Breaking news: DOKKEN is still alive and rocking (kind of) 🤘! Videographer Dan Petry has uploaded a video of their entire June 20 concert at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Because, you know, the world was just missing a 72-year-old Don Dokken singing and playing (well, not really playing) his heart out 🎸. You can watch the footage below, but don’t worry, we won’t judge you if you fall asleep halfway through 😴.
Last November, Don Dokken spoke to Robert Edwards of Talkin’ Bout Rock about the complications from his November 2019 neck and spinal surgery, which rendered his right arm nearly paralyzed 🤕. Because, you know, being a rockstar is all about the drama and the struggles 🎭. The 72-year-old Don said: “I can’t play guitar anymore, which is one of my biggest bummers, because if you see my hand, [the left hand is] fine; [the right] one doesn’t move. That’s all I got. So I can’t play guitar anymore. It was a botched spinal surgery, and the doctor was a butcher 🤡.” Wow, that’s some top-notch medical care right there 🏥.
Addressing his previous comment from a spring 2025 interview in which he said that he would play his final DOKKEN concert “probably within the year”, Don said: “I don’t know what retirement means 🤔. When I say I’m thinking about retiring, kind of what I meant was we’re gonna slow down 🐌. We don’t wanna do 250 shows a year 📆. You get older and you have other interests 🎨. You wanna be home, you wanna enjoy your career, all the success you had 🏠.” Yeah, because touring is soooo exhausting 😴. We feel you, Don 🙄.
Don also mentioned that a lot of bands, like KISS, are saying, “All right, we had a good ride, we had fun, we were famous 🎉. Let the youngsters come in and take over 🔥.” Yeah, because that’s exactly what the world needs: more young, talentless musicians 🎶. And, of course, Don had to mention his friends, like David Coverdale, who’s also retiring 🎸. Because, you know, it’s all about who can retire first 🏃♂️.
The follow-up to 2012’s “Broken Bones”, “Heaven Comes Down” was produced by Bill Palmer and Don Dokken, and was mixed by Kevin Shirley (AEROSMITH, IRON MAIDEN) 🎵. Because, you know, it’s all about the music 🎶. In August 2023, DOKKEN released the music video for the album’s first single, “Fugitive” 🕵️♂️. The clip was directed by Chris Eyre (“Dark Winds”, “Smoke Signals”) and was filmed at the popular immersive arts venture Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, New Mexico 🌯.
DOKKEN released an album called “The Lost Songs: 1978-1981” in August 2020 via Silver Lining Music 📀. Featuring sleeve art by renowned U.S. artist Tokyo Hiro (MOTÖRHEAD, MOTLEY CRÜE), the effort contains material written and recorded by a hungry young Don Dokken as he embarked upon a journey which started in Southern California and Northern Germany 🌍.
DOKKEN’s classic lineup of Dokken, Lynch, bassist Jeff Pilson, and drummer Mick Brown completed a short Japanese tour in October 2016, marking the first time in 21 years the four performed together 🎉. And, of course, they had to release a concert DVD, “Return To The East Live (2016)”, because who doesn’t love a good cash grab? 🤑. At some of the recent DOKKEN shows, Lynch has been rejoining the band on stage to perform three of the classic DOKKEN songs: “Kiss Of Death”, “When Heaven Comes Down”, and “Tooth And Nail” 🎸. Because, you know, nostalgia is the best 🙌.
So, if you’re feeling nostalgic and want to watch some old guys play music, be sure to check out the video below 📹. But don’t say we didn’t warn you 😂. And, Don, if you’re reading this, don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone that you’re actually 72 years old and still trying to rock 🤫. Your secret is safe with us 🤐. 🎸👏
