Jeff Pilson Slams Don Dokken Claim, "Desperate and Weak" + George Lynch, Mick Brown - Interview 2024

[@logancampbell6157]

Don and George are hard-headed and only see things from their own perception. Jeff has always been the mediator and should be the one to listen to.

[@davidrice3337]

these dudes are so starved for attention they probably hang out together and make this shit up - besides - Heavy Metal is about as cool as that Potsie dude on Happy Days

[@michelebrittain2130]

​@@davidrice3337But heavy metal used to be like Fonzie.

[@robpaxson4455]

Tom Werman confirmed that Jeff was the peacemaker, and said that he was the same during the filming of Rock Star between Zakk and Jason

[@DarkKhagan]

​@@davidrice3337I don't know how starved for attention any of Dokken is nowadays, as far as I can tell their pretty much done. Although, I did see Don Dokken in November of 2023 with his new lineup and I must say it was a valiant attempt, but it certainly falls way short of what they used to sound like with all of the original members back in 1987. But I give them credit for not playing a recording in concert like other aging rockers are doing (KISS, Mötley Crüe). As for "Metal" being as cool as Potsie from Happy Days, that's fucking hilarious...but No...Potsie was never Cool LMAO! 😆 However, Back In The Day Heavy Metal was Cool 😎 especially during The NWOBHM from mid-1970s till the late 1980s. Bands like: Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Black Rose, Saxon, Def Leppard, Samson, Girlschool, Tygers of Pan Tang, Raven, Grim Reaper, Sweet Savage, Tokyo Blade, Tank, Venom, and Ozzy Osbourne just to name some of the better known bands! 🤘🏼🎸😎

[@JokersWild70]

​@@DarkKhaganGeorge can still play just like the records, but Don destroyed his voice with cigarettes, and him getting older didn't help either, to a lesser extent

[@LuisMorales-xr1gm]

Jeff Pilson is just a amazing artist , humble as can be, and just doesn't bullshit anyone. One of my favorite bass players as well. Ive met Mick Brown once, George Lynch 3 times, but Ive yet to meet Jeff and Don. I missed out on meeting Jeff at NAMM 2005 when someone asks me " Hey ,have you seen the Ampeg booth?" I said " No,, I'm sorry!" I took three steps , stopped ,and said " Holy Shit, that was Jeff Pilson!" and by that time he was lost in the sea of people

[@jayteesgear]

05’ NAMM Ruled!!!

[@LuisMorales-xr1gm]

@@NEbluefire Because I was on the way to the company's booth I worked for or beIieve me I would have gone and tried to meet him

[@timwildes8082]

Met Don in Portland Maine. Tall dude and super cool. Someone smoked a funny cigarette with him during the guitarist's solo and he ended up disappearing for fifteen minutes or so. The band just jammed out looking back to see when he was coming. Came back white as a ghost. Think he got sick.

[@westernfilet]

Tooth and Nail is my favorite Dokken record. Jeff sounds normal, level-headed even for a lifelong musician. Gotta believe he's speaking truth.

[@arthurmurfitt7698]

Same here.

[@rosariocannistraro3561]

All the times I met and talked to him over the years in Dokken and Dio he's just a nice sunny disposition dude without Amy of the rockstar BS .

[@steveparker5406]

Jeff is and was always the most intelligent cat in the band. Don blew his voice on cigarettes and just loathes George (and now Mick) with a passion. Isn’t everyone comfortable financially?? Don can’t let it go and move forward.

[@mustang77Bobby]

- sounds like a bowl of motley Crue stew🤷.It's a f****** shame that guys who have been in the bands with each other for ages, want to Penny pinch or stick something up one of the other members asses,, as they get ready to park the bus.. . . 😶

[@rokinrandy]

Considering the history between singers that I know personally. I hate to label people but it doesn’t surprise me. The term LSD became a popular one in the 80s and 90s. Lead singers disease. That spot light destroys people’s spirit . And that’s just from the damage at the garage band and night club level.

[@buntline1873]

At least Jeff can give credit.

[@motorman512]

This latest saga is summed up in Jeff's last sentrnce of this interview...."After all this time, really?" What the heck Don? Now a Jeff story to show what a decent guy he is. Around 1989 or so, Hit Parader magazine published the P.O. Boxes of several of the guys from the popular bands. Jeff's address was one of them. I was 17 years old and had been devestated when Dokken broke up. The only source of news was snippets on MTV or in the Rock magazines. So I wrote to Jeff and even asked for some advice on being a musician. He actually took the time to write me back! I was so blessed by that at that point in my life.

[@comeonman1100]

He sounds the most rational, down the middle of them.

[@jeffreymanestar5319]

Yes, by far.

[@rick3747]

Jeff has head on straight. Stand up guy.

[@mikemaj8467]

I would argue that Don was the only one sober and that what the others believe may be drug fueled memory haze.

[@billydelacruz1500]

Have a friend who was pals with Jeff since 90’s! Standup guy, killer musician, greater human being! Saw him years later when playing with Foreigner and was so sincere and happy to catch up with my pal!!

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

@@mikemaj8467 If you look at the songwriting credits, Jeff and george have a lot of them together. Don has maintained he wrote most of Under Lock and Key except why is jeff singing leads on the demos on youtube.... I would find it hard to believe George and Jeff were not the main songwriters. there is that visual evidence on Unchain the Night video where they are lugging around a 4 track and writing music for Back for the Attack. Don was not sober, he maintains he was not hopped up on coke...

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

@@billydelacruz1500 jeff may have been the best vocalist in the band

[@lrn_news9171]

@@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_OracleI've listened to dream warriors with Jeff's vocals. Don just nails that song, it's just not the same with Jeff singing it. He had even more range than Don, which is insane because Don had insane range and a pretty solid upper middle register, most of lightning strikes again, Unchain the night, kiss of death etc... are in upper middle, it's difficult to sing in that range. That's why Don would often lose stamina in his vocals live, he was singing on top of his chest voice range all the time, basically forcing it. Some shows he nailed it and others not so much, I believe that 1985-1987 was his peak. look up bootlegs from that time period

[@gun_toting_lefty]

Hell! Mick had to put up with all the BS between Don & George. He EARNED that 25%!

[@rokinrandy]

It’s weird. Why not just share ? I mean we all work and have to live. Damn what is 10% I’m doing fine???People let Fame and money screw people up. Like Dave mustaine and that bass player guy. They knew each other for years before. Dave sells him the Megadeth name for free and changed his mind and wants to be back in the band and the bassist got pissed and tried to sue him. What the hell kind of shit is that???😮If it were my old buddy I’d be like cool welcome back. Just strange ! But we all see how that ended 😳maybe that’s why. You beat off get outta here you perv!!! Amazing Bassist that left his mark though. He shouldn’t regret it too bad. He was the only one to not get fired or leave in 30 years 😂. Imagine the shit you’d have to deal with between those guys though. That’s terrible

[@KomaTimeKev]

I hear a great artist giving credit where credit is due and calling bullshit on the rest. Thank you for the great memories Dokken.

[@RobesonRocks]

Love that Jeff still holds the Dokken tunes in esteem. Tooth, Lock, & Back are legendary albums that should be celebrated as what they were...darts in the bullseye. The guys were under pressure from the label to squeeze out hits ASAP and they delivered under pressure, infightings & inebriation. A lot of 80's bands hate their legacy and say "that was the past...move on".

[@julianschulz1620]

I've always LOVED "Will the Sun rise," but it felt like this forgotten deep cut. So cool to hear Jeff mention it here.

[@LuisMorales-xr1gm]

@@julianschulz1620 my fav on the album

[@kevinkaatz883]

There r guitar parts that are beyond Don's capabilities, period! Every guitarist knows signature George, and there's a lot of signature George

[@samright4661]

Don was a killer guitar player! Don’t understand his abilities

[@paintmonster1]

Most people are confusing songwriting and performance. Yes songs are improved by other musicians playing who have a skill set. Sooo many great session players creating parts for songs that became hits. But songwriting copyrights only include melody and lyrics.

[@kmoecub]

@@samright4661 Don said more than once that the first time he heard George play he decided to give up playing lead guitar. And that has nothing at all to do with writing credits.

[@samright4661]

@@kmoecub That doesn’t mean Don wasn’t a Good Guitar player I’ve seen him playing live With George in Germany! He’s was a good solid player

[@nahuel2201]

​@@kmoecubexactly people don t get that don never said he played george solos.. he talked about melody and lyrics

[@dwade6322]

If there was one member in Dokken that i would believe about any subject regarding the band,it would be Jeff 👍

[@Malama_Ki]

Since so many 80’s stars are dropping dead left and right, and these guys are closer to the grave than the cradle, you’d think at some point you’d just realize you were apart of the history and just celebrate that. Mick Brown is the example. He’s just chilling and loving life without the drama.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

I whole-heartedly agree with you. I have a very personal story about the guys in Dokken. I'm a 59 year old black woman but in the 1980's, I was in my mid 20's. I had just lost my mother and found comfort in Dokken's music. A close friend, who had contacts in the music industry, arranged for me to meet the band. They were some of the nicest guys that I ever met and their kindness made a lasting impression on me. When they split up, I was devastated; it was like losing another family after grieving my mom's death. I sincerely hope that they shake hands and call a truce once and for all; especially with Don's health problems. They created beautiful music. It would be heartbreaking if their personal animosity overshadowed that.🥺

[@jamescon55]

Thx for this real deal interview with Jeff.....Pretty much what I thought from the get go...And yeah, whenever the vocalist just bashes the drummer like Don did, after "ALL of it?"....Unfrigginbelievable how bad D-bag Don has gotten...SMH

[@PulverizerA]

Life's too short to be miserable. Especially over stuff from 30+ years ago.

[@grahamyoung3433]

Listening to Don's singing these days makes me miserable, its utterly horrendous.

[@SuperEgo19]

Back for the Attack was a great album.

[@benterhune4334]

Back for the Attack was a masterpiece. I remember being in the record store when they played Kiss of Death and my friend and i's chins both bit the floor as though we'd seen Elle McPherson naked.

[@MetalSalvation]

I never liked it as much as the previous two...maybe I should give it another listen and see if my feelings have changed.

[@davidmink6686]

The best.

[@OriginalWhiteDevil]

Don wrote 86.3% of that record.

[@BURNOUT3272]

My favorite record of all time

[@kmcewenguitar]

Check out the demo of "Dream Warriors" with Jeff singing. It's unbelievably good!

[@basementoflove]

I've been an avid Dokken fan since the mid-80s...bought ALL the albums & followed each of the guys with their other bands & solo projects. It's VERY evident who wrote what. Whether they realize it or not, these guys have three distinct "musical voices". You can REALLY hear the difference in the Dokken songs post Lynch/Pilson contributions. Liars sound especially convincing when they fool themselves & can no longer distinguish the truth from a lie.

[@mr.timebombman2230]

What a professional, level headed dude.

[@christopherstudley9374]

For the record Jeff, thank you ! Thank you for all your contributions to MUSIC everywhere ! I've viewed you as the one carrying Don after he blew his voice out. I believe you to be fair and impartial. We obviously love Don's contributions as much as George & Mick's as well, but i just hope you know, Dokken wouldn't have been the same without YOU !

[@behamiltonsrful]

Wow, I really love the professionalism of Jeff. I remember I had a buddy that was somehow working with you guys, he was the bass player for my band, Ray Gillespie. He had a demo of you and George, and there were song from Beast from the East on there, they were clean but raw. I cannot remember if there were vocals or not, I think Jeff may have hummed or sand some tidbits It was a 3 song recording. I was blown away, always been a huge fan of you guys. I do not think my guitar playing would be the same without George and Randy Rhoads, and I credit Dokken for my song writing influences . Just a great interview, and way to take the high road, I love to see this!

[@basementoflove]

Let's not forget that Don got the record deal in Germany when he borrowed some "Xciter" songs & marketed them as HIS.

[@machupikachu1085]

Someone else knows this. Kudos.

[@nahuel2201]

He didnt borrowed anything ... george didnt wanted songs like París because he though heavy metal/hard rock wasnt going to keep being popular... like when he did his rap thing lol

[@royalslack]

@@nahuel2201He’s talking about before the first album came out.

[@royalslack]

Correct! That included “Paris is Burning” (aka “Paris”) - which George & Mick had been playing for years.

[@themadmattster9647]

Yes Don has basically fed off of George even when he wasn’t the guitarist. You can tell that much of the first one wasn’t George and can tell Pilson had a lot of input since the first one was always the weakest one to me

[@dlokazip]

I've heard Don. I've heard George. I've heard Jeff....I believe Jeff.

[@Stever99999]

Rush got in front of this from the get-go and eliminated any potential arguments by splitting everything three ways no matter what. And that’s one of the reasons they stayed together for all those years. Sad that Don just can’t do that.

[@arthurmurfitt7698]

Same with REM. Four-way split.

[@paintmonster1]

Yes but their drummer peart wrote almost 100% of the lyrics when he joined... Lee and Lifeson were then allowed to create great instrumentation and melody which is exactly the partnership they wanted. All 3 in my eyes were equally important and carried a 1/3 of the weight. Dokken was no Rush... For many reasons but Dokken had 3 writers contributing most of the songwriting... Pilson is being overly nice regarding the drummer's contributions. I think Don's real beef is about the drug use and especially the drummer who's off getting loaded but still getting 25% song writing royalties.

[@kmoecub]

@@paintmonster1 Neil wrote a lot of the lyrics, but it was nowhere near 100%. The difference between Rush and Dokken is that all of the members of Rush made friendship a priority over business.

[@bobpugliese4428]

Great interview! Those of us who seen airborne and xciter in the late 70s know. Unfortunately trash talking sadly seems to be the new marketing tool. It was a lot better enjoying the music than hearing arguments

[@paintmonster1]

@@kmoecub Peart joined Rush after the first album so obviously it's understood he did not write those song lyrics. Starting with the fly-by-night album and 18 studio albums later Neil contributed lyrics to all but 5 songs. The last song Different Strings, lyrics by Lee was on their 7th album ... So most Rush fans would agree with my statement nearly 100% of the lyrics" not all... the need to deny that is odd... But my larger point was the Rush members were truly an equal collaboration unlike Dokken and yes they were friends and got along but when they agreed to the equal split in songwriting royalties, which I agree was smart, they all held up their part of the deal so no resentment could ever creep into the relationship and ever become an issue.

[@lanceraustin]

The righteousness of your channel is equaled by the quality of Jeff Pilson as the ambassador for an era- an excellent match! I also loved the recent interview of he & George Lynch in Jeff's studio. Tons of vintage gear, they have stories for days about which amps are on which tracks, and they work together still. Total bros! I forget if this was on Dave Friedman's podcast, or what.

[@stevengoodman3498]

Love Jeff as he is a great performer and player. I especially like when he played with DIO time period of around 2004 along with Tracy G. Great musician!

[@Bernz66]

Met Jeff….. he’s such a great and humble guy…. I’m such a fan….

[@karenmonson9893]

From what I've seen or heard Jeff was always the one to smooth things over in the group. He got along with everyone. In the day you heard alot about conflict between Don and George. Saying that I it seems the press ran with it making it worse then what it was. Dokken was at it's best when everyone worked together and contributed. I also have to say Mick Brown and Jeff Pilson have amazing voices and could have been lead singers in their own right. George was unbeatable being lead guitar. You have to give credit to Don's voice in the earlier days, he had range! I also give him and George credit for going out on the road and touring. They have both established themselves so have more liberties about when and how often they go out.

[@patricknoone171]

Yes Don said it was the record label that made it up then on the DVD release of the Video he had new interviews where he stated he never liked George so to claim its made up is BS

[@goathair33]

Don wrote all the air drum parts he plays on stage

[@michelebrittain2130]

Lol

[@jamescon55]

🤭😆Lol..🤣 EXACTLY!!! Yeah , WHENEVER you HAD a band like DOKKEN in the 80s to do WHAT they DID? And turn around and say "the drummer didn't do squat" AFTER ALL THAT time AND the DECADES later? 🤨😖😤🤬Sorry NOT sorry (as I have NEVER been a huge "Don fan" personality wise) but yeah...He HAS just REALLY turned into QUITE the obvious "D-bag Don," that he ALWAYS HAS BEEN, just way older and obviously, way MORE miserable as well....SMH "He JUST played drums"........Unfrigginbelievable....

[@bobdooggie]

I watched that home video several times too. It was cool especially George and Pilson working on material when they were touring. You could hear the playback to Prisoner in the background in one segment. Jeff got the right attitude about being in a band and the royalties split.

[@hairnation68]

Jeff is just a great guy. Such a great singer as well. I saw War & Peace live in Syracuse Ny and have that CD when it finally released. Such a great musician and bass player.

[@Assimilator702]

When will the full interview with Jeff be released? This is just a tease!

[@isMike999]

Jeff is SO STRAIGHT up....how can you NOT love that dude???....GREAT POSITIVE energy.....

[@RockDawg77]

Ok, as lifelong Dokken/Lynch fans, a few thoughts. 1, Love how Jeff held Mick in such high esteem. He deserves it. 2, Jeff makes a great point. If Mick walked into the room at 2 AM and made a wicked cool suggestion, that's worth a lot. How many times in life does someone come into a situation and their contribution propels something forward with little effort after others have been grinding away. Didn't sense one ounce of resentment from Jeff towards Mick, sounds like George either, so that is one of reasons a lot of us love Dokken. 3, Ted T. talks about pulling the Van Halen guys aside and giving them similar advice at the very first steps of their career. Makes sense. 4, Rush split everthying three ways. Should Alex get less because he only played the fiddle while the amazing drummer dude held a drumstick in one hand whipping out legendary beats, writing all the lyrics with the other hand holding a pen, at the same time the really tall guy was over in the corner like an octupus playing keyboards, pedals, bass, singing, and making the crowd go wild creating decades of die hard legions of fans? How's come us Dokken fans can't learn from Rush fans. Don't see them bickerin and taking swipes at each other or the band on yt. 5, a friend in high school said back in the 80s when Hagar joined VH and Diamond Dave split, there has to be some tension and conflict between the lead singer and the guitarist or you just get a bunch of crappy love longs. Check, and check. 6, the irony of Just Walk Away, the amazing video, group effort, and with that searing trademark wicked Lynch where the heck did he get that tone guitar solo puts a huge exlcamation point on the career of a legendary band. Topped only, in these Dokken fans opinion, by Too High Too Fly, and the where did that come frrom I think I'm in love 4 part metal harmony hold my beer and I'll show you what the Beatles might have sounded like metal stop through one of the best deep cuts ever Hole in My Head. 7. It's pretty obvious why everyone loves Jeff. What a great guy. Even when he's disagreeing with a lifelong bandmate, ya can't fault him. And you get the fealing if Don walked into the room, Jeff would say, Dude, really? Five minutes later everybody would be laughing. 9 months later, another bounching baby metal album for the ages. And all is forgotten. 8. At this point, there should be any question what makes the legacy line up of Dokken great? Don's the front man, leading the charge, good, bad or otherwise, Jeff is a class act laying down the groove that ya can't get enough of, Geoorge is the best lookin mad scientist that makes wanna run and pick up the nearest guitar you can get your hands on, and Mick is the kinda quiet but not really so much party dude in the background holding it all together that if you're lucky enough to hang around with him, you're gonna have some stories. Boom, the cornerstone of a lot of our record collections. 9. Can we get over ourselves already? Who cares what each of these guys are doing, sound like, who they are playing with, age they are at, do for us fans, can we just shut up and enjoy it, have a gratelul attitude already? Can't speak for everyone, but come on. Does it have to be your way or you're gonna complain? Cuz we would pay good money to watch Don read poetry while George plays a pink hello kitty guitar, Jeff plays mouth harp, and Mick pokes his brother with a stick each time he wants him to beat on an upside down set of peanut butter buckets. Carry on, guys, cuz we real fans will support ya no matter what you do. 10. We sure hope Mick and a few others read things like this and monetize reading whiny youtuber posts like late night shows having celebrities read mean tweets. While Mick and whoever else retired hanging with him gets drunk off their @$$ making fun of the youtuber that post that drivel and everytime Mick, Craig Goldie, etc. flames the yt commenter, the poop emoji next to the user's handle gets a little bigger to warn the rest of the metal community. While these guys sail into retirement on the donations of true fans making fun of trolls that oh my #$% deserve it. And if you can't tell by now, we were the buds that our mission was to find the next great album no one ever hear of. If the whole cd wasn't good, we didn't buy it. That's why we had music everyone else never heard of, the new Dokken album with bonus track stuff, and were backstage hanging with the band. Some in our circles still communicate with members of multiple bands. So a little advice. Take a hint from Jeff. If we're really fans, heap praise on these guys and gals while you can. Because they won't be around forever. Their music will. But they sure have done a lot for all of us. And deserve every ounce of appreciation we can show them. Peace rock brothers & sisters. :)

[@brentonstafford5962]

Another great interview

[@lrn_news9171]

Dream Warriors only says Lynch/Pilson what's interesting is that it might be Don's best vocal performance

[@user-cruton]

I hung out with Jeff one night at a restaurant a mutual friend owns in the late 90s. He was very very cool and let me geek out about him playing with Dio and the Strange Highways album. He was super nice, no ego and genuinely nice. He had nothing bad to say about anyone. He said how working with Dio was great and Ronnie was a good guy

[@PARATROOPERTV-b9i]

You can tell that the truth is being told right here! Pretty sad that it’s all come to this

[@johnnyhotrod]

Perception is a MOFO. These guys are all super talented. Shake hands at this point,get in the garage and jam and see what happens. We’d love to see you guys ride again,egos need to be checked and resentments have to be let go.

[@Madmetalmaniac42069]

Honestly, its past that point where that’d be possible. The new album is weak and he’s very desperate to drum up some attention. Don was an incredible talent in his day, but even George is getting to the point where he is seemingly wrapping up the road days. Don has been down about two octaves since the late 2000s… his voice *isn’t* coming back, but he acts as though he is still the shit. His ego is bigger than the state of Texas.

[@johnnyhotrod]

@@Madmetalmaniac42069 Agreed,I forgot how much Don’s voice has let go.Also Mick is done with it. They should make peace though,it’s just not worth carrying that baggage.They should all be proud of the legacy of work they gave to us.We all fight but you gotta know when to let go.

[@DarkKhagan]

​@@johnnyhotrod I agree 💯 it's sad that some people just won't let the past go and rather carry it with them to their grave...

[@GrandFunker]

I'm not exactly a Dokken fan but I'm finding this stuff fascinating.

[@RedAce93]

I'm not sure if you get this alot but I really miss you posting to Spotify. Whenever I take a trip I always downloaded several hours of your interviews so I could listen to them on the plane. Just thought you should know there is atleast one person out there that listens to you on Spotify as well. Keep up the great work!

[@PaulyV56]

I met Don at Toads Place in New Haven CT. During Lynches solo, I was with Don side stage and he complained about him being sick, again, and bashed George during his solo saying George thought he lead the band, etc....etc....etc.....

[@jamescon55]

😧🤨😒 Don is just a insufferable prick NO doubt. ALWAYS has been. Lynch ain't no angel but, NO wonder it was destined to fall apart from the get go....

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

This is entertaining as all heck 😁 Thanks Bloom.

[@jayteesgear]

Amen 😂

[@fear5735]

Good to hear Jeff being somewhat truthful. At least he's noting how Don has great choruses and vocals where George to this day has not complimented Don on one thing where Don in nearly every interview has done nothing but compliment George on his guitar playing TO THIS VERY DAY.

[@careful...Icarus]

Grumpy Old Men part 3. Don Dokken and George Lynch piss on each others lawns and steal each others newspapers.

[@timzuch4212]

I am a guitar player, been in a lot of 💩 bands. What people always seem to forget is… yes, this dude had the idea, this dude wrote the “ Hook” or maybe the chorus. But a drummer adds the pulse, or the groove/feel of a song. That can make or break a song, as fast as anything. After watching all the Ratt videos, about who did what, and when ETC… I believe, the band is a unique, special dynamic, that in most cases, should be equal split. It’s only fair. Trying to decide who did more to what, on collaboration, is only gonna destroy the whole thing!

[@patzguitarz]

Unchain the Night was one of the first riffs my older brother taught me how to play. Under Lock and Key is an awesome album.

[@jayevergreen-t9n]

Jeff has always been the better person.

[@scottydog62]

I knew Jeff was going to bring levity to this conversation,Jeff brought up the point that Don is starting this to bring attention to himself and his new album,and it will work I am sure,but it makes Don look so petty.

[@slxpictures]

I love Dokken and all the members, much the same way they split everything, equally (which was the right move, no question). But Jeff Pilson is the guy you go to for the truth.

[@RFXLR]

Jeff is one of the nicest guys in rock. When you get him riled up, you know you're getting placed in check.

[@DeadShred9]

George & Jeff got along you can see it on & off stage . I think Don because the band name was his name feels he deserves more which is BS come on . Even with all the BS between the members those 4 guys created Magic in the Studio !!

[@heb430]

Don and JonBon Jovi are male Jlos.

[@patrickmoreau7592]

It sounds like Jeff is being fair I wish they would find some peace Great video btw

[@ThisUnderWorldOfDarkness]

What makes a band work is more than just the songwriting. The band member’s looks, personalities & stage presence. Therefore, everything should be split up equally because even if one person did write everything, the rest of the band are putting hard work, personal time & dedication into making everything work, from recording to touring. I would rather have 25% of 10 million dollars than 100% of “nothing”. The fact remains, the rest of the band works for their share of the profits during the live shows, touring and recording, many sacrificing their families in the process. ....

[@machupikachu1085]

Yes and no. No songs, no tour, no band.

[@paintmonster1]

Splitting tour money equally is one thing. Yes absolutely. But songwriting is a separate issue.

Jeff is so good. Got to meet him in Mexico on same plane! What a nice guy.

[@cirenotsluor9999]

A lot of these 80's bands have tarnished their legacies with all this teenage angst drama. Act like you're 70 and bow out gracefully.

[@Dizzy1980]

That's not a unique offense of 80s bands. Just look at Kiss. They're all well into their 70s and still slinging mud at each other.

[@mattmacarthur520]

Haha this has been very entertaining this back and forth between Don and the others . But at the end of the day it’s honestly sad , no matter who wrote what those 4 guys together were magic . Those 4 albums in their 80s heyday are killer especially tooth and nail through back for the attack .

[@mariopalos9238]

Songwriting contributions are one thing, but we couldn't imagine Dokken in their prime years without Don and George.

[@0U812FU]

Never hear Jeff talk about anything controversial but you could tell this one hit him... And I don't blame him.

[@calvinmay35]

Don't know why Don chose to throw a grenade into what was a time of the Dokken members having found peace with one another.

[@arthurmurfitt7698]

“After all this time? Really?“ hahaha

[@chriscampbell9191]

Exactly. Sums it all up very well, doesn't it.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

40+ years down the road and they are still pouring fuel on this emotional fire.🔥. STOP IT !!! You created beautiful music that will live on, long after you've passed on...speaking of which, calm down and forgive each other before one of you dies and you REALLY have regrets. Just like Van Halen and RATT...2 other groups who formed the soundtrack of my life and bitterness crept into their professional life. Now Eddie and Robbin Crosby are dead.😢 Celebrity or not, go to that person, shake hands and call a truce. The worse feeling in the world, is going to someone's grave and wishing that you had said "I'm sorry " and "I love you" when they were still alive to hear it. ,😢😞😒

[@Stab_Knifewind]

Jeff seems very relatable, humble, and likable. Good work Jeff. It's not love is my favorite Dokken song and video.

[@racook7534]

Loved when Jeff sang Just Got Lucky!!

[@guitarandmore69]

Does anyone know who this interviewer is yet? It's amazing how he's been able to stay anonymous for so long...

[@kmoecub]

I wouldn't be surprised if Don claimed to have written Paris is Burning. He had a great voice, and did a lot of good work as a writer, but he has always taken more credit than he was due.

[@peteyoung7665]

Definitly!I know for a fact that George and Jeff wrote 80% of all the music.

[@dizzle7564]

Jeff has always been a solid guy. No bs in his game.

[@BLS1976PACHAPTER]

My fav hair band just tearing each other apart just move on Don. George and Jeff are doing just fine without you

[@adamphillips6747]

Jeff is the only one that has had a steady gig since Dokken.

[@remoevans7847]

The Foreigner tribute band has definitely been a steady gig for Jeff.

[@adamphillips6747]

@@remoevans7847 Has it not been a steady gig? The defense rests.

[@remoevans7847]

@@adamphillips6747 Your reading comprehension skills need some work since that’s exactly what I wrote. 🤣

[@mhitson7483]

Fantastic interview,Don is a bitter guy,can’t get past that Dokken was one album away from being huge

[@cancelbubble6535]

The crazy thing is I wrote 20% of Tooth and Nail and easily 35% of Under Lock and Key.

[@royalslack]

I wrote 75% of Back For the Attack while you were drinking & chasing tail at the Rainbow! 😂

[@sleyeminizo275]

.... Not to mention the only reason I listened to Dokken was for George's guitar solos!

[@michaeljohn655]

Lynch rocks the house!!

[@paulthompson8642]

Thanks again

[@danielbotterill-wb6kq]

You can tell Jeff Pilson has the most accurate, honest, and ego-free take. Don and George both should just learn to be nicer about things. I think they're too old to change now though.

[@jayteesgear]

Disclaimer: I dont know Don and I wasnt in those recording studios with them BUT… I have to chime in on this. I tech’d for George one night and his business ethic is unmatched. He is VERY Intelligent. Jeff used to come into Tower Records where I worked and was always producing or writing for NEW artists. I see Mick on his bike by my house in AZ often. We used to frequent the same biker bars but I got sober this year. I have NOT ever heard that Don produces other bands or writes for other artists so theres MY 2 cents. I do NOT know why Don is bashing artists like Richie Kotzen in interviews either. Richie lived by me years back and is the NICEST DUDE! I LOVE the New Dokken album and hope Don finds some peace. All of this is silliness. I don’t believe or DISbelieve any of them but Pilson really WAS the Glue so yeah… 🌅 (Full in Bloom ROCKS)!

[@Glendoras]

Don did produce at least one really great record, the debut for XYZ.

[@canyonproductions7683]

@@GlendorasThat XYZ was badass! Thank you for sharing that.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

I agree with what you said about Don finding some peace. I was a Dokken fan in the 1980:s and had the chance to meet them . As a black woman, people found it strange that I loved hard rock. I wasn't sure how they, ( the band), would respond to me but they were very kind and friendly. I was devastated when they split up. 😢 I am now 59 and even though I am now a minister, there are people in my church who were once musicians, or worked at radio stations in the 80's. It's heartbreaking to hear Don throw his former band mates under the bus. He seems tormented and has regrets. I and others in my church are praying for Don. In order to find peace, you must forgive others. Holding onto bitterness, does no good. That could be part of the reason that he was battling cancer. Animosity does cause physical illness. I pray that they, and all the other bands that broke up under contentious circumstances, make peace. After all, we're not getting any younger. I have found peace in asking others to forgive whatever pain I caused them. I hope Don does the same.

[@canyonproductions7683]

@@jocelynharris-fx8ho that response hits me. As a musician of the 90’s I had regrets as well and after finding god and sobriety I agree with you. I love the new Dokken album. It comes withalot of heartache. He will feel less tormented when he lets go. God bless miss Jocelyn 🙏🏻❤️

[@pauloenriques6493]

Eu apenas queria que vocês não se importassem com divisão dos lucros ou quem contribuiu mais, e reconhecessem que fizeram músicas incríveis juntos que ainda são muito tocadas e amadas, mesmo 40 anos depois. Amo tudo que vocês fizeram juntos.

[@TheChadTI]

Jeff is a super nice guy. Based on the just under 10 minutes I spent with him outside the Dio tour bus in 1994 😅😅 But yeah, cooler than your usual rock star.

[@pulsarlights2825]

Dokken was never really a major act, they just couldn't get to that next level...they never headlined arenas in the 80s, why?

[@Glendoras]

What does that has got to do with anything? There are thousands of great bands that never have made it to the mainstream.

[@themadmattster9647]

They were too European sounding for the hair metal fans and too hair metal for the European sounding metal fans

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

​@@themadmattster9647 I think the band 'Europe' might have had something to say about that and ironically, John Norum, who was with EUROPE, joined Dokken at some point. I don't really keep up with this type of music anymore but that is what I heard.

[@Davo-gj7gl]

Another great interview 👍

[@Man-dl9ml]

Fantastic interview

[@fullinbloom]

Thank you for listening!

[@bubbahyde65]

Look at full in bloom starting shit, I love it😂

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Nah, he is doing interviews like a great interviewer does. Ya get out of the way and let them speak. The complete opposite of Trunk that has to put himself in every thing! ha Even actually placing himself in the actual situations as a fan. haha

[@jayteesgear]

@@johnsmith-ug5tpTrunk is JUNK

[@leavemealone8336]

GREED ruins so much.

[@joestewart2298]

The song don’t close your eyes, That song in particular, I used to jam to that one the most on my electric scooter.

[@arthurmurfitt7698]

Six string or 12?

[@commonman317]

One of their best songs.

[@noaveragejoe]

This is what happens when people don't face their demons. Don is fortunate to still be kicking. He's done a lot to wreck his body and voice and is now wrecking the legacy of the band. He really needs to emotionally heal and come to terms with the truth. We all see it from the outside, and he's a massive talent to this day when it comes to songwriting. Jeff is every bit as good as a songwriter, though. Jeff was being modest about 25%. George on his own is not a good songwriter. Jeff propped him up and gave him some chord progressions to make his wailing truly interesting. Mr. Scary is a collaboration of three very talented musicians. Mick's parts are killer. He even did more than Don gives him credit for and was a loyal road warrior with him for decades. Sad, Don. Just sad.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

I was a big fan of Dokken in the 80's and now believe it or not, I am now in my 60's and a minister. You have it right. These guys( the music industry in general), took the talent that the LORD gave them and used it promote drugs, liquor and sex. I continue to pray for these men everyday. It doesn't matter how you started out but how you finish. Jesus died for their sins too and they need to thank the LORD that they are still alive. The one they should be giving credit to, for their skills, is the ONE who created them.....GOD.

[@chrisbr1969]

Don is insufferable now. Throwing people under the bus because he’s irrelevant now.

[@AnonymousSourcesConfidential]

Meanwhile, when Lynch make these headlines, it's because he's respected as 1 of the Greats.

[@chrisbr1969]

@@AnonymousSourcesConfidential It’s mostly in response to Don or directed at Don. He’s not throwing other band members and artists under the bus. Don had a lot to say about Kelly Keeling, and Kelly is a great guy. This is the kind of guy Don is. It’s telling all the band members still play together without him.

[@scottarmen9097]

Don now sings like he was hit by a bus!

[@gregpeterson994]

Mick Brown wrote everything. On good blow!!!

[@anthonylove821]

I believe this story from Jeff over anything that comes out of dons mouth. Everything at the end of the day is greed. And who owns what blah blah blah. Maybe bands should set aside their selfishness and remember who made them what they are…. The fans and your supporters!!!!

[@ronsilvia8127]

Its sad when band members fight.

[@chriscampbell9191]

The kicker is at the end, where Mr. Pilson basically lays it all out (who did what percentage, more or less) and then says (in reference to the squabbles and Don's apparent anger about how the writing credits were split) "...I mean, after all this time, really?" No kidding.

[@raythackston1960]

Nothing breaks up a great band like fighting over money.

[@DarksaberForce]

Or the lead singer's girlfriend or wife.

[@hillbillybeerdranker6678]

While the rest of the band was snorting coke and playing with their dongs, Don was the creative bloke who was writing their songs.

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

The saga continues……I will say this, Jeff Pilson is a classy guy and good person in my opinion.🎧

[@Seemsayin]

After all this time... thinking it still matters. I get where people take credit for something they didn't do, or things that rubbed people the wrong way, or whatever divided band members. I get it. But that was a long time ago. Like VH, or any other band that had rough times... When do you let go? Or maybe, when do you think that Dokken is just albums, with memories? Or is this just a way to stir up drama, where money can be made, and someone has become their own cause? Dokken was real. Was. It's over now. At what point do they move on, enjoy their memories, their success, and be glad that they were relevant and never forgotten? Great music, that will last, long after we're gone. Be glad you were kings once.

[@goodear1540]

Bands such as Dokken, Motley Crue, Journey etc...all which constantly fight and sue one another. PLEASE JUST GO AWAY. WE ARE SO TIRED OF IT.

[@chipjaybo6663]

Mick wrote the drum parts, yeah? He showed up to record, yeah? Played on the tours? Then he damn well contributed.

[@pal4597]

Drummers generally get left out of songwriting...two many cooks in the kitchen the other musicians will claim...then they complain the drummer had nothing to do with the songs. Drummers are generally excellent at arranging. There is a skill in that. Good for the management to split the credit. What was the last thing the drummer said before being kicked out of the band? Hey guys, I have a song! Love Jeff, good interview. I'm sorry, I always thought Don had cheesy lyrics.

[@heavi-armed-infadel]

Jeff really seems like the most level headed guy in the group. Better singer than Don IMO. Mobile recording set-up was referred to as "scrotum sound" iirc

[@Chesterseventythree]

Jeff Pilson is the glue that held the band together it's as simple as that. For what the Lynch, Pilson partnership can achieve check out wicked underground, a fine album

[@diablomozart]

jeff really comes across as the most normal one in the band

[@markthatcher4853]

This was a hundred years ago I was 16 years old when this album came out. Lmao 😂

[@commonman317]

Same here.

[@jasonwall319]

Unchain the Night is one of my Top 10 albums of all time

[@williamhickman7481]

Under Lock and Key? Unchain the Night is a track.

[@jasonwall319]

@williamhickman7481 Under Lock and Key yeah Unchain the Night is the first song

[@arthurmurfitt7698]

lol

[@RS-ol8or]

Dokken’s best album is Wicked Sensation. Literally everyone knows this.