Dokken Classic Lineup Reunites... In Japan

Dokken's classic lineup, featuring vocalist Don Dokken, guitarist George Lynch, bassist Jeff Pilson, and drummer Mick Brown, will reunite in Japan later this year for six shows. The band is doing it for the money. Mick Brown announced that much on a podcast earlier this week. I mean, this isn't a hobby. Music is a viable - yet brutally cutthroat - career choice. We shouldn't be surprised to see a band we love reunite for cash above all else, right? During that same podcast, Mick also basically said none of the guys wanted to play together, so there's that. I would assume this means the reunion doesn't go any further than Japan, but who knows. Money talks.

Comments

[Him]

Least in the East?

Meh-in Japan?

Love me some Dokken. At least Mick is being honest . . . as he rides off into the distance, a thin stream of dust trailing behind his golf cart!

[Bob]

LOL Him! Nice golf cart reference! Don Dokken is singing at maybe 30% of his vocal capacity from 30 years ago. His voice has not held up well. I'm not faulting him for it, but am wondering why anyone would shell out big money to see this.

[Metalboy!]

Don Dokken should pull an Axl, whatever it takes... AXL couldn't sing his way out f a paper back for decades yet is now singing even better than the 5 times I saw him POINT BLANK with Guns n' Roses circa 1987-1991.

Let's see if he does. Otherwise, though it will be great to have the original band intact instrumentally, if he can't sing at least 70% of his capacity with Pilson's excellent back-ups filling some of the void, this will prove calamitous. Pearcy was able to pull it off with Croucier at the RATT one-off several years back at M3, why not Dokken?

If they can pass muster in Japan, who knows, maybe the can headline the Fests and MORCs. But again, if Don can't sing forget it. I wish them luck, as I will be front and center if he can!

[Badland]

I think the last time i saw Dokken was in 95. Terrible. You could tell they werent getting along. Lynch played the entire show with his back to the audience facing his amps. As if Don couldnt sing anyways the sound kept cutting out and lots of distortion. When we walked in we thought a local band was playing but it was LA Guns with some Van Dahl guy singing. As we were watching a guy came up beside us and was shaking his head and laughing. It was Phil Lewis. We laughed and had a few beers he was really cool. Blas was there DuBro was wearing his fake hair extensions and even John Wayne Bobbitt was strolling around with two porn queens. I cant see how 20+ years could help Dokken play any better. Dokken was one of my favorite bands back in the day and I still listen to them to this day. I wore my Tooth and Nail cassette out.

Rockin with Dokken

[Gary]

Whiskey,ciggies,and mounds of coke for 25 plus years is not going to treat your voice kindly. See: Dokken Don as a prime example. At least Wild Mick admits it's basically a cash grab,plain and simple. Here's hoping you get enough to have gold spinners on that golf cart next time you're pulled over Mick!!! ( you kill me Him. Lmfao)

[Jeff]

about 10 years too late. Thanks but no thanks

[Metalboy!]

Apparently, Don Dokken still smokes excessively and has a penchant for whiskey nightly. It's a proven fact, that will destroy your vocal chords, making your voice weak and reed thin.

Whatever the h*ll Axl was doing, he knocked it off and look at the difference it's making, as I mentioned before. I'm also going to speculate he does things to take care of and strengthen his voice, as well, though singers would have to clue me in as to what they are as I think it goes beyond just tea with honey.

Rose did something to regain his singing ability and does things to maintain and care for it now.

If Dokken followed in his foot steps, he would at least have a shot.

p.s. Very funny, indeed, HIM!

[Him]

Thanks guys. Occasionally, my jokes land!

I would like to know what happened with Boals being in Dokken. For a while there, he was picking up the slack on the higher notes while doing duty as the bass player. Then he was gone. Luckily, I got to see Boals alongside McAuley and Shortino at RTRV in Vegas. All three were amazing, even if Shortino looks as if he is walking about in a pot fog!

And I won't rehash my thinking on Dokken (I find him captivating no matter what), but he had recently sounded markedly better--not amazing, but better--on tour. Not sure if that has changed or not. Thing is, I would see this version--the original--if it came around. Then again, I would probably see the Levin version as well. Fanboy, I guess (even if "Dream Warriors" often sounds like a ballad nowadays).

I can't recall the date, but I saw them on their reunion tour back in the day at Shoreline in Mountain View, CA. Must have been around 95 as with Badland. They were clearly not getting along. Thing got so tense on stage that Dokken walked off in the middle of the closing song while the rest of the band played. He came back out near the end, looking miffed, and said into the mic, "Okay, let's just end this." Sang a few lines, song ends, they all walk off in different directions. I don't think it was too long after that that the reunion fell apart.

I think Mick is being so wonderfully honest here. He is a party guy who goes where he is told (with Don or the Nuge or whoever). Pilson is a talent away from Dokken and a gifted musician and producer, trying to stay out of the Ego Wars between You-Know-Two. Dokken is a diva. Lynch is often petulant. How could a reunion come about for any other reason than money with all of them, esp. with Dokken controlling the band and brand? But, as Mick notes, it isn't likely to have a long enough tail to lead to anything permanent or, for that matter, worth any of their time. So they will all go back to doing what they do. Simple and sad.

[Metalboy!]

Let's hope not, HIM, even though, it may very well be what it seems -- A temporary cash grab in Japan.

And the reason I pray to The Metal Gods it's more than that is...

Just imagine the original Dokken and a reunited L.A. Guns on MORC and/or headlining M3! That would make participating in those events WAY more pleasurable! Now if we could just get Poison and/or Skid Row back in the game!