Dokken was another of those bands that shot to the top and had major success in the 80's but couldn't keep the core lineup together for more than a seven year recording and touring span before fragmenting and never being able to regain the same chemistry and spark again. But from 83 to 89 they made the best of it, The band was all over the radio and MTV in the 80's and on the covers and featured in all the metal and rock magazines.
Don Dokken began putting together what would be the first real Dokken lineup in 1980 and it featured Juan Croucier (Ratt) for those early years when the band first secured a record deal. Their debut album Breaking The Chains was released in 1981 and the band did an opening tour with Blue Oyster Cult, but was almost dropped by their record label due to the lack of success of Breaking The Chains. Juan Croucier left the band in 83 to join Ratt, and Jeff Pilson replaced him completing their classic lineup. Breaking The Chains gave a hint at what was to come as it was a solid record with some good songs, just a little unpolished and took a while to catch on. The Tooth and Nail record was released in 1984 and contained several hits and took off right away the first of three straight platinum records along with 1985's Under Lock and Key and 1987's Back for the Attack. The Monster's of Rock tour followed Back for the Attack and the live album Beast from the East in 1988, Shortly after tensions between Don and George Lynch would lead to their breakup in 1989.
They would reunite in 1994, obviously not a good time for an 80's hair band to try to make a comeback, and released Dysfunctional which is an album that I like very much and thought was a great return, but it only sold modestly and largely went unheard other than by fans of the band and the 80's crowd. The tour that followed saw the tensions rising with Don and George once again and them being dropped by their record label due to the issues but the acoustic live One Live Night was released in 1996 on a different label (CMC) which is very good. The next album Shadow Life was released in 1997 and would be last of the classic lineups releases and it sold poorly and did not go over well. lynch then split in 97 replaced by Reb Beach and by 2001 Pilson left as well after recording the Erase The Slate (99) and Live From The Sun (2000) albums, neither of which did much to speak of sales wise. Since 2001 it's been pretty consistently Don and Mick Brown and a who's who of different complimenting band members as Don's vocal abilities have worsened for wear through those years, to the point I can no longer bother to go see them perform due to that factor. Reunion talk has persisted for years but with the state of Don's vocals , I actually hope it never happens, as I would not want the band to embarrass themselves and their legacy. They have released four albums since 1992, nothing to even remotely compare to their original work.
Some great songs in their earlier catalog to be had though for sure.
It's not love (cool mtv vid)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCn80HADptoAlone Again (mtv vid)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8rCLwNwf8IDream Warriors (another cool cheesy mtv vid
)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDveKxl7OhsKiss of Death (studio) Killer song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrvtBYzGQYU&list=PLmAAsGzvDt5ZBk5Sd7YmoBemeZbeUzjXrAmerican Bandstand 85: Cool stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN643vttEdoFrom the beginning (GREAT ELP cover) Live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0XZhjBj5zswhat a voice he once had, one of the best back in the day.
