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.