So true!!! I remember when that record first came out and I bought it on cassette and years later on cd. It’s an absolute masterpiece, I wish it did better as well🤘🏾🎶🤘🏾🎶🤘🏾
They were of their time as the reunions they did in the 00s were terrible and even a few months back George and Don play on stage together regularly but Don cant sing , the man has lost the energy and has lost his confidence.
2. Tooth and Nail 3. Under Lock and Key 4. Back for the Attack Good, solid albums. I had their debut on vinyl right after release. Metal was still new then. It was decent for the time
I think Dokken was one of the most Underrated bands of the 80's...the entire band was very talented musically and lyrically. They were light years above most 'hair' bands talent wise.
@Konservative Kirby VII pretty boy floyd, bang tango, Nelson, winger, I can think of a few that sucked. But to each their own. Great decade of music though. Especially up to 86. It did get stupid in the late 80s.
They were pretty rated. Their videos were in regular rotation on MTV, their albums went platinum, George was on the cover of every guitar rag. They pretty much achieved what they could without really offering anything new.
Exactly. He got the deal..yet when the other guys come in, he makes it a 4 way split. That is a rarity...especially when the foundation had already been laid. Yes, there are lots of groups that have even splits, but those guys usually established the groups together. Then down the road, song writing credits and royalties crack the foundations of the group and they break up. hehe.
Don had the deal but didnt have a band. He either got some guys to be bandmates or his deal was out the door as fast as it came in. So he flew home and did what he could. Either way, you have to treat it as a band from that point forward, not just a bunch of hired guns.
Yep, he pretty much wrote all the tunes and played most of the guitars/solos etc. on the early recordings and then was cool by making room for Lynch (lead guitar hero) on Tooth and Nail and so forth.
All true stuff....if any of you have not heard Live- From Conception, it is an awesome raw live release with Don also playing guitar. I happen to like the overall feel of the band with both guys playing.
I saw Dokken open for Judas Priest at the St.Paul Civic Center and they were so damn good! The band as great and the vocals were spot on. Then, I saw them again at the Monster of Rock (MN). They didn't get within 50 ft. of each other and they didn't have a musical connection with each other at all. Just 4 guys on stage, each trying to fulfill their contractual obligation in front of 70K people. You could tell they didn't want to be there - especially with each other.
I also saw those 2 shows/tours. I thought they were good both times. The only issue was I saw the MOR show in Maine. Saw Kingdom Come and Metallica fine but it started raining during Dokken, really down pouring. Had to leave with my ride as they were ending and didn't even see Scorpions and Van Halen. Dokken's set was OK but in a downpour there are going to be problems so I cant blame them.
That's so sad. I think most people have experienced the same thing. Some kind of relationship in which one person just won't stop. You have to choose your health. So many bands have that problem.
I wasn't into the whole heavy metal era, I am a progressive rock era person, but years ago I purchased a record from a record store and they had some program where you could spin a dial in in an arcade and win something. So I spun the wheel and won that Dokken live record. It was shocking how well laid out all those songs were. They were perfect, much better than most headlining metal bands of the day. Don is a master songwriter. Sad that they never got the credit that they deserved.
That Don Dokken albums is as good as, if not better than any other complete Dokken album I've heard. I love Dokken the band, and Lynch is one of my favorite guitarist, but that "solo" album just hit different. As a complete album I prefer it in its entirety to any Dokken album.
Again, great interview with info most of us didn't know. I read Hit Parader while stationed in Utah from 82 to 86 and read about some of the issues bands had back then, but your interviews shed much more light. Nice that other albums are mentioned in your interviews. I have Up From the Ashes set up to listen to. Time has taken it's toll on Don's voice as evidenced in recent videos. But time waits for no one, and it's no big deal to me. The classic albums will always sound awesome until the day I die.
In My Dreams is one of my favorites. I always loved Don Dokken's voice. I did Dokken covers with my band in the studio and the studio manager used to sit other bands on the couch and tell them to listen to us.I also used to do Dokken covers at Karaoke night.I finally got to see them in New Jersey years ago. Time for another tour and more music. Let's go Dokken!
This channel is such a time capsule on some of the greatest artists and records ever released. Keep up the great work and folks hit that subscribe for this dudes channel !
The Don Dokken album was AWESOME. A personal story, I saw Lynch Mob and then the Don Dokken band the very next day at the same venue. It was so cool yet so strange.
Honestly, if up from the ashes just had the Dokken name, I Wouldnt have thought twice about it actually being a genuine dokken album. It's a natural follow up to Back For The Attack.
@@fullinbloom its a beautiful place, but like anywhere you get a job and pay your bills. I lost everything to the volcano in ‘18 but have bounced back 10 fold. You really are a great interviewer and artists open up to you and we get the benefit. The analog 80’s produced some incredible musicians and great music. Then came the rise of the apathy generation and gangsta rap. I crack up at kids idolizing dead junkies and jailhouse thugs. Keep up the great work 🤙🏼🤙🏼🌴🌊🏄🏼♂️🌋
“Up From The Ashes” is an AMAZING album! It's one of those rare records that you can put on and every song is great from start to finish. I consider it the best Dokken record even though it was only Don.
I agree completely! I was so upset that the band had broken up in 1988, and then in 1990, Don released this album. It had the classic Dokken sound, but with a different lineup of super-talented musicians. Still love it to this day!
Great vocals and song writing! Great guitar, bass and drums! Sucks that Tungus Grump was hard to get along with. Y'all were one of my favorite bands, and still are! Thanks Don for all the killer music!
I remember when I first heard Paris is Burning on the radio. Right away I went out and bought Breaking the Chains album. I immediately realized George Lynch was one of the best in the world. 40 years later? Yep. Still
What a sucky feeling that must've been to be on the verge of blowing up big, and then the band breaks up instead. All that momentum and all that work to climb to the top of the hill, the top is in their sights, and then they slip and fall back the bottom with no other choice but to start over again. Sounds like George had a major hair up his ass over Don if he was willing to sabotage his own career and piss away his only chance at mega-success.
Met george at a NAMM show 89'...L.A.(if you could say that) what a dick he was.. he even told a hot chick that just wanted a pic w him to F.O. " l dont do that shit".. what ? Give a picture a fan ?... but you cat take it from him ..he is a great guitar player hands down.
The more I watch interviews like this one on my favorite artist and their testimony to the experiences they had during recording and touring, I’m very glad I chose the career that have now. I wanted to be a late 80’s Mike Varney guitar hero shredder🤘🏾🎶 However, I did not realize how much disfunction is embedded in the music industry until later in life. For example Yngwie Malmsteen’s manager ran away with a large sum of his royalties. Plus there’s statute of limitations on that. The same thing happened to the Temptations when they were younger and first started out. Even watching Metallica’s Binge and Purge exposed me to the infighting within bands. Dr. Dre’s stand off with Suge Knight and his horde threatening Dr. Dre of his original master tapes on his front lawn of his own house. Dre just gave in Said take em, he felt his life and endangering his family wasn’t worth it. Motley Crue’s infighting and separation, etc. Doesn’t matter the genre, there’s disfunction and I’m one that can’t handle that. Not even in my own family. Great video!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Don seems to present reasonable explanations in describing the band's internal differences.. It doesn't sound holier than thou at all. George's accounts were more personal and all about Don.. They rubbed each other the wrong way a lot.. As far as people's opinions on the songwriting,and Dokken's signature sounds? Don always described their music as melodic hard rock or metal and it sounds like he wrote from his heart.. Don and George were pretty equally the Dokken signature sound.Even if George or Don stand out in your mind more. I would even go as far to say that Don being a lead singer/ guitarist/sonwriter brought George a good palette to work from and shape which George did phenomenally well. But back to the interviews. Just my gut,but it all sounds reasonable.. I'm not really hearing any resentment,just accounts of how difficult it became for Don and George to work together and why..
@@jayrusnak The show. I saw was at the Pontiac Silverdome. Mr. Scary was more precise than anything Metallica did. George Lynch is a better guitarist. I could go on. Maybe Metallica had an off show that day.
@@kenmcnutt2 Comparing Lynch to Hammett isn't exactly fair. Nobody questions George's talent. And I'm a huge Dokken fan. But they got torched night in and night out. The band themselves has admitted it many times because they were all running on fumes at that point.
@@kenmcnutt2 Would have been a whole lot more friendly for the if they'd gone 2nd and followed Kingdom Come. Scorps would have been better equipped to follow Metallica.
Huge fan of the band and I do appreciate Don as a song writer and front man. Massive fan of Lynch - of what he did with Dokken and what he has done since then. The two guys seemed to always have a beef and for years have pointed the finger at the other guy as far as who was the impossible one to get along with. IMHO, if you look at the work that each of these guys has done away from Dokken, it tells you all you need to know. George has made a TON of great music (most notably the Lynch Mob stuff which may be some of his best guitar work) and has worked with a TON of different artists and a TON of different bands. Don...well...he has tried (numerous times) to reform all/part of the band and play the hits from the past. With limited success. And the things Don says about how difficult Lynch was/is to work with ...I don't hear any of the other artists or other bands George has been involved with saying anything bad about working with George. I'm not trying to take sides - I am a fan of both guys and of the music they made together. I think Pilson is a class act - he never talks about "the bad stuff" - he only looks back with pride for the music they made and appreciation for their time together. Don should do the same - stop talking about how they were one big hit or one more album away from super-stardom - and stop blaming George for that. Appreciate the success you had and the music you made (I sure do). That should be your legacy.
A lot of people have a misconception about how Don was the issue for Dokken. It was actually the other guys. Don was the more serious guy of the band, making sure they got into the studio, made promos, kept everyone together. The other guys were more into partying it up. Dokken is one of the best bands from the 1980s era. Even though they had some of the cheesiest songs but it was the sound of George's guitar and the fast paced bass with drums that sold the tracks.
The adjective cheesy pertains only to pizza toppings/ I attribute the mediocre lyrics of some Dokken songs to the ambitions of the songwriter for commercial success, the porn star business mentality of record company executives and the harmful impact of that lifestyle to spiritual health/ Alas, this happens all the time/ If you're not enthused, then you need to motivate yourself/ What are the motivations? Fear and greed/
Such a shame. Up From the Ashes is my favorite album even more so than the Dokken records. Don is right about the all star line up. The musicianship on that album is off the charts, not to mention the amazing production.
Sadly that will never happen when Priest and Maiden can't even get in. As angry as it gets me, the reality is you will have a no talent "mumble rap" artist get in before Dokken, because ya know, "diversity" is more important than musical talent today.
I love George's playing but... over the years, decades in fact in all honesty he's pretty much a one trick pony. This interview is very enlightening, Don seems very down to earth and honest about what all went down. I was the lead singer for a bar band that, locally was very hot for a time... then regionally... then quit jobs because we were being properly paid. In all honesty, I get where Don is coming from, in the sense that, a time came when someone could have offered a crazy amount of money to be on a full tour and if it meant having to spend more than ten consecutive minutes with the lead guitarist? Forget it, find someone else.
All these years later, it's clear that George was always the stick stirring the Pot and causing friction in the band; and with Producers back in the day. Don seems like a reasonable, fair person. It's sometimes easy for many Dokken fans to forget that this IS Don's band - NOT the "Don & George Experience" lol
In fairness, George was the most talented. I've heard both Mick and Jeff say Don was an egomaniac and a terrible businessman. Not saying George was an angel either
Too bad Dokken was on the rocks. I'd have gigged with Don no problem. I would have given him that breakout record. I played the Whiskey, Starwood, Palladium, the Country Club, Madame Wong's (East and West), Club 88, Gazzarri's, all the high schools, you name it. I played it.
These stories are strange, I met George at least three times, he was always cool. Especially the night my friends and I kept creeping closer to his gear during a club show.
That's amazing that they had a 4 way split. So many bands pay the singer and guitarist, for obvious reasons, or whoever wrote most of the album and the rest of the guys end up getting peanuts. I respect Don for that.
It's such a shame for all these years I thought Don was the problem...it now is pretty obvious it was George...which ALSO a shame because I just love his work !?!?!? I do think George has grown up a lot SINCE then - judging from many interviews in the last several years which seems like he is really mellowing out on his inter-personal relationships...I admit I am biased and am constantly hoping these guys can get along and make music again !!
@@daveg4236 if they would have released new music instead of a live album in '88, they would have had singles to promote and most likely would be headliners.
Yep I just commented as such. As a whole piece I think it's more solid than any one Dokken album, and I've got most of them, and some on both vinyl and CD.
It's a stellar album. I've always thought of it as the unofficial fifth studio album. But if I were to rank it against the others, it would still be 3rd, and that's only because Back for the Attack and Under Lock and Key are perfect 10/10 albums. I would put it ahead of Tooth and Nail and Breaking the Chains.
I saw the band with Norum & White at the one and only Bayou in DC...great great show! Saw Lynch Mob there too, as a matter of fact. Only saw Dokken (as a band) once, and George was so drunk he actually passed out *standing up*, more or less propped up by a stack o' Marshalls \m/
Dokken were just 1 album away from becoming the pop metal kings of the late 80s/early 90s. It's too bad that inner band turmoil, being overworked and over coked is what tore them apart. Imagine Up From the Ashes was made as a Dokken album. But it is what it is and Dokken is still a great band and they put out great albums after the 80s.
Don says that album would have sold millions with the original band name and logo, but I don't know. I owned every 80s Dokken album as well as the Don Dokken one back in the day, and Up From The Ashes def. sounded different than the previous efforts. Too me it was to polished and soft. They definitely needed to have Lynch and Pilson to add some heavier edge to it IMO. Kind of reminded me of (and I know this is a completely different genre) when Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac in the late 80s and they did an album without him. They still had two of the lead vocalists in the group, but they lost that edge Buckingham gave them and the music just turned really flat and soft without the guy.
I never knew the up from the ashes was supposed to be a new album and band...and interestingly enough....up from the ashes was my favorite dokken album. that album had no filler...the writing was amazing and that production was killer. thats my go to Dokken album.
I was so mad when they broke up I could chew broken glass. My brother didn't like metal and started in on me about my favorite band breaking up. My dad knew I was upset and saw the look in my eyes when I turned to confront my brother. He tried to stop the confrontation but he couldn't, I had had enough. I gave my brother the ass whoopin he had coming. Ever since we were small children he was a bully. Let's just say that day was a turning point. He never fucked with me again.
George was the reason I started playing guitar. Love the guys playing and idolized him as a kid. For years, in my eyes he could do no wrong. As I got older (and met him on a couple occasions) I realized in all the years of defending him, the disappointing reality finally hit me several years back and turns out he was a pretty big douche.
He was the reason I started playing as well, and as you said he was my idol and could do no wrong. I too had the opportunity to meet him 3 times even get to hang out with him, one on one after a show, backstage due to the fact that my band manager worked at the venue and got me that opportunity. I however, had a wonderful experience meeting him. He was really cool to me personable and we just talked for like 15 minutes before he finally headed to the bus I have heard other people talk about not good experiences, but I met him three times and he was always very cool to me gave me a lot of pics and a hat. In my experience, I was glad I met him.
George is a truly unique and inventive player, one of the BEST American rock guitarists ever BUT having met him, I can tell he can be egotistical and temperamental. Add to that smoking weed and things become screwed up… very sad but Dokken made some great albums. It may have been for the best that they disbanded.
Wish that next record would have been made instead of live record I can see where Don's coming from I wouldn't want any Bs while making the album Don's a serious artist can't believe they sued for the name walk away was an awesome song we got one on there so 🤘🤘
Loved this band but Don should have stuck it out NO MATTER how nuts or irritating the other band members were because you only have ONE shot at making it.
I've met George Lynch. Everyone says he's one of the nicest guys in rock. So, I wouldn't believe a word that comes out of Don's mouth if his tongue was notarized.
their talent was as good as any band in the 80s. any fucking band. don and george kept it together as long as they could. not at all different from dave and eddie. VH.
Notoriously bad press as a front man it didn't help.Under lock and Key, Tooth and Nail are flawless albums. Everything after strong medicine. Not many hold to pick this band apart but the interview is interesting. George Lynch has a altogether unique sound easily distinguished without introduction, brought A crisp guitar sound that defined the niche Don needed. Without his influence probably wouldn't have been the same. Don't get me wrong Don Dokken was driven to succeed and would have otherwise but this is a perfect lineup. No hair band here this is solid metal.
@@jonathanbarnes3061 I read the book by the RATT drummer recently. What he said about Don Dokken was pretty bad, if it’s true, which I’m sure - is true. No one was an Angel back then. Lol.
The first Dokken LP was only Don Dokken on the LP....It was recorded in Germany and the musicians were German studio sessionman who played on it.... That first Dokken LP didn't have George, Mick, or Jeff on it at all... Those guys were lucky that Don cut them in for a equal share from the second record on
This guy. Him and Geoff Tate. Most amazing amount of mental airbrushing ever. For Dysfunctional the label said get back George or we'll only give you a 75K advance instead of the the 300K advance you'll get with the whole band. They went hat in hand to George, not the other way around. And of course you can't call your solo band DOKKEN, it wasn't fucking Dokken. This bullshit about your name is nonsense. At that point, it wasn't your name it was an commercial entity and that entity required either all 4 guys OR all 4 guys signing that entity/name over to you. It's like Don doesn't understand how trademarks work.
The more I hear bout George Lynch...the less I like him. Funny ..I kinda feel the same way about Ozzy and Sharon Osborne. And some of their fuckery was done to George. Hmmmm
When George Lynch first came on the scene he was sporting a "mullet haircut" with the top dyed blonde. Right there was the first sign that there was seriously something wrong with that dude. They should've fired George and picked up Jake E Lee.
@@King5150Ed Well, that by itself is not the red flag. it's the mullet. I never met anyone who sported a mullet who wasn't unhinged. The skunk look with the hair dye only throws more fuel on the fire. Word to the wise ....stay the hell away from anyone sporting a mullet. The mullet has strange black magick voodoo that will come after you. ..
I had no idea George hated the track. That hurts deep. Don't worry Mr. Dokken, We guitarists won't allow this to happen to your legacy. We will also sing it for you if that is what you require of us. That's what true fans do. I told Goerge I know he's been messing up the solo intro. I fear that if we don't fix this Freddy might return. Buckethead shall punish the disloyal and Vulvatron of GWAR shall punish them beyond recognition.
Always amazes a poor schlub like the rest of us trying to get by & make ends meet to take care of our families…that the Golden Fleece is there for the taking, but somebody has a problem with it. Most of us will work a sheite gig, live & die with no shot like the chosen few. So it’s sad to see squandered opportunities like this.
I’m VERY familiar with IN MY DREAMS, I ve rode my electric scooter ALOT over the summer in the cemetary behind my house, to IN MY DREAMS, is it just a song, OR is there a back story to it like, slipping away.
Dokken is a great band. Lock and key and tooth and nail is their best work. Back for the attack was a great album but the guitar tone sounded way to contrasted to the other instruments. It’s like having Tim McGraw become the lead singer of Pantera
The money thing was likely due to agents and representatives all wanting a piece of the pie, and getting in different peoples' ears. That seems to be the main culprit with a lot of these guys who split because of money issues. For "Don Dokken" as a band not being as successful because of the way it was perceived, come on man, you should have just come up with a new band name. If you didn't want it to come off like a solo act, then you shouldn't have made the band's name, "Don Dokken". Get the hell out of here with that complaint. For Don's beef with George, I wish he'd just be straight with how that came about. It wasn't just him being demanding with sound engineers or whatever. I'm sure drugs and booze played a big role, but it's something involving Don specifically. Otherwise why'd the rest of the group go too? And I gotta say, George is still KILLING it on guitar and stage presence. Don looks like he's not even trying anymore. If you're gonna say you can't do anything with George still in the band, then you had better at least try to make something good without relying on his guitar to get the job done. Otherwise it comes off like he was right all along, and that it was really HIS band, despite your name being on it. For guitarists, most do consider the sound of Dokken to be entirely his creation.
Loved Dokken, still listen to them all the time.
Their 1st 3 records are solid!!!! I saw them live back then in LA....who knew they hated each other??? LOL!
@@paolo-n2000 Back For The Attack is pretty great as well
Don's actually a dope lead 🎸
@@paolo-n2000
I would say albums 2,3 & 4
were all brilliant. They were
the best band in their genre. ✌️
It’s a shame that “Up From The Ashes” didn’t sell better. It has some damn good songs on it with some amazing guitar work.
Listened to it last week in my car. “ Down in Flames “ is my favorite.
John Norum is a MONSTER Guitarist !!
Saw that line up live. Amazing!
Amazing album. Great songs throughout. Great musicians, all of them. Both John Norum and Billy White were blistering together.
So true!!! I remember when that record first came out and I bought it on cassette and years later on cd. It’s an absolute masterpiece, I wish it did better as well🤘🏾🎶🤘🏾🎶🤘🏾
Such a shame. I love the classic lineup, they put out such great music. I listen to those albums all the time.
They were of their time as the reunions they did in the 00s were terrible and even a few months back George and Don play on stage together regularly but Don cant sing , the man has lost the energy and has lost his confidence.
2. Tooth and Nail
3. Under Lock and Key
4. Back for the Attack
Good, solid albums. I had their debut on vinyl right after release. Metal was still new then. It was decent for the time
I think Dokken was one of the most Underrated bands of the 80's...the entire band was very talented musically and lyrically. They were light years above most 'hair' bands talent wise.
@Konservative Kirby VII pretty boy floyd, bang tango, Nelson, winger, I can think of a few that sucked. But to each their own. Great decade of music though. Especially up to 86. It did get stupid in the late 80s.
@Konservative Kirby VII
People forget Reb was in Dokken.
They were pretty rated. Their videos were in regular rotation on MTV, their albums went platinum, George was on the cover of every guitar rag. They pretty much achieved what they could without really offering anything new.
lyrically? really? Their lyrics are on the same level as kiss.
@@otisdriftwood8469 MTV ruined metal....and that candy ass radio friendly metal
people forget DON was the one who got the record deal in the first place, and cut everyone else in.
Exactly. He got the deal..yet when the other guys come in, he makes it a 4 way split. That is a rarity...especially when the foundation had already been laid. Yes, there are lots of groups that have even splits, but those guys usually established the groups together. Then down the road, song writing credits and royalties crack the foundations of the group and they break up. hehe.
Don had the deal but didnt have a band. He either got some guys to be bandmates or his deal was out the door as fast as it came in. So he flew home and did what he could. Either way, you have to treat it as a band from that point forward, not just a bunch of hired guns.
Yep, he pretty much wrote all the tunes and played most of the guitars/solos etc. on the early recordings and then was cool by making room for Lynch (lead guitar hero) on Tooth and Nail and so forth.
All true stuff....if any of you have not heard Live- From Conception, it is an awesome raw live release with Don also playing guitar. I happen to like the overall feel of the band with both guys playing.
Right on. A guitar player in those days La were a dime a dozen
I saw Dokken open for Judas Priest at the St.Paul Civic Center and they were so damn good! The band as great and the vocals were spot on. Then, I saw them again at the Monster of Rock (MN). They didn't get within 50 ft. of each other and they didn't have a musical connection with each other at all. Just 4 guys on stage, each trying to fulfill their contractual obligation in front of 70K people. You could tell they didn't want to be there - especially with each other.
I was also at both those shows
Same. Also saw them open for Loverboy at Riverfest on Harriet Island. Then another show where they opened for Aerosmith.
I was at Monsters Of Rock in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford NJ. I always wondered why Dokken's performance was pretty lackluster. Now I know.
I also saw those 2 shows/tours. I thought they were good both times. The only issue was I saw the MOR show in Maine. Saw Kingdom Come and Metallica fine but it started raining during Dokken, really down pouring. Had to leave with my ride as they were ending and didn't even see Scorpions and Van Halen. Dokken's set was OK but in a downpour there are going to be problems so I cant blame them.
Up from the Ashes was a great album. Musicianship was through the roof.
I agree. Badass album from top to bottom. Everyone was on point, great singing/musicianship.. to me it was perfect 👍
John Norum!😁🤘🏼
Yes it was. Wicked Sensation was nasty too. Don’t forget Billy White bc Crash n Burn solo is epic
Fabulous album, top notch songwriting and playing from beginning to end.
That's so sad. I think most people have experienced the same thing. Some kind of relationship in which one person just won't stop. You have to choose your health. So many bands have that problem.
Best rock interviewer on the scene
I wasn't into the whole heavy metal era, I am a progressive rock era person, but years ago I purchased a record from a record store and they had some program where you could spin a dial in in an arcade and win something. So I spun the wheel and won that Dokken live record. It was shocking how well laid out all those songs were. They were perfect, much better than most headlining metal bands of the day. Don is a master songwriter. Sad that they never got the credit that they deserved.
Spot on brother. The songs.
That Don Dokken albums is as good as, if not better than any other complete Dokken album I've heard. I love Dokken the band, and Lynch is one of my favorite guitarist, but that "solo" album just hit different. As a complete album I prefer it in its entirety to any Dokken album.
That what I think too
Up from the ashes is an awesome album…..
Again, great interview with info most of us didn't know. I read Hit Parader while stationed in Utah from 82 to 86 and read about some of the issues bands had back then, but your interviews shed much more light. Nice that other albums are mentioned in your interviews. I have Up From the Ashes set up to listen to. Time has taken it's toll on Don's voice as evidenced in recent videos. But time waits for no one, and it's no big deal to me. The classic albums will always sound awesome until the day I die.
In My Dreams is one of my favorites. I always loved Don Dokken's voice. I did Dokken covers with my band in the studio and the studio manager used to sit other bands on the couch and tell them to listen to us.I also used to do Dokken covers at Karaoke night.I finally got to see them in New Jersey years ago. Time for another tour and more music. Let's go Dokken!
This channel is such a time capsule on some of the greatest artists and records ever released. Keep up the great work and folks hit that subscribe for this dudes channel !
The Don Dokken album was AWESOME.
A personal story, I saw Lynch Mob and then the Don Dokken band the very next day at the same venue. It was so cool yet so strange.
Up from the Ashes is one of the best albums ever. Every song is awesome!
Mickey Dee 🔥🥁 🔥
Totally agree man one of my all time favorite albums.
Honestly, if up from the ashes just had the Dokken name, I Wouldnt have thought twice about it actually being a genuine dokken album. It's a natural follow up to Back For The Attack.
You do a great job on these sir. Really gives insights into the music and era we all love. Aloha from big island 🤙🏼🤙🏼
Thank you, John. Glad you dig it. How nice it must be to live life in Hawaii.
@@fullinbloom its a beautiful place, but like anywhere you get a job and pay your bills. I lost everything to the volcano in ‘18 but have bounced back 10 fold. You really are a great interviewer and artists open up to you and we get the benefit. The analog 80’s produced some incredible musicians and great music. Then came the rise of the apathy generation and gangsta rap. I crack up at kids idolizing dead junkies and jailhouse thugs. Keep up the great work 🤙🏼🤙🏼🌴🌊🏄🏼♂️🌋
Great interview’s couldn’t imagine Dokken with out George..
“Up From The Ashes” is an AMAZING album! It's one of those rare records that you can put on and every song is great from start to finish. I consider it the best Dokken record even though it was only Don.
I agree completely! I was so upset that the band had broken up in 1988, and then in 1990, Don released this album. It had the classic Dokken sound, but with a different lineup of super-talented musicians. Still love it to this day!
This channel is a goldmine of great content. Thanks for sharing!
Great vocals and song writing! Great guitar, bass and drums! Sucks that Tungus Grump was hard to get along with. Y'all were one of my favorite bands, and still are! Thanks Don for all the killer music!
One of my favorite rock bands ever! George Lynch is a guitar hero, his work on "Mr. Scary" proves it.
I remember when I first heard Paris is Burning on the radio. Right away I went out and bought Breaking the Chains album. I immediately realized George Lynch was one of the best in the world. 40 years later? Yep. Still
What a fricking shame that someone could lose the rights to their own damn name. That should never be allowed to happen.
Welcome to the legal system.
What a sucky feeling that must've been to be on the verge of blowing up big, and then the band breaks up instead. All that momentum and all that work to climb to the top of the hill, the top is in their sights, and then they slip and fall back the bottom with no other choice but to start over again. Sounds like George had a major hair up his ass over Don if he was willing to sabotage his own career and piss away his only chance at mega-success.
Met george at a NAMM show 89'...L.A.(if you could say that) what a dick he was.. he even told a hot chick that just wanted a pic w him to F.O. " l dont do that shit".. what ? Give a picture a fan ?... but you cat take it from him ..he is a great guitar player hands down.
The more I watch interviews like this one on my favorite artist and their testimony to the experiences they had during recording and touring, I’m very glad I chose the career that have now. I wanted to be a late 80’s Mike Varney guitar hero shredder🤘🏾🎶 However, I did not realize how much disfunction is embedded in the music industry until later in life. For example Yngwie Malmsteen’s manager ran away with a large sum of his royalties. Plus there’s statute of limitations on that. The same thing happened to the Temptations when they were younger and first started out. Even watching Metallica’s Binge and Purge exposed me to the infighting within bands. Dr. Dre’s stand off with Suge Knight and his horde threatening Dr. Dre of his original master tapes on his front lawn of his own house. Dre just gave in Said take em, he felt his life and endangering his family wasn’t worth it. Motley Crue’s infighting and separation, etc. Doesn’t matter the genre, there’s disfunction and I’m one that can’t handle that. Not even in my own family. Great video!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Dokkrn are one of my all time favourite bands. Unreal musicians. That "Dokken sound". Can't beat it.
T&N Was as close to a masterpiece as a 80's metal album goes
My favourite Metal Album
Don seems to present reasonable explanations in describing the band's internal differences..
It doesn't sound holier than thou at all.
George's accounts were more personal and all about Don..
They rubbed each other the wrong way a lot..
As far as people's opinions on the songwriting,and Dokken's signature sounds?
Don always described their music as melodic hard rock or metal and it sounds like he wrote from his heart..
Don and George were pretty equally the Dokken signature sound.Even if George or Don stand out in your mind more.
I would even go as far to say that Don being a lead singer/ guitarist/sonwriter brought George a good palette to work from and shape which George did phenomenally well.
But back to the interviews.
Just my gut,but it all sounds reasonable..
I'm not really hearing any resentment,just accounts of how difficult it became for Don and George to work together and why..
Dokken was so good, so many great albums and fantastic songs
George Lynch is dokken
I saw the Monsters of Rock tour and thought Dokken sounded better than Metallica.
You were the only one. Dokken got blown off the stage every night by Metallica and the Scorps. Don admits it, which for him is amazing.
@@jayrusnak The show. I saw was at the Pontiac Silverdome. Mr. Scary was more precise than anything Metallica did. George Lynch is a better guitarist. I could go on. Maybe Metallica had an off show that day.
@@kenmcnutt2 Comparing Lynch to Hammett isn't exactly fair. Nobody questions George's talent. And I'm a huge Dokken fan. But they got torched night in and night out. The band themselves has admitted it many times because they were all running on fumes at that point.
@@jayrusnak I admit the love ballads would have sounded lame after Metallica.
@@kenmcnutt2 Would have been a whole lot more friendly for the if they'd gone 2nd and followed Kingdom Come. Scorps would have been better equipped to follow Metallica.
always luved dokken such great songs and great memeories from them!!glad i grew up in the 80s!!!glad they had so much success!!!
Up From The Ashes is one of my favorite Dokken albums.
Huge fan of the band and I do appreciate Don as a song writer and front man. Massive fan of Lynch - of what he did with Dokken and what he has done since then. The two guys seemed to always have a beef and for years have pointed the finger at the other guy as far as who was the impossible one to get along with. IMHO, if you look at the work that each of these guys has done away from Dokken, it tells you all you need to know. George has made a TON of great music (most notably the Lynch Mob stuff which may be some of his best guitar work) and has worked with a TON of different artists and a TON of different bands. Don...well...he has tried (numerous times) to reform all/part of the band and play the hits from the past. With limited success. And the things Don says about how difficult Lynch was/is to work with ...I don't hear any of the other artists or other bands George has been involved with saying anything bad about working with George. I'm not trying to take sides - I am a fan of both guys and of the music they made together. I think Pilson is a class act - he never talks about "the bad stuff" - he only looks back with pride for the music they made and appreciation for their time together. Don should do the same - stop talking about how they were one big hit or one more album away from super-stardom - and stop blaming George for that. Appreciate the success you had and the music you made (I sure do). That should be your legacy.
A lot of people have a misconception about how Don was the issue for Dokken. It was actually the other guys. Don was the more serious guy of the band, making sure they got into the studio, made promos, kept everyone together. The other guys were more into partying it up. Dokken is one of the best bands from the 1980s era. Even though they had some of the cheesiest songs but it was the sound of George's guitar and the fast paced bass with drums that sold the tracks.
The adjective cheesy pertains only to pizza toppings/ I attribute the mediocre lyrics of some Dokken songs to the ambitions of the songwriter for commercial success, the porn star business mentality of record company executives and the harmful impact of that lifestyle to spiritual health/ Alas, this happens all the time/ If you're not enthused, then you need to motivate yourself/ What are the motivations? Fear and greed/
Such a shame. Up From the Ashes is my favorite album even more so than the Dokken records. Don is right about the all star line up. The musicianship on that album is off the charts, not to mention the amazing production.
Rockin with Dokken Rollin with Krokus,,, damn good times!!!✌️
Incredible lineup Dokken needs to be inducted in the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.
Sadly that will never happen when Priest and Maiden can't even get in. As angry as it gets me, the reality is you will have a no talent "mumble rap" artist get in before Dokken, because ya know, "diversity" is more important than musical talent today.
I love George's playing but... over the years, decades in fact in all honesty he's pretty much a one trick pony. This interview is very enlightening, Don seems very down to earth and honest about what all went down. I was the lead singer for a bar band that, locally was very hot for a time... then regionally... then quit jobs because we were being properly paid. In all honesty, I get where Don is coming from, in the sense that, a time came when someone could have offered a crazy amount of money to be on a full tour and if it meant having to spend more than ten consecutive minutes with the lead guitarist? Forget it, find someone else.
"Up from the ashes" was amazing
All these years later, it's clear that George was always the stick stirring the Pot and causing friction in the band; and with Producers back in the day. Don seems like a reasonable, fair person. It's sometimes easy for many Dokken fans to forget that this IS Don's band - NOT the "Don & George Experience" lol
I think you’re correct, but George was screwed over so many times he’s was literally “jaded “!
No one knows the real story except the band members. Without George, Dokken wouldn’t have sounded like Dokken. George wrote many of the songs.
In fairness, George was the most talented. I've heard both Mick and Jeff say Don was an egomaniac and a terrible businessman. Not saying George was an angel either
I remember when George was heavily into bodybuilding during the 90s. His webpage looked more like a fitness site rather than a musician's.😄
@@allsystemsgo8678 Pilson was the most well-rounded musician.
Too bad Dokken was on the rocks. I'd have gigged with Don no problem. I would have given him that breakout record. I played the Whiskey, Starwood, Palladium, the Country Club, Madame Wong's (East and West), Club 88, Gazzarri's, all the high schools, you name it. I played it.
So happy they broke up. Up from the Ashes is a one of a kind record. Not a bad song on it
O Holy Don, denim Jesus....I Love those first 3 albums so much. Ingrained in my soul.
You should try listening to their 4th album....Back For The Attack. It's fucking awesome!
Don is one of the better vocalists from that era for sure! I liked Up from The Ashes quite a bit !
These stories are strange, I met George at least three times, he was always cool. Especially the night my friends and I kept creeping closer to his gear during a club show.
There's two sides of a story and the truth
I’d trust don over George any day
That's amazing that they had a 4 way split. So many bands pay the singer and guitarist, for obvious reasons, or whoever wrote most of the album and the rest of the guys end up getting peanuts. I respect Don for that.
He's making that bullshit up. Sure 4-way split on merch or concert revenue, but that's not how publishing works.
Dokken rocked I have 6 cassettes of them !
Beast from the east. ❤❤That was the big album.
It's such a shame for all these years I thought Don was the problem...it now is pretty obvious it was George...which ALSO a shame because I just love his work !?!?!? I do think George has grown up a lot SINCE then - judging from many interviews in the last several years which seems like he is really mellowing out on his inter-personal relationships...I admit I am biased and am constantly hoping these guys can get along and make music again !!
You've apparently never met Don. Or anyone who's ever worked with him. Spend a half hour with Reb Beach and learn something.
Honestly between Don and George I'm tired who to believe.
1988 was the peak for 80's hard rock. Really too bad they missed it by putting out a live record.
Huh? Beast from the East Is their live album
@@daveg4236 if they would have released new music instead of a live album in '88, they would have had singles to promote and most likely would be headliners.
@@todd-1 wow you're able to recite what was said in the video. Congrats
Started as an opinion. You seemed confused, so I cited the source.
In my dreams was they’re hit I always thought .. Another one of those would’ve definitely put them at another level
I know several people that consider that 'don Dokken' record one of the absolute best Dokken releases.
Yep I just commented as such. As a whole piece I think it's more solid than any one Dokken album, and I've got most of them, and some on both vinyl and CD.
I found it too "soft" and missing the guitar power of Lynch.
It's a stellar album. I've always thought of it as the unofficial fifth studio album. But if I were to rank it against the others, it would still be 3rd, and that's only because Back for the Attack and Under Lock and Key are perfect 10/10 albums. I would put it ahead of Tooth and Nail and Breaking the Chains.
I Bought up from the ashes when it came out, actually it would have been dumb to call it just DOKKEN, because it was a whole new lineup.
Wow. That's REALLY interesting.
I saw the band with Norum & White at the one and only Bayou in DC...great great show! Saw Lynch Mob there too, as a matter of fact. Only saw Dokken (as a band) once, and George was so drunk he actually passed out *standing up*, more or less propped up by a stack o' Marshalls \m/
Cocaine is a helluva drug
He sound like Don Lafontaine. The movie trailer guy.
The live album beast from the east is a collectors item today. Few were made compared to the dokken albums.
I'm Dokken band fan. So Everyone Give me a favorite song by Dokken.💯
Dokken were just 1 album away from becoming the pop metal kings of the late 80s/early 90s. It's too bad that inner band turmoil, being overworked and over coked is what tore them apart. Imagine Up From the Ashes was made as a Dokken album. But it is what it is and Dokken is still a great band and they put out great albums after the 80s.
Don says that album would have sold millions with the original band name and logo, but I don't know. I owned every 80s Dokken album as well as the Don Dokken one back in the day, and Up From The Ashes def. sounded different than the previous efforts. Too me it was to polished and soft. They definitely needed to have Lynch and Pilson to add some heavier edge to it IMO. Kind of reminded me of (and I know this is a completely different genre) when Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac in the late 80s and they did an album without him. They still had two of the lead vocalists in the group, but they lost that edge Buckingham gave them and the music just turned really flat and soft without the guy.
I never knew the up from the ashes was supposed to be a new album and band...and interestingly enough....up from the ashes was my favorite dokken album. that album had no filler...the writing was amazing and that production was killer. thats my go to Dokken album.
I was so mad when they broke up I could chew broken glass. My brother didn't like metal and started in on me about my favorite band breaking up. My dad knew I was upset and saw the look in my eyes when I turned to confront my brother. He tried to stop the confrontation but he couldn't, I had had enough. I gave my brother the ass whoopin he had coming. Ever since we were small children he was a bully. Let's just say that day was a turning point. He never fucked with me again.
What did you do to him? Bloody his nose? Slugging him in the stomach? Kick in the nuts?
Up From The Ashes was an awesome record
George was the reason I started playing guitar. Love the guys playing and idolized him as a kid. For years, in my eyes he could do no wrong. As I got older (and met him on a couple occasions) I realized in all the years of defending him, the disappointing reality finally hit me several years back and turns out he was a pretty big douche.
He was the reason I started playing as well, and as you said he was my idol and could do no wrong. I too had the opportunity to meet him 3 times even get to hang out with him, one on one after a show, backstage due to the fact that my band manager worked at the venue and got me that opportunity. I however, had a wonderful experience meeting him. He was really cool to me personable and we just talked for like 15 minutes before he finally headed to the bus I have heard other people talk about not good experiences, but I met him three times and he was always very cool to me gave me a lot of pics and a hat. In my experience, I was glad I met him.
Love Dokken❤️ I still rock out to Breaking the Chains❤️🙌
Haha great song yes, but cheesy video
I have that cassette lmao
George is a truly unique and inventive player, one of the BEST American rock guitarists ever BUT having met him, I can tell he can be egotistical and temperamental. Add to that smoking weed and things become screwed up… very sad but Dokken made some great albums. It may have been for the best that they disbanded.
Wish that next record would have been made instead of live record I can see where Don's coming from I wouldn't want any Bs while making the album Don's a serious artist can't believe they sued for the name walk away was an awesome song we got one on there so 🤘🤘
Talk about a band that blew it. They were right on the verge of making it big.
Loved this band but Don should have stuck it out NO MATTER how nuts or irritating the other band members were because you only have ONE shot at making it.
Spoken Word..with Don Dokken
I've met George Lynch. Everyone says he's one of the nicest guys in rock. So, I wouldn't believe a word that comes out of Don's mouth if his tongue was notarized.
Finally. So tired of idiots on here nuthugging Don. They have no fucking clue.
their talent was as good as any band in the 80s. any fucking band. don and george kept it together as long as they could. not at all different from dave and eddie. VH.
Lynch really rudely hassled Lita Ford about her stealing his guitar cords.
She unscrewed the male connectors - had her initials within the cords.
Seriously?... geez!!!... hahaha
Notoriously bad press as a front man it didn't help.Under lock and Key, Tooth and Nail are flawless albums.
Everything after strong medicine. Not many hold to pick this band apart but the interview is interesting. George Lynch has a altogether unique sound easily distinguished without introduction, brought
A crisp guitar sound that defined the niche Don needed. Without his influence probably wouldn't have been the same. Don't get me wrong Don Dokken was driven to succeed and would have otherwise but this is a perfect lineup.
No hair band here this is solid metal.
@@jonathanbarnes3061 I read the book by the RATT drummer recently. What he said about Don Dokken was pretty bad, if it’s true, which I’m sure - is true. No one was an Angel back then. Lol.
Says Lita Ford, literally the craziest broad ever.
The first Dokken LP was only Don Dokken on the LP....It was recorded in Germany and the musicians were German studio sessionman who played on it.... That first Dokken LP didn't have George, Mick, or Jeff on it at all... Those guys were lucky that Don cut them in for a equal share from the second record on
I love Lynch, but it sounds like Don was fair with the 4 way split, but they left a body of work that will live on! Love Dokken!
This guy. Him and Geoff Tate. Most amazing amount of mental airbrushing ever. For Dysfunctional the label said get back George or we'll only give you a 75K advance instead of the the 300K advance you'll get with the whole band. They went hat in hand to George, not the other way around. And of course you can't call your solo band DOKKEN, it wasn't fucking Dokken. This bullshit about your name is nonsense. At that point, it wasn't your name it was an commercial entity and that entity required either all 4 guys OR all 4 guys signing that entity/name over to you. It's like Don doesn't understand how trademarks work.
lynch is a very dark character
The more I hear bout George Lynch...the less I like him. Funny ..I kinda feel the same way about Ozzy and Sharon Osborne. And some of their fuckery was done to George. Hmmmm
This guy has Jack Webb's speaking voice. "Just the facts, ma'am."
I know what he means I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown if I had to listen to his weak vocals any longer.
When George Lynch first came on the scene he was sporting a "mullet haircut" with the top dyed blonde. Right there was the first sign that there was seriously something wrong with that dude. They should've fired George and picked up Jake E Lee.
Yeah, that makes sense. What were they thinking in dealing with a guy who dyed his hair back in the eighties 🙄🙄🙄
@@King5150Ed Well, that by itself is not the red flag. it's the mullet. I never met anyone who sported a mullet who wasn't unhinged. The skunk look with the hair dye only throws more fuel on the fire.
Word to the wise ....stay the hell away from anyone sporting a mullet.
The mullet has strange black magick voodoo that will come after you.
..
Saw them in 96, Lynch played his ass off but Don seemed to just be going thru the motions.
I had no idea George hated the track. That hurts deep. Don't worry Mr. Dokken, We guitarists won't allow this to happen to your legacy.
We will also sing it for you if that is what you require of us. That's what true fans do.
I told Goerge I know he's been messing up the solo intro. I fear that if we don't fix this Freddy might return.
Buckethead shall punish the disloyal and Vulvatron of GWAR shall punish them beyond recognition.
It’s amazing how ego can tank even millions of potential profits
Always amazes a poor schlub like the rest of us trying to get by & make ends meet to take care of our families…that the Golden Fleece is there for the taking, but somebody has a problem with it. Most of us will work a sheite gig, live & die with no shot like the chosen few. So it’s sad to see squandered opportunities like this.
At least, they can say they never sold- out makin a song like Jump or KISS' I Was Made for Lovin You or,... the list goes on n on n on n on
They did make a grungey type album though and it sucked, so does that count as selling out?
I’m VERY familiar with IN MY DREAMS, I ve rode my electric scooter ALOT over the summer in the cemetary behind my house, to IN MY DREAMS, is it just a song, OR is there a back story to it like, slipping away.
We can all agree George was a Pita to work with. Haha
I don’t care what anyone says up from the ashes is the greatest album of all time
Dokken is a great band. Lock and key and tooth and nail is their best work. Back for the attack was a great album but the guitar tone sounded way to contrasted to the other instruments. It’s like having Tim McGraw become the lead singer of Pantera
Don’t get me wrong it’s a great tone and he did a great job, it just didn’t fit with that album
cant believe wiki list Dokken as glam metal!!
Don's speaking voice bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Sgt. Joe Friday.
too bad lynch phucked it all up. I believe what Don has said.
The money thing was likely due to agents and representatives all wanting a piece of the pie, and getting in different peoples' ears. That seems to be the main culprit with a lot of these guys who split because of money issues. For "Don Dokken" as a band not being as successful because of the way it was perceived, come on man, you should have just come up with a new band name. If you didn't want it to come off like a solo act, then you shouldn't have made the band's name, "Don Dokken". Get the hell out of here with that complaint. For Don's beef with George, I wish he'd just be straight with how that came about. It wasn't just him being demanding with sound engineers or whatever. I'm sure drugs and booze played a big role, but it's something involving Don specifically. Otherwise why'd the rest of the group go too? And I gotta say, George is still KILLING it on guitar and stage presence. Don looks like he's not even trying anymore. If you're gonna say you can't do anything with George still in the band, then you had better at least try to make something good without relying on his guitar to get the job done. Otherwise it comes off like he was right all along, and that it was really HIS band, despite your name being on it. For guitarists, most do consider the sound of Dokken to be entirely his creation.