DOKKEN ( hard rock , USA ) Vinyl Discography

Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. The band was nominated for a Grammy in 1989.

Dokken was composed of founder Don Dokken on vocals, George Lynch on lead guitar, Juan Croucier on bass and "Wild" Mick Brown on drums. In 1983 Croucier left Dokken in order to join Ratt and was replaced by Jeff Pilson. Currently only Dokken and Brown remain from the original line-up. After several personnel changes on guitar Dokken's attorney Jon Levin stepped in to fill the role in 2004. In 2001 Barry Sparks replaced Jeff Pilson on bass. In 2009 Sean McNabb replaced Barry Sparks on bass guitar.

This web-page has detailed descriptions and background information on DOKKEN and a selection of their best vinyl records of this band

DOKKEN Band Description:

Dokken has been part of my musical bloodstream since the days when L.A. metal still smelled like hot asphalt and cheap backstage beer. Watching this band evolve from a shifting late-70s project into the lethal 80s machine they became feels like tracking the growth rings on a very loud, very stubborn tree. Don Dokken held the center from the start, pushing through personnel chaos until the classic crew finally snapped into place: Don up front, George Lynch firing on all cylinders, Jeff Pilson locking down bass and harmonies, and “Wild” Mick Brown smashing the drums like they owed him money.

Before the big MTV years, they were grinding. “Breaking the Chains” appeared first in Europe in ’81, then re-released in ’83 as the U.S. version — you can practically hear the band tightening the screws on their sound. But the real ignition moment arrived later that year with “Tooth and Nail.” Everyone remembers “Alone Again,” but for me it’s the mix of sharp riffs and melodic tension that made the record feel like they’d finally found their bite.

The momentum didn’t dip. “Under Lock and Key” in ’85 felt like the band had finally figured out how to weaponize melody — songs like “In My Dreams” and “It’s Not Love” were everywhere, from MTV rotation to the posters on my teenage bedroom wall. Their standing army of fans in Japan exploded during this era, and the 1988 tour gave us “Beast from the East,” still one of the strongest live snapshots of any mid-80s metal band.

Then came the monster: “Back for the Attack” in ’87. This was the moment where every component clicked — Lynch’s tone sharpened to a knife edge, Don sounded huge, and tracks like “Dream Warriors,” “Burning Like a Flame,” and “Heaven Sent” carried the kind of weight only a band at full confidence can deliver. Platinum sales, Billboard success, the whole package.

And like any band running that hot, the cracks widened. Don and George were oil and nitro — brilliant together, impossible in the long run. By 1989 the friction finally tore the engine apart, and everyone scattered into solo projects and new bands. Sure, Dokken came back in the 1990s with shifting lineups, but the 80s spark — that mix of precision, melody, and barely-contained tension — is the version etched into my collector brain.

Dokken Line-ups and Albums (1970s–Early 1990s)

1981–1983 Line-up

Line-up:
Don Dokken – vocals
George Lynch – lead guitar
Juan Croucier – bass
Mick Brown – drums

Albums released by this line-up:
Breaking the Chains (1981 EU / 1983 US)

1983–1989 Classic Line-up

Line-up:
Don Dokken – vocals
George Lynch – lead guitar
Jeff Pilson – bass
Mick Brown – drums

Albums released by this line-up:
Tooth and Nail (1984)
Under Lock and Key (1985)
Back for the Attack (1987)
Beast from the East (1988, live)

1990–1991 (Post-Breakup Period)

Line-up:
Dokken was inactive during these years. Members went separate ways: Don Dokken (solo), George Lynch (Lynch Mob), Jeff Pilson (session projects), Mick Brown (joins Lynch Mob).

Albums released by this line-up:
None – no Dokken releases during the split.

Dokken — Classic Era Line-up (1979–1992)

This overview presents the musicians who contributed to Dokken during their formative and classic years, from the late 1970s through the 1992 split. Each member played a distinct role in shaping the band’s sound, from early club-era line-ups to the internationally successful albums of the 1980s. The bios below provide neutral, factual summaries of their musical contributions and background.

Don Dokken — Lead Vocals

Don Dokken is the founding vocalist of the band and one of its central creative figures. His vocal style, which balances melodic phrasing with a clean hard-rock delivery, became a defining element of Dokken’s sound throughout the 1980s. He guided the group from its early Los Angeles beginnings into its commercial breakthrough period.

Don Dokken on Wikipedia

Primary Role – Lead Vocals
Country – USA
Years Active – 1978–present
Bands – Dokken, Don Dokken
Associated – Hear ’n Aid

Selected Discography

“Tooth and Nail” (1984)
“Under Lock and Key” (1985)
“Back for the Attack” (1987)
“Up from the Ashes” (1990)

George Lynch — Guitars

George Lynch served as Dokken’s lead guitarist during their most influential period. Known for his technical proficiency and distinct tone, he contributed many of the riffs, solos, and guitar arrangements that defined the band’s musical identity in the 1980s. His playing style became one of the most recognizable aspects of Dokken’s sound.

George Lynch on Wikipedia

Primary Role – Lead Guitar
Country – USA
Years Active – 1970s–present
Bands – Dokken, Lynch Mob, Xciter
Associated – Hear ’n Aid, KXM, Sweet & Lynch

Selected Discography

“Tooth and Nail” (1984)
“Under Lock and Key” (1985)
“Back for the Attack” (1987)
“Wicked Sensation” (1990)

Jeff Pilson — Bass / Vocals

Jeff Pilson joined Dokken in the early 1980s and became an important contributor to both the band’s rhythm section and vocal arrangements. His bass work provided the foundation for the group’s sound, while his harmony vocals were a key element in Dokken’s layered studio productions during their peak commercial years.

Jeff Pilson on Wikipedia

Primary Role – Bass / Vocals
Country – USA
Years Active – 1980s–present
Bands – Dokken, War & Peace
Associated – MSG, Dio, Foreigner

Selected Discography

“Tooth and Nail” (1984)
“Under Lock and Key” (1985)
“Back for the Attack” (1987)
“Time Capsule” (War & Peace demos)

Mick Brown — Drums

Mick Brown performed as Dokken’s drummer throughout their classic run. His playing combined steady hard-rock grooves with the energy required for the band’s more aggressive arrangements. Brown’s work is present on all major studio releases from the band’s commercially successful era.

Mick Brown on Wikipedia

Primary Role – Drums
Country – USA
Years Active – 1970s–2019
Bands – Dokken, Lynch Mob
Associated – Ted Nugent Band, Xciter, Hear ’n Aid

Selected Discography

“Tooth and Nail” (1984)
“Under Lock and Key” (1985)
“Back for the Attack” (1987)
“Wicked Sensation” (1990)

Juan Croucier — Bass Guitar

Juan Croucier was part of Dokken’s early line-up and contributed bass tracks during the “Breaking the Chains” era. His playing supported the band’s transition from their club-scene origins to their first studio releases. Croucier later left the group and became a long-term member of Ratt.

Juan Croucier on Wikipedia

Role – Bass Guitar
Years with Dokken – 1979–1983
Bands – Dokken, Ratt

Selected Discography

“Breaking the Chains” (1981/1983)

Gary Holland — Drums

Gary Holland performed with Dokken during the band’s earliest phase, before their first major studio releases. His drumming supported the group during their initial development in the Los Angeles music scene. Holland later became best known as the founding drummer of Great White.

Gary Holland on Wikipedia