DOKKEN

I have heard it said that when someone asks a question that begins with the word "Why" the answer is almost always "money". I've found this to be true.

Witchfinder wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I finally was able to score a cheap copy of Don's solo album Up From The Ashes. Great album, but can someone refresh my memory as to why this was released as Don Dokken and not as a regular old Dokken album? It obviously sounds just like a Dokken record. Was he not on speaking terms with the rest of the band at that time?

The band had broken up at that point and they all hated each other.

Yep. That's pretty much how I always thought of it. Plus, he was the only Dokken band member there (no Mick, Jeff, Or George) and could have started the band anew as Norum had left Europe and Dee had left King Diamond (sorry, I forget who else was on this album with Don) but like ToB stated it was probably about money. Great album, though.

I seem to remember the debut Lynch Mob album coming out around the same time as the Don Dokken solo album.

S.D. wrote:

I seem to remember the debut Lynch Mob album coming out around the same time as the Don Dokken solo album.

Yes, they were both released in 1990.

the sentinel wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I finally was able to score a cheap copy of Don's solo album Up From The Ashes. Great album, but can someone refresh my memory as to why this was released as Don Dokken and not as a regular old Dokken album? It obviously sounds just like a Dokken record. Was he not on speaking terms with the rest of the band at that time?

The band had broken up at that point and they all hated each other.

Yep. That's pretty much how I always thought of it. Plus, he was the only Dokken band member there (no Mick, Jeff, Or George) and could have started the band anew as Norum had left Europe and Dee had left King Diamond (sorry, I forget who else was on this album with Don) but like ToB stated it was probably about money. Great album, though.

Billy White of Watchtower and Peter Baltes of Accept was on it as well.

I don't know who the other guy is but damn, how did I forget about Baltes? Sentinel needs his rest.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Quote :

I agree with pretty much all of that.

Even the part about Shadowlife? Wow. I thought I was the only one who actually enjoyed some bits of that record.

You forget I have defended this album for eons

Norum rips on the Don solo record. I prefer him to Lynch, and I definitely prefer Don's album to Wicked Sensation. Though WS has grown on me over the years, it is one of my biggest blind buy disappointments. I was 12 when it came out, and the ads in Metal Edge and Circus at the time showing the album cover...man, I drooled over it. A skull with swords and snakes all around it...nothing could have been cooler to me at that time. Ha. I had no idea who George Lynch was, as a dude. I knew Dokken, but not the name of the guitar player so.

When I bought the tape on release day...man, the music on it did not match my insanely high expectations based on that cover.

I enjoy it now though.

I've never heard the Don Dokken solo record, besides a song or two, but I've always enjoyed Wicked Sensation (and the self titled follow up). Maybe I'll be able to find that solo release in the used bins one of these days.

Never got into Lynch Mob much. I had their first two albums on cassette back in the day but have never upgraded them to CDs. I guess in the Don/George split I've always been Team Don.

I liked the Lynch Mob ok, but I preferred Don Dokken solo, the Lynch Mob had great hooks, but just could not get into them as much as I thought I would.

Lynch's solo work has never grabbed me. He has a tendency for self-cannibalization and it's backed up with a weird vibe. Fairly boring really.

Though it's superior, Don's solo album isn't perfect. But yes does Norum tear it up. That's an album I just had to learn on guitar upon first listen. And Love Finds a Fool is the best ballad Dokken never wrote.

WATCHTOWER wipes the floor with both those albums.

Temple of Blood wrote:

WATCHTOWER wipes the floor with both those albums.

And then some. Though it's probably silly to compare.

Eyesore wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

WATCHTOWER wipes the floor with both those albums.

And then some. Though it's probably silly to compare.

Not to me.

I'm not against the style that LM and DD were going for but the execution was so poor that I can't enjoy it at all. And it's just inexcusable looking at the caliber of talent that was in both bands.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

WATCHTOWER wipes the floor with both those albums.

And then some. Though it's probably silly to compare.

Not to me.

I'm not against the style that LM and DD were going for but the execution was so poor that I can't enjoy it at all.  And it's just inexcusable looking at the caliber of talent that was in both bands.

I love the first two Lynch Mob albums, as well as Don's solo album, but those came out right when I was really getting into music so they probably resonate with me on a different level. I also like the latest few Lynch Mob albums. Don't even get me started on Smoke This. Talk about inexcusable.

Quote :

Don't even get me started on Smoke This. Talk about inexcusable.

I can't believe they even reworked Dokken songs into that style for the Smoke This tour:

glassprison wrote:

Quote :

Don't even get me started on Smoke This. Talk about inexcusable.

I can't believe they even reworked Dokken songs into that style for the Smoke This tour:

I never knew anything about this project and I'm really glad I didn't know about it at the time. What you see on stage here is downright retarded. I mean, how embarrassing! The late 90's in many respects were just a very dark period for music when I think about it, and my musical tastes go way beyond heavy metal.

glassprison wrote:

Quote :

Don't even get me started on Smoke This. Talk about inexcusable.

I can't believe they even reworked Dokken songs into that style for the Smoke This tour:

Wow, that was bad. "Lynch Mob will make ya... JUMP! JUMP!"

chewie wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

I don't know who the other guy is but damn, how did I forget about Baltes? Sentinel needs his rest.

Guitar - Billy White
Vocals - Jason  McMaster(he would later form Dangerous Toys)

Thanks, chewie. This is good. Very good

chewie wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

I don't know who the other guy is but damn, how did I forget about Baltes? Sentinel needs his rest.

Guitar - Billy White
Vocals - Jason  McMaster(he would later form Dangerous Toys)

Good stuff ! Now I have another band to hunt down !

glassprison wrote:

Quote :

Don't even get me started on Smoke This. Talk about inexcusable.

I can't believe they even reworked Dokken songs into that style for the Smoke This tour:

Ha! I never knew they did this. I can dig that, though, trying something new. The real problem with Smoke This is not the style, it's the songs; they're terrible. I don't get hung up on names. Whatever. Give me good music and I'm cool, but Smoke This is just shit from start to finish.

The samples from George Lynch's new solo album sound pretty good:

https://soundcloud.com/rat-pak-records/george-lynchs-shadow-train

It's called Shadow Train and will be released on 17 July. These songs are also set to be featured in his documentary project of the same name about the plights of Native Americans.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/its-official-classic-dokken-lineup-to-reunite-for-six-shows-in-japan/

It's official... the original Dokken lineup (Don, George, Jeff and Mick) will play six shows in Japan this Fall, tho there are no plans for further gigs anywhere else in the world.

...in other words, they drove a dump truck full of yen up to Don's front door.