DON DOKKEN ON GEORGE LYNCH AND JEFF PILSON’S “HEAVY HITTERS” COVER ALBUM, “I DON’T GET IT”
Don Dokken was a recent guest on The Classic Metal Show, where co-host Chris Akin, asked him about his former bandmates, guitarist George Lynch and bassist Jeff Pilson’s, new covers album Heavy Hitters, which include songs by Duran Duran, Madonna, Prince Carole King, etc.
Dokken sated (as per blabbermouth.net), “But those are not heavy hitters. No offense, they are good songs, but those are vanilla tunes. [Sings R.E.M’s ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’] Did they rock ’em up or put some shredding guitar solos [in them]?”
“They must be really bored,” he continued. “But, you know, everybody’s got their mantra; everybody’s got their financial things, I guess. If a record company is willing to give you money to put out pablum, then put out the pablum. But I hope my standards as a songwriter are a little higher than that. If I’m gonna do a remake, I’m gonna do something that was super cool, like Paint It Black by The[Rolling] Stones or Revolution by The Beatles or something that’s awesome and do something like that. I’m not gonna do Carole King.”
“I don’t get it. I don’t know what’s going on with those guys,” the singer added. “I don’t really talk to them much. Lynch and I, we talk once in a while, ’cause he always wanted to move to Santa Fe; that’s his dream. He’s always wanted to come to New Mexico. And I said, ‘Hey, you’re welcome to come on up and stay in the casita’ — as they call ’em up here, a casita, the guest house — ‘and if you wanna go hike’… He hikes; he’s a hiker. So, I’ve got 13 acres. He can get lost very easily. I’m not going looking for him.”
Dokken’s classic lineup — iDon Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson and drummer “Wild” Mick Brown — reunited for a short Japanese tour in the fall of 2016. It marked the first time in 21 years the four musicians had hit the road together.
A concert DVD focusing on the band’s reunion tour, Return To The East Live (2016), was made available in 2018. An original song was also recorded for th special release titled, It’s Just Another Day, which can be heard here.
Don Dokken doesn’t need to get it he’s not part of it.
I like Dokken but when I saw them on monsters of rock tour I think they went on after the Scorpions who played a brilliant set considering the followed Metallica but I was disappointed with Dorkken didn’t like their set they we’re way off.
May 2021 bring health and laughter to all god knows we all need it after this hellish year
Happy Holidays to all
Maybe I’m in the minority here but the host asked him his opinion (about the covers album) and he gave it.
Even so, I guess people feel he could have provided a more diplomatic answer or just said “no comment.”
There just always seems to be such mudslinging coming from that camp, and it seems Dokken is the most common denominator in all of it.
Don Dokken is just jealous. I suppose I would be, too, if I have been a vocalist for decades and not one singer has ever cited me as an influence. Has anyone ever thought to collaborate with him? I can’t imagine that one. “I think I’ll ring up good ol’ Don to work on some music. It’s high time I subject myself to being insulted and made to feel like an underling. Sounds like fun”.
I wouldn’t expect anything less from him!
Well if Don Dokken was diplomatic Dokken would still be together with original lineup
Good point, Charles.