Dokken
This Los Angeles band was put together by vocalist Don Dokken. His first break came when producer Dieter Dierks recruited him to supply (eventually un-used) back-up vocals on the Scorpions’ BLACKOUT in 1982. Dierks then allowed Dokken the left-over studio time to produce demos. These rough recordings impressed Carrere Records enough to secure a contract, and he enlisted the services of guitarist George Lynch, drummer Mick Brown and bassist Juan Croucier (who later left to form Ratt and was replaced by Jeff Pilson) to form Dokken, the band. Essentially Dokken's music is an intimate fusion of hard rock, melody and atmospherics. It was these qualities that Elektra Records saw in the band when they signed them in 1982. They re-mixed and re-released their Carrere debut, BREAKING THE CHAINS, which made the lower end of the US Billboard album charts. From this point on, Elektra allowed the band a substantial recording budget, with producers Michael Wagener, Geoff Workman, Tom Werman and Roy Thomas Baker being used at different times. The band recorded three excellent studio albums for Elektra before internal disputes between Lynch and Don Dokken led the band to split in 1988. A farewell live album, BEAST FROM THE EAST followed, and is a fitting epitaph to a fine band. Lynch went on to form Lynch Mob, while Don Dokken negotiated a solo deal with Geffen Records and released UP FROM THE ASHES in 1990.