Dokken: Into The Fire And Other Embers Of 80s Metal History.

by James Curl

In 1989, Dokken was at the peak of their musical powers and had shared the stage with bands like AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith, Judas Priest, Van Halen, and the Scorpions. But just as they were about to grab hold of rock 'n' roll super stardom and become full-fledged arena headliners, it all came crumbling down. Drugs, greed, and egos clashed causing the demise of one of the greatest bands to come out of the '80s. Though often maligned as an emblematic L.A. "hair metal" band, Dokken proved that they were far more than that. With a series of multi-platinum albums Tooth and Nail, Under Lock and Key and Back for the Attack, Dokken helped define the "Decade of Decadence," while writing the sound track to Generation X. From personal interviews with Don Dokken and Jeff Pilson, as well as notable people from that era, this book recounts the incredible story of Don Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson, and Mick Brown. It tells of their humble beginnings before they formed Dokken, their early bands, and their struggles on L.A.'s famous Sunset Strip. This book also goes into detail about how Dokken came together, covers their rise and fall, and their reconciliation nearly twenty years later.

Genres: Music, Biography

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 12, 2020

Reviews

[♥Milica♥]

A book about Dokken exists and none of you told me, tsk tsk. I neeeeeeed it.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complete story of Dokken, from beginnings to the post heyday period. I liked it quite a lot. Easy to read and chock full of information. Curl kept the emphasis on the band and their music, with quite a lot about the personal issues that fractured the band. Although the author touched on some of the drug use and the wild sex, that was definitely not the focus of the book. And I liked that. After awhile all those stories tend to run together and I'd rather hear about the band members and the music. So, I gave it a 5 star rating. Fun book.

[Armand Rosamilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long-time fan, I knew of the in-fighting in the band, especially between Don and George. I just had no idea how bad it had become or was from the first time these two were in a room together. Amazing they survived as long as they did, and a band that could've been much bigger if they'd seen the big picture. Lots of insights and interviews with band members, and information galore for the casual and huge fan of the band.

[Dameon Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will tell you all you need to know about Dokken. From there conflicts that was only agitated more with all the coke they were doing to who they played with, musical influences and it definitely does have some rememberable moments such as dangling George in a angel costume while Aerosmith played. They have some good music definitely the tooth and nail album which is great and heavier than their other works. That's the album I choose to enjoy when I feel like being in a more fun mood. Heck, George's guitar work is always great in all their music that I have listened to. To bad when Don Dokken gives him the limelight to shred he is hiding behind some speakers sniffing some coke.

[Genevieve Zerger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most well written book I've read but I found the details of the band very interesting. The book portrayed different perspectives of the band members, even the earlier and later band members. I enjoy reading about what went behind the scenes of the different albums that they released, including the album that was released by Don Dokken after the band split up.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative book about Dokken.

I enjoyed reading this book. It's basically a history of Dokken. There are some good stories and photos. I'm glad someone finally wrote a biography on Dokken.

[Maisie Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing, I couldn’t put it down.

[Michael Filippini · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a quick read and for independent it is not too bad. James Curl did a good job with the editing. I would have given this book 5 stars I had to pull the four-star trigger because at the end he went on this random tangent about Winger because one of the band mates joined Dokken. Sorry, this was not necessary, and we are not here to talk about "King of the Hill" or Mike Judge. Even though it was the funniest (or so I though) show on fox Sundays.

I also don't care how James is friends with Don Dokken who to be honest I feel is kind of pompous. I went to a Dokken concert in 2016 and had a good experience at whiskey go-go. He refused to play his only really good song "Dream Warriors" I saw him again 2017 playing with the late Jack Russel and his band "great white" he was there playing the tambourine........comical.

You do learn some interesting things about Don and the book is relatively quick. I really like how James stuck to the facts and wasn't too opinionated. It had a good start and ended swiftly. This is an independent book and did respectably. Again for those who aren't aware Don Dokken, had he been accepted in the scorpions would have gone far. He just couldn't get a good foundation and was really a sycophant band to Aerosmith and the other titans of hair metal.

[Sam Love (slxpictures) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this. The book consolidates a lot of sparse information over a large time frame to create a very interesting, linear, timeline that covers everything you'd need to know about the journey of Dokken. Won't lie, I'm not sure I could ever know enough about the nitty gritty, simply because band dynamics run deep and are truly fascinating, but there's so much here and it's wonderful, if not at times a little sad, mildly tragic (I have a soft spot for Don Dokken, the man has not had an easy time of it). Dokken are without a doubt my favourite band and I only wish they had all the success they so clearly deserved. This book rocks!

[M69 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teniendo en cuenta que lo ha escrito un autor bastante amateur y que George Lynch no ha querido participar, tiene bastante mérito cómo ha quedado la biografía: bastante interesante y amena. Constituye un buen repaso por la época dorada de Sunset Strip, con todos sus excesos, en la que vivieron Dokken y que tanto marcó su trayectoria. Además hay muchos detalles sorprendentes y escabrosos, sorprenderá incluso a los fans más acérrimos.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a huge Dokken fan, this is an essential must-read, but from the outset, it makes it clear that George and Mick had no interest in participating in the book and a little way down the line, you can tell why. This book skews towards backing Don and his greed quite a bit, especially with the author being personal friends. But all in all, a swift read through the twists and turns of a band rising high and crashing and burning.

[jim perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book.

If you're a fan of Dokken or of the 80's hard rock era, this book is for you. Thanks to the Author for all the work put into a book about one of my all time favorite bands.

[Igy The Book Hermit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing at times could have been better. Too many Type O's

[Randee · Rating 3 out of 5]

You’d better love Dokken if you read this.

[James Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it wish George would have Participated

[HornFan2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

To honestly tell the story of Dokken, you need to have input from both George Lynch and Mick Brown and it needs a good edit. Yet repeatedly you get quotes of what George says, they end up open ended, no conclusion, and love all the digs at him by what Don says.

Yet I went to the Monsters of Rock concert, June 25th, 1988 at Oxford Plains Speedway, on a rainy cold miserable day. Dokken starts playing, it's raining, thundering, two songs in and Don ran off the stage, saying fuck this shit. While George, Jeff and Mick kept playing for three more songs, they sounded amazing, and played till the promoters made them stop playing due to the weather.

No, Mr. Scary, never turned his back to the fans, nor was he hiding behind speakers snorting coke. I learned the biggest secret about Dokken. George, Jeff and Mick didn't need Don at all. Told my friends I was with, fuck they don't need Don at all, man can Jeff and Mick sing better than him, they felt the same way, and no shock they ended up breaking up months later.

Also been better to just either focus on Don, write a memoir about him and leave out the embers from the 80's Metal History. Since the way they're present its filler, and no need to bring it up.

Seriously, Dokken the band probably survived longer than they should have. Since Don stole songs from George and Mick, then allegedly the two tried to recruit Jack Russell to replace Don in the early days of the band and don't necessarily believe that actually happened. If it did happen, either of these two things would make me in their shoes, move on verse trying to create a band with them.

Not a fan of Jack's. Here's why and perhaps I need to thank him. Saw Great White twice in concert, they were a special guest for Whitesnake and the Scorpions. Both shows Jack was wasted, couldn't stand, couldn't remember the songs and was puking all over the stage. Got my introduction to the early songs of Whitesnake, as they took over playing, played an entire set of older songs, and then the Scorpions played an acoustic set, while the concert venue maintenance cleaned the stage.

Not every band can do what Eddie and David did, as a fan I think they realized they made some great music together, knew the fans loved their music and made it work for as long as they did.

They sound more toxic, than me as a fan realized, but I always felt that George, Jeff and Mick would have been an awesome band and Don would have been better by himself leading a band. Also feel like Don held them back, kept them poppy verse being able to do songs like what was on Lynch/Pilson -Wicked Underground release.

Always felt that you take George Lynch, Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown, either add Steven Delong on vocals, Jeff on bass and backing vocals or James LoMenzo on bass with Jeff doing vocals and they would have been one kick ass band.