Dokken

DOKKEN
Formed 1982, U.S.A.

Albums:
1982 Breaking The Chains
1984 Tooth And Nail
1985 Under Lock And Key
1987 Back For The Attack
1988 Beast From The East
1995 Dysfunctional
1996 One Live Night
1997 Shadowlife
1999 Erase The Slate
1999 The Very Best Of Dokken
2000 Live From The Sun
2001 Yesterday & Today
2002 Alone Again And Other Hits
2002 Long Way Home
2002 Then And Now
2003 Japan Live '95
2004 Hell To Pay
2007 From Conception Live 1981

DVDs:
2007 Unchain The Night

History:
A great melodic metal band, Dokken was able to become one of the most successful bands of the 80's heavy metal scene. Huge harmonies/melodies mixed with catchy choruses and a blazing axe attack was the band's recipe for stardom. Internal fighting would tear the band apart at the peak of their success, and the bad blood remained when the group reformed several years later.
The band was formed in Los Angeles by vocalist Don Dokken who had previously sung backup vocals for the Scorpions. George Lynch (guitar) and Mick Brown (drums), both of whom had played with Don Dokken in the late 70's band The Boyz, were brought in along with bassist Juan Croucier (bass). Croucier would depart after the release of the mildly successful debut album to join fellow L.A. rockers Ratt. With Jeff Pilson taking over on bass, Dokken constantly charted in the top 50 and became platinum sellers throughout the mid to late 80's.





After releasing their highest charting album, Back For The Attack at #13, animosity would tear the band apart in 1988, with Dokken and Lynch literally at each other's throats. George Lynch would take Mick Brown with him and form the Lynch Mob while Don Dokken (who wanted to continue with the Dokken moniker, but was unable to because Lynch was suing for the rights to the name) formed a star-studded band to release a solo album under his own name.

The group reformed in 1995 for the appropriately titled Dysfunctional, assuming that the members could bury the hatchet between them. However by 1997 the mud slinging began again, reminding Lynch why he left Dokken in the first place and he once again left to reform Lynch Mob with new members and a new sound. Dokken would soldier on with guitarist Reb Beach (of Winger and Alice Cooper fame), and in 1999 release their best album since their 80's heyday. Beach and Pilson were replaced by John Norum and Barry Sparks respectively on Long Way Home, but the line-up has been in a state of flux ever since, with Alex DeRosso and Jon Levin taking turns at lead guitar duties.

Links:
The Official Dokken Page