DOKKEN Frontman Says JON LEVIN Is 'More Talented' Than GEORGE LYNCH

Saviours of Rock recently conducted an interview with Don Dokken. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

Saviours of Rock: DOKKEN has recently released one of their strongest efforts to date, "Lighting Strikes Again". Tell me a little bit about the writing approach for this album. Was it hard to get back into the mindset of the '80s in order to write this album? It reminds me a lot like "Tooth And Nail".

Dokken: "Yes, it was very difficult. It is hard to go back and write an album when you were 30 years old and I am over 50. So, yes, I had to get back in that mindset. This is what the fans wanted, and if I stay focused on that I would give them a straight-ahead DOKKEN. I personally like to put the BEATLES influences in like on 'Long Way Home' and 'Dysfunctional'. I like those albums, I am proud of those records. I understood like Jon [Levin, guitar] said, 'We are Cheerios, people like Cheerios and they want to eat Cheerios. If you give them Cheerios with salsa flavoring, they don't like it.' So we just wanted DOKKEN. This is straight Cheerios no salsa. So I took the salsa out, which was the BEATLES influence and this album is very straight-ahead DOKKEN."

Saviours of Rock: I did miss the ballads on "Lightning Strikes Again".

Dokken: "I did two — 'How I Miss Your Smile' and 'I Remember'. I did my solo record, 'Solitary', and all my angst love songs that I wanted to do. Honestly, the proudest album I have ever done is my solo album, 'Solitary'. I love that record. It is on my website for sale. I love that record, Jon even says, 'Don, that album is amazing.' It is really a strong record. It is the kind of record where you can put it on and relax to a glass of wine and bubble bath."

Saviours of Rock: What are your thoughts on doing another DOKKEN album. I know you have mentioned that you want to write a heavier album like TOOL? But, do you think it is possible for DOKKEN to change their sound? You have a distinctive vocal style and DOKKEN has a certain guitar style that the fans have grown accustomed to?

Dokken: "I can't change my sound but I have decided the next album I want it to be DOKKEN but I want it to be heavier. I mean heavier like 'Kiss Of Death' type of songs or 'When Heaven Comes Down', 'Tooth And Nail', 'Lightning Strikes Again'. I love to do more of those really deep thumping songs. I am a dark lyricist, everyone knows that. I don't know how to write songs like POISON, for example. POISON songs are very up and very happy, like 'Unskinny Bop'. I just have a darker side. I write, 'You weave your spell / Your eyes they beckon me / As they speak lies and misery;' that is dark. I can't write a song that is up. I mean I have done it with 'You Just Got Lucky'. But, I am a moody guy and it comes out in my music."

Saviours of Rock: It is evident to see on "Lightning Strikes Again" that the chemistry [between the bandmembers] is working, and the classic sound of DOKKEN has returned. What are thoughts on DOKKEN 2008?

Dokken: "Yes, it is a stronger version. Maybe, now I will stop hearing about George Lynch all the time? I am sick of it. Now I don't have to defend myself, Jon defends himself as a guitarist against George. George is a great guitar player. He was a great part of DOKKEN. I give no disrespect for George Lynch, in his day. He was great. But Jon is more talented. The bottom line is, we get along. That is the most important thing. George and I don't get along. It is no secret."

Saviours of Rock: DOKKEN recently performed to 30,000 fans at Rocklahoma. Why do you think festivals like Rocklahoma are so popular in this day and age?

Dokken: "Yes, there were a lot of people there. I don't think '80s music is coming back. I think it is a nostalgia thing. When you hear a song you knew when you were growing up in high school or college, or your first love, or your wedding song, it is a memory. We all want to re-live our memories. We all want to re-live that wonderful moment when life was simpler. We didn't live with our parents, we didn't have a job, we didn't have kids, and we didn't have responsibilities. It was like go stand in line in the rain and go see a rock show. Life was a little more free. I think people want to re-live that. Every time I meet girls at the shows, and they tell me, 'I am married, I got two children, I got a husband. It is girl's night out. I come to see DOKKEN. We just want to re-live our college days or high school days over again.' It is like living a moment. I respect them for that. Life is about moments. When I hear a song, for example an old DEEP PURPLE song, and the first time I heard that when I was in high school and that brings back a memory. The first time I heard BLACK SABBATH or THIN LIZZY. The first time I heard Ian Gillan sing, I was like, 'Holy Shit!' It brings back a memory. I have memories going down the street in my 62 Corvette Coupe and I had an eight track in it, and I remember I had the 'Smoke On The Water' DEEP PURPLE CD in, and I just listened to it over and over. So when I hear 'Smoke On The Water' now and I think of going down the street and cruising the Boulevard, in my 62 Corvette.

Read the entire interview at www.savioursofrock.com.