Dokken
From page 101 of Classic Rock Magazine March 2004
Live In Japan
(Sanctuary)
In which Don Dokken revives his famously fractious partnership with axepert George Lynch for the obligatory ‘big in Japan’ rewind through their 80s glory days. But despite the full house for this 1995 visit, Dokken’s insubstantial attempt at occupying the gap between Def Leppard and Quiet Riot no longer stands up.
Lynch’s chops are almost, but not quite, overshadowed by his lamé trousers, but still highlight Don Dokken’s limitations. Lynch might have done well beside a Coverdale or a cock rocker like Kevin DuBrow, but Don lacks the voice of the former and the charisma of the latter. The band might point to the platinum album ‘Tooth And Nail’ as proof of potency, but almost anyone with hair sold a million records in 80s America. Once, in an attempt to garner publicity via the great man’s lens, Don beat photographer Ross Halfin’s driver to LAX and offered him a lift into town, only to have Halfin’s multitudinous baggage hurled at his feet with the words: “Carry those, Don.” Which he did. For a week. Marvellous.
★ ★
Jon Hotten


