Dokken
Biography
At a time when the charts were ruled by pop-metal acts, Dokken was a major attraction throughout the 1980s. With vocalist Don Dokken's captivating stage presence and guitarist George Lynch's high-energy style, the band combined rockers such as "Kiss of Death" and power ballads such as "Alone Again" in order to create a number of best-selling albums.
Dokken's roots date back to the late '70s, when Lynch, along with drummer Mick Brown, teamed up with Don Dokken to form the Boyz. In 1981, Don moved to Germany and was signed to Carerre Records. The band, now simply known as Dokken, recorded and released Breaking the Chains, their first studio album, in 1983. While the record failed to retain a decent chart position in the United States, the group was immensely popular in Europe.
After a tour in Germany, Dokken was signed to Elektra Records, and Jeff Pilson became their first official bassist. In 1984, the band released Tooth and Nail, which featured the hit songs "Into the Fire," "Just Got Lucky," and "Alone Again." With heavy MTV and radio airplay, Dokken found themselves topping the charts worldwide, and Tooth and Nail eventually sold over one-million copies in the U. S. alone. Following a tour with the Scorpions, the group recorded Under Lock and Key in 1985, which had a similar success due to the hits "In My Dreams" and "It's Not Love." In 1987, the band released Back for the Attack, which featured a track they had written as the subtitle for the third Nightmare on Elm Street film, "Dream Warriors." The coinciding music video, which included scenes of the band interacting with the movie's characters, was their most popular ever, and Back for the Attack became Dokken's third record to reach platinum status. The album's subsequent tour resulted in a live compilation, Beast From the East, which was released shortly before the band broke up in 1988 due to Don Dokken's and Lynch's creative differences.
After the disbanding of Dokken, Don pursued a solo career with Up from the Ashes, and Lynch formed the Lynch Mob, releasing an album in 1990; both releases failed to chart. In 1992, the band reunited, but it wasn't until 1995 when they signed with Columbia Records and released Dysfunctional, which was met with harsh reviews and poor sales. Tensions once again seemed to hover around the group as they recorded the live acoustic release, One Live Night, in 1996 under the CMC label. In 1997, the band released Shadowlife, which was met with a similar response to their past two recordings. In 1998, Lynch left a second time to reunite Lynch Mob, and was replaced with Winger guitarist Reb Beach for 1999's Erase the Slate. This was followed in 2000 by another concert record, Live from the Sun, which captured the Beach lineup at Anaheim's Sun Theater. Beach left the group and was replaced by John Norum, and the group recorded Long Way Home for release in the spring of 2002. In 2003, ex-Warlock guitarist Jonathan Levin and ex-Ted Nugent and Yngwie Malmsteen bassist Barry Sparks joined the group, resulting in the release of Hell to Pay the following year. The band returned to the studio in 2008 for Lightning Strikes Again. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

From Conception: Live 1981
2007

Lightning Strikes Again
2007

Definitive Collection
2006

Back For The Attack
1987

Under Lock And Key
1985

Tooth And Nail
1984
i cant wait....Lync h Mob and Dokken YES Finally! Anahiem in November 2009 at the house of Blues!!!'
IM there!!!! |
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I grew up with DOKKEN-OH YEA! Vocals distingish a great band from an adverage band. But their are alot of great bands today. Metal play on!
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i wish bands like Dokken were around now so we all could have a riot when alternative/ g r u n g e / c r a p took over the radiowaves. i wasnt even born yet when 80s metal bands were around.
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wow,dokken what good memories,i wish that we were still in the 1980's so i could see them live
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Their best album was Dysfunctiona l . I've listened to it ever since I got it some 14 years ago.
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WHOA !! What a blast from the past. Dokken was/is an awesome band, completely agree with aaronthegrea t 2 3 , Lynch among the great shredmasters . Takes me back to my mullet days, excellent memories.
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Tooth and Nail was my first ear splitting intro to Don Dokken's vocals and George Lynch's turn past eleven and rip the knob off amplified guitar. It was as far as I was concerned the best thing I had EVER heard. I was graced with the chance to see the latest incarnation live in concert along with Whitesnake and The Scorpions in Denver
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Dokken is a highly under-rated band. George Lynch punches out some of the best shred guitar work of all time. The guitar work on "Mr. Scary" and "Kiss Of Death" are absolutely awesome. Dokken is a household name for anybody who is as into shred as I am!
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i saw dokken in I think it was fall of '88 or maybe 89... opened for Aerosmith... i was in the front row! it's an awesome memory!
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Saw Dokken @ Scout Bar here San Antonio, TX last week...Don Dokken and his group can still jam BADASS. They may not have the original lineup but their music is heavier and Don Dokken had a great stage presence and good interaction with the audience if anyone has an opportunity to still see them live you won't regret it...Always Remember Their Will Always Be "Old Rockers" but never Old Rappers...
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Hey Drift, I also seen them at the monsters of rock, wow small world. Mine was at Pontiac Silverdome in Mich. That was a long rockin day let me tell ya, miss concerts like that, of course it would cost u a arm and a leg now days.
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Dokken is one of the best bands from the 80's. I'm glad I got to see them when they were original. But the new band is awesome to.
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Dokken was my favorite band from the 80's. I hated it when they broke-up in 89. I was glad when the four premire members got back to together in 1995, but now that they broke-up again I don't know how I feel about thier music.
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Great riffs..... had fun rockin to Dokken. Saw them back during the monsters of rock tour with Van Halen Scorpions Metallica and Kingdom Come. Summer of 88. Good times.
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I saw them in 85' headlining for Sammy Hagar - it was a good concert. Definately a hair band for the times.
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One of the best hair band of the 80's, Don's voice is awesome but have to tell u I seen them in concert and I think there a better studio band then live, but hay thats just me.
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Don Dokken's hair band day's are over. The new and improved Dokken play's some serious rock.
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the new dokken lp is really good this is not some old band trying to cash in on the rep this new lp is really good sounds like classic dokken
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wow dokken takes me way back to high school and the good old days loved them then and still love them now...heavy metal rulez
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Holy crap,, Dokken!!! I wore out Tooth and Nail back then. I love Pandora. Rock on.
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I saw Dokken at the last "TX Jam" the played well and Lynch roasted the audience with his guitar spectacular show.
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dokken real kool heavier edge for the time.i was introduced to george lynch through a friend mike wich i saw his name and number in mikes phone book one day,and i was like wtf?..lol mikes like yea thats a family freinds uncle....rea l l y ? yea well met him and was a really kool dood family man,great love for his passion on that thing he calls a guitar...
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Dokken is still an awesome band and as a musician myself they have made some of my favorite music to play.
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Saw Dokken last week in a club in upstate NY. They really rocked! I was worried it wouldn't be so hot without Lynch (GOD). But Levin was great. Not Lynch great, but it worked. It was a rokken trip down memory lane!
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Wow, I cant remember who they opened for when I seen them. I am thinking it was Loverboy, believe it or not. Well needless to say, the fans were there for Dokken and not Loverboy. :)
I agree with you "hitmannumbe r 8 6 " "With heavy MTV and radio airplay, Dokken found themselves topping the charts worldwide," Talent most lacked, eh? When your the only one that's right, your probably wrong. *Sigh* I can still remember when MTV played music. They don't even know what a video is any longer. |
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