Dokken Biography

Dokken is an American metal band which was formed in 1978. The group became one of the classic metal bands from that era, joining contemporaries like Twisted Sister, Judas Priest, Quiet Riot and Iron Maiden. Dokken's music consists of traditional metal characterized by extravagant use of lead guitars and soaring vocals backed by a heavy thumping bass. Although their image was somewhat "glam," their music was traditionally heavy with technical expertise.

Dokken was comprised of founder Don Dokken on vocals, George Lynch on lead guitars, Jeff Pilson on bass and Mick Brown on drums. Currently the band consists of Don Dokken on vocals, Jon Levin on guitar, Barry Sparks on bass and Mick Brown on drums.
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Their early albums like Tooth And Nail, Under Lock And Key, Back For The Attack and Beast From The East were highly successful, but after that, intra-band rifts and spats ensured that the band would eventually break up. Don Dokken went on to a successful solo career, while George Lynch formed the Lynch Mob and recorded several albums. Jeff Pilson too released his acclaimed War And Peace album. The band released a few albums in the late 90s and then Long Way Home in 2000, which met with some success due to attention from fans starved for traditional heavy metal. Recently, Dokken has released their latest album, Hell To Pay, which has gotten rave reviews in metal circles.

Dokken was born in the late 1970s when guitarist George Lynch and drummer Mick Brown from the group Xciter teamed up with Don Dokken on vocals and Peter Baltes as a temporary bassist to record Back in the Streets with Carerre Records.

In 1978 Juan Croucier replaced Peter Baltes as another temporary bassist; that same year the band released the singles "Hard Rock Woman," and "Paris is Burning."

In 1981 the band released the album Breaking the Chains in Europe, which was re-mastered and re-released by Elektra Records in the US in 1983. While the band was very popular in Europe by then, they had not yet made the charts in the US.

Juan Croucier left Dokken in 1982 to join the band Ratt and was replaced by Jeff Pilson who became their first official bassist.

1984 was Dokken's breakout year in the US with the release of the album Tooth and Nail, which contained several hit songs ("Into the Fire", "Just Got Lucky," and Dokken's first #1 hit "Alone Again"). The album would go on to sell over one million copies in the US alone.

In 1985 the album Under Lock and Key also sold over a million copies with hits like "In My Dreams" and "It's Not Love."

Following a successful tour with the Scorpions, Dokken returned to the studio in 1987 to record Back for the Attack. The record, which spawned the hits "Burning Like A Flame" and "Heaven Sent" became the band's most popular release, reaching #8 on the U.S. charts. It also included the single "Dream Warriors", which was written for the third Nightmare on Elm Street film. The accompanying music video, which featured band members interacting with the movie's characters, was the band's most popular, and Back for the Attack became its third record to reach platinum status.

Recordings from their tour in Japan led to 1988's release of Beast from the East just before the band broke up due to creative differences between Don and George.

The band reunited in 1992, but didn't release an album until Dysfunctional in 1995 with Columbia Records. One Live Night (a live acoustical album) was released in 1996 by CMC, along with Shadowlife in 1997.

In 1998 Lynch left the band and was replaced by Reb Beach of the band Winger. They released Erase the Slate in 1999 and Live from the Sun in 2000.

In 2001, Beach was replaced by John Norum (formerly with the band Europe), and Jeff Pilson was replaced by Barry Sparks on bass. 2002 also saw the release of the album Long Way Home.

In 2004 John Norum was replaced by Jon Levin (formerly he plays guitar on Doro's "Force Majeure) and they released the Album "Hell to Pay".

DOKKEN PICTURES

DOKKEN BIOGRAPHY