In a recent appearance on the ‘Battleline’ podcast, Don Dokken delved deep into Dokken’s past, shedding light on Metallica’s indirect role in the dissolution of the classic Dokken lineup.
Dokken participated in the 1988 ‘Monsters Of Rock‘ U.S. stadium tour alongside bands such as Van Halen, Scorpions, and, notably, Metallica. This tour, which began on May 27 in East Troy, Wisconsin, and spanned 28 dates, ended on July 30 in Denver.
Reflecting on the experience, Don spoke of Metallica’s unmatched energy and drive during their performances. This enthusiasm, in contrast with Dokken’s more traditional rock style, drew comparisons that were challenging for the band. The singer recalled:
“That was a tough tour because they hadn’t done the ‘Black Album’ yet. I mean, Metallica’s now the biggest band in the world… And that was kind of maybe the reason we broke up, because of Metallica. Because when we played the stadium tour, Metallica came on stage every day with this attitude like, you know, ‘Do or die.’
I mean, they just gave it 100 percent, 110 percent. They were kicking *ss. They were just coming out with ‘…And Justice For All’, which was not my favorite Metallica album. And they hadn’t done the ‘Black Album’ yet that’s now taken them into superstardom.”
He continued, revealing he actually asked their manager to put Metallica after their performance:
“I would talk to the band. I’d say, ‘Look at Metallica.’ And they’re opening for us. And we had the same manager. And I used to say, ‘Well, Cliff [Burnstein], I know they’re opening up, and they’re only making half the money as us, but could you put them on after us?’
Because when Metallica went on, and they closed the show with whatever it was, ‘Kill ‘Em All’ or something like that, we’re coming on stage doing ‘In My Dreams,’ we look like The Monkees practically, ’cause we’re just a straight-ahead rock and roll band.”
Complimenting Metallica’s dedication to their music, Don added:
“But I respected Metallica so much because we’d be in Texas, and it’d be, like, 105 degrees, and they’d go on at, like, 3 o’clock, and it’s just sweltering hot. But they went on every day. Metallica had this mindset that, ‘If this is our last show, we die. So be it.’ They gave it 110 percent.”
However, it wasn’t just Metallica that troubled Dokken. Internal issues began to surface. Don also discussed the band’s struggles with substance abuse, particularly noting moments when guitarist George Lynch would be absent from the stage, hidden behind amplifiers.
Despite these challenges, the classic 1980s Dokken lineup did reunite multiple times, most notably for a Japanese tour and the ‘Return To The East Live (2016)’ DVD.
Since then, Dokken has continued to create music, now with a fresh lineup. They are now gearing up for the release of their 13th studio album, ‘Heaven Comes Down,‘ set to hit the shelves on October 27.
Watch the interview below.
