Dokken Greatest Hits 2

by Deb Rao
Staff Writer

’80s rock band Dokken will release their Greatest Hits 2 album via Cleopatra Records on May 4. Dokken first burst onto the Hollywood scene in the early ’80s with their catchy pop songs featuring the melodic vocals of Don Dokken and guitar virtuoso George Lynch. In 1997, George Lynch left the band and Dokken went though many guitarists including Reb Beach, John Norum, and Alex DeRosso before finally finding the perfect replacement Jon Levin.

The Greatest Hits 2 features a re-mastered version of the Dokken hits that launched the band into the heyday of metal mania. Although Don is singing in a lower key than the early Sunset Strip days, the songs that we grew up with stand the test of time. The Dokken front man has always been a wiz in the studio as this album, as this release is well balanced and illustrates a modern day twist to the ’80’s hits.

Opening track “Just Got Lucky” has the Dokken signature guitar sound as the band slams into their first hit “Breaking The Chains.” In comparison to “Beast From The East Live”, Dokken’s Greatest Hits 2 features a mix that is crisp and clear with no overdubs or singer or guitarist battling over the control levels.

Highlights of the CD include “ The Hunter”, “Alone Again” which features a great guitar intro that is angelic and “Unchain The Night.” One of re-masters that is really impressive is the hit song that was featured in Nightmare On Elm Street entitled, “Dream Warriors.” This version is a total remake of the original version that was heavier. The new version has more of an acoustic feel that gives the song a new ambiance. The only remake that really doesn’t work is “Tooth And Nail.” There is something about the timing that pushes the song into overdrive and the vocals are pushed to hard.

There are two hidden gems for the die-hard Dokken fans which includes the new single, “Almost Over”, and “Magic Man.” The song “Almost Over” picks up where Lightning Strikes Again left off. Don Dokken and Jon Levin are a great writing team and the two new songs leaves you wanting more original music. One thing that is quite noticeable on this album is that Don Dokken sings these Dokken hits with much conviction and passion. Also the cover of the Hollies tune, “Bus Stop” was a fun twist for the band showcasing their diversity.

Overall the true Dokken fans won’t be disappointed with the updated versions of the songs. It would have been exciting if the CD also had a new live DVD to accompany it.

Genre: Hard Rock

Band:
Don Dokken – Vocals
Jon Levin – Guitar
Mick Brown – Drums
Sean McNabb – Bass

Track Listing:
1. Just Got Lucky
2. Breaking The Chains
3. Into The Fire
4. The Hunter
5. In My Dreams
6. It’s Not Love
7. Alone Again
8. Dream Warriors
9. Unchain The Night
10. Tooth And Nail
11. Almost Over
12. Magic Man
13.Bus Stop (The Hollies Cover)

Label: Cleopatra Records

www.myspace.com/dokken  

Hardrock Haven Rating: 7/10

Dokken Live!

June 27, 2009 at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, Penn.

by Deb Rao
Staff Writer

Dokken is currently embarking on a Summer tour and performed to packed venues at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, Penn. and Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, Penn.

Although the cast of characters has changed, Dokken is still selling out venues across the country and in 2009 is a force to be reckoned with. I recently caught up with Dokken at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster. The Dokken line-up featured Don Dokken on vocals, Jon Levin on guitar, Mick Brown on drums, and bassist Greg Smith, who is filling in for Dokken bassist Barry Sparks who is on the UFO tour this summer.

Dokken hit the stage at 10:30 P.M. and performed a 90-minute set of all of their hits. Opening with “Breaking The Chains,” the crowd was ready to rock to the hard driving catchy grooves that Dokken are known to unleash.

Do you remember when metal clubs were 100 degrees, and packed with metal fans hungry for a night out on the town filled with hard driving metal? Well, that was the atmosphere here tonight at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster. The club featured a 2-tier wooden decor nightclub with a balcony filled with metal fans old school and young.

Dokken ripped through all the hits including, “The Hunter,” “Just Got Lucky,” and “Tooth And Nail.” Don Dokken sounded strong on vocals, and captivated the audience with his melodic vocals and stories. Guitarist Jon Levin shredded out the Dokken hits with perfection. Wild Mick Brown held down the backbone of the band with his hard-hitting groove along side bassist Greg Smith.

The band played an extended version of “Too High To Fly” from the Dysfunctional album. Everybody jammed and showcased their talent. Highlight of the set had to be “It’s Not Love,” and new song “This Fire” which has the signature catchy Dokken groove written all over it.

The band ended the set with “In My Dreams”, as the packed house screamed for more. One thing was for sure, in this day of ever changing musical trends, DOKKEN has survived the odds. Proving that good songs, and outstanding singing really do outlast the test of time. Be sure to catch Dokken on tour this summer.

Dokken Set List:
Breaking The Chains
Kiss of Death
The Hunter
Into The Fire
Just Got Lucky
Too Hugh To Fly
Alone Again
When Heaven Comes Down
It’s Not Love
Tooth and Nail
This Fire
In My Dreams

Dokken Updated Tour Schedule:
Appearing with Scorpions
Sat 07/11/09 Crete, Greece Municipal Stadium Of Perivolia
Fri 07/17/09 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theatre
Sat 07/18/09 Grants, NM Fire & Ice Park
Appearing at “Halfway Jam”
Fri 07/24/09 Royalton, MN Halfway Jam
Appearing at “Dakota Rock Fest”
Sat 07/25/09 Sioux Falls, SD Festival Grounds
Fri 07/31/09 Ogden, UT Teazer’s
Sat 08/01/09 Jerome, ID Diamondz
Appearing at “Wisconsin State Fair”
Fri 08/07/09 West Allis, WI Wisconsin State Fair Park
Sat 08/15/09 Chicopee, MA Maximum Capacity
Mon 08/17/09 Ocean City, NJ Ocean City Music Pier
Appearing at “Rock Gone Wild”
Sat 08/22/09 Algona, IA Freedom Park
Sat 09/05/09 Julian, NC Piedmont Dragway
Appearing at “Septemberfest” Omaha
Sun 09/06/09 Omaha, NE Qwest Center Omaha
Appearing with Great White
Fri 10/09/09 Mount Pleasant, MI Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Sat 10/10 Riverstar Complex – Cincinnati, Ohio

Don Dokken

by Deb Rao
Staff Writer

DOKKEN burst onto the Sunset Strip metal scene in the early ’80s and never looked back. The melodic distinctive vocal of Dokken frontman Don Dokken inspired a generation of rock fans from the bands early heyday and is still going strong in the music industry today. Be sure to check out concert review of Dokken in Lancaster at Hardrock Haven.

Dokken has never been a band to rely on past laurels. In 2009, the band is still releasing quality music and has garnered a new generation of fans with the recent release with their tenth studio album, Lightning Strikes Again in 2008. Dokken return to their old school roots on LSA and are currently unleashing new material from that album on their current Summer tour.

Sit and back and enjoy one of Metal’s top vocalists, as Dokken front man Don Dokken discusses a variety of subjects including the passing of Michael Jackson and the current Dokken tour.

HRH: Don, the Dokken summer tour is underway. What did you think about tonight’s performance at The Chameleon Club?

DON: Dokken played Penn’s Peak last night in Jim Thorpe. We drove from Penn’s Peak to the Chameleon Club here in Lancaster and we are driving to Michigan tomorrow. I love the Amish Country. It is beautiful. This is what it is all about. There are a lot of Dokken fans here on the East Coast. We were suppose to have a night off tonight, but we are playing three shows in a row. I am glad we played here tonight. All the Dokken fans are out in full force tonight. We are also doing new material on this tour. We played “This Fire” from our new album “Lightning Strikes Again” and we are suppose to play “Standing On The Outside” at the Stars and Stripes Festival in Michigan

HRH: How has the music industry changed since when Dokken first hit the metal scene back in the early eighties?

DON: When I went to Germany to get the record deal, they wanted to sign me as a solo artist. The original album, Breaking The Chains originally came out in Europe and the band was called was called Don Dokken. It was pretty rare. There were 500 copies of it that said “Don” on the cover. So when we got the band together, I just dropped the “Don” and we became Dokken. I am stuck in 1989. I think the ’90s killed music. There were no good songs on the radio. Music was depressing then. Dokken is old school. We come from the genre of Van Halen and The Scorpions.

HRH: Dokken were known for their innovative music videos. What was your favorite Dokken video?

DON: “I would have to say,”It’s Not Love”. We were riding down Hollywood Boulevard in a flatbed truck. We were playing live, yeah know! We kept getting stopped. I think we got stopped four times!

HRH: I recently saw Dokken perform at the M3 Festival in Columbia, Md. Do you prefer playing arenas to clubs?

DON: “The audiences were great this weekend. The sound system at Penn’s Peak was amazing. I kind of like playing the clubs better. It is more intimate. Playing to 10,000 people, is kind of like playing to flies dissected. Everyone is scattered and far away. The venues are varied on this tour from clubs to arenas. We go from playing the Chameleon Club tonight to playing a 10,000 seater tomorrow at the Stars and Stripes Festival.

HRH: As a singer, who first influenced your style of singing?

DON: I listened to Ian Gillen a lot. I love “Highway Star”. I love Ian Gillen’s falsetto. I listened to Ronnie James Dio and Steven Tyler started it all.

HRH: Dokken will be doing a show with The Scorpions soon on July 11 in Greece. Are you looking forward to this?

DON: I am looking forward to working with The Scorpions. It is more like a vacation, I am taking my kids there.

HRH: The music world is mourning the loss of Michael Jackson. What are your thoughts on the passing of this Superstar?

DON: I think it is very sad that we lost the King Of Pop. I can’t believe it. Every generation has their musical icon. He was younger than me.

Photos courtesy of Deb Rao