeah. >> reporter: december 31st, 1984. an afternoon drive in that corvette would change the course of rick's life. the crash happened fast. it was a violent rollover. his right arm broken. his left arm gone. this picture taken of rick the first day out of the hospital. it would be the first day of the rest of his life. relearning how to do everything from water-skiing and shooting pool to playing drums with just one arm. the band stood by rick, and when he was strong enough, def leppard went on recordi