Photos by Brooke Striewski

For years now, I’ve more or less been on a mission to see every and any band live that I’ve ever cared about going all the way back to my first concert (AC/DC) in 1996. Dokken is one such band that has alluded me all this time, although I have seen numerous ex-members over the years, including original bassist Juan Croucier on stage with Ratt in 2017, guitarist George Lynch at a Daytona record shop in 2018, and classic lineup bassist Jeff Pilson on stage with Foreigner in 2024 (whom I also interviewed for Rewind It Magazine earlier that same year).

But to see founder and frontman Don Dokken on stage performing the classics was still on my to-do list, especially knowing his intentions to “slow down” after various ailments, including a spinal/neck injury that left his right hand partially paralyzed in 2019 that has limited his mobility greatly. After taking all of this into consideration, the Mrs. and I made a last minute decision to make the trek to see Don and co. at the Mount Dora Music Hall in Mount Dora, FL this past Friday, 8/21, something I think we each can say we’re glad we made the effort for now.

Upon arrival, openers Papa Wheelee – who we previously caught opening for Bret Michaels and Lita Ford back in 2018, and as far as we could tell were not listed anywhere on the flyer for this event – were already well into their set, with guitarist Sam Bittenbinder walking down the aisles playing the national anthem with his axe behind his head, at which point we knew it would be a fairly epic night. The band closed out their sets with “Mississippi Bruhaha” (hopefully I got that one right) and “Do It Anyway,” priming the crowd for surely more epic moments to come.

Papa Wheelee performing at the Mount Dora Music Hall in Mount Dora, FL on 8/21/26 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

And then, cover act Hairborn took the stage. Now, I don’t want to come off as too harsh here – there’s definitely some talent there, namely their two guitarists. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen the energy leave the room quite so fast before, nor have I ever witnessed so much dead noise in between songs from a band before (a sure way to lose some attention spans). They actually started off well enough though, opening with Judas Priest’s “Electric Eye” before going into Motley Crue’s “Dr. Feelgood,” Y&T’s “Mean Streak” (which I was actually surprised to hear), and Sammy Hagar’s “There’s Only One Way to Rock,” but I still couldn’t help but feel like things were a bit Spinal Tap-esque here.

The group then went into a cover of “We All Die Young” from the 2001 film Rock Star, something I’ve never seen anyone else attempt before. Triumph’s “Fight the Good Fight,” Tesla’s “Modern Day Cowboy,” Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years,” and Dio’s “Rainbow in the Dark” were all fun enough as well. But if the guys in Hairborn just worked on their onstage presence a bit more and maybe incorporate some onstage banter in between hits, they might find their fanbase grow even further.

Last but not least, Dokken finally took stage just after 10pm, and with his barstool within arms reach, it was clear this was a new era indeed. These days Don is backed by a solid band despite the absence of any and all other original members. Guitarist Jon Levin has been beside Don’s side for well over two decades now, while bassist Chris McCarvill and drummer BJ Zampa, who have each served time in House of Lords, provide a solid rhythm section.

Opening with “Kiss of Death,” the band went through “The Hunter,” “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” and “Fugitive” before Don took a seat to tell a story involving Polaroid photos regarding the origins of “Into the Fire” before launching into the 1984 track.

A drum solo from Zampa followed prior to another brief backstory on the song “Breaking the Chains” (which involved a conversation with Scorpions guitarist Rudolph Schenker while touring together back in the day), which midway through saw an unfortunate moment when Don accidentally unplugged Levin’s guitar and the crew scrambled to get it working again. (The rhythm section thankfully kept the beat going during this like the pros they are though.)

Things quickly got back on track with “Dream Warriors” (from 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3), which saw one of the biggest responses of the night from the crowd. The classic power ballad “Alone Again” was sandwiched in between newer track “Saving Grace” and ’90s-era number “Too High to Fly” before a guitar solo from Levin (which featured segments of “The End” by The Doors).

The classic sing-a-long “It’s Not Love” was up next before McCarvill was given his due with an impressive bass solo, which also segued into part of Free’s “All Right Now.” “In My Dreams” had the audience on their feet once more before “Heaven Comes Down” and finally, “Tooth and Nail,” rounded out their set for the night.

Was it a perfect show? Of course not (I’d say that’s fairly obvious at this point). But despite the current conditions (and any flaws), a Dokken show is still a show of rock royalty, one that I’m glad was finally able to be witnessed firsthand.

Dokken on stage at the Mount Dora Music Hall in Mount Dora, FL this past Friday, 8/21 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

Interview with Foreigner/Revolution Saints/The End Machine/ex-Dokken/Dio Bassist Jeff Pilson By Jesse Striewski

For many years now, bassist Jeff Pilson has been someone I’ve held much respect for (as one bass player to another), and has been on my radar to interview for quite some time now. But with someone with as many fires consistently burning as Pilson has, that is not always an easy feat. Currently, Pilson is still rocking stages with classic rockers Foreigner, and has two new albums soon to drop with both “supergroups” Revolution Saints, and The End Machine.

My patience finally paid off this past Tuesday, January 30, when I was finally able to sit down and speak with Jeff regarding all of the previously-mentioned projects of his, as well as touch upon other aspects of his storied career, including playing in such other legendary acts as Dokken and Dio.

With new music from Revolution Saints looming on the horizon, I wanted to jump right on the subject of that group right away, and asked a little about how his involvement with them initially came about. He explained; “It was a project originally conceived by (Frontiers President and mastermind) Serafino Perugino, and just one of those things that I just couldn’t resist. I had already met and worked with (Whitesnake guitarist) Joel Hoekstra over the years, and (Journey drummer) Deen Castronovo is just a total powerhouse in everything he does. It’s all come together fairly organically, and definitely looking forward to the new album.” (Against the Winds will be dropping via Frontiers Music s.r.l. on February 9.)

Having a chance to already preview said upcoming album, I personally had a favorite track from it in mind already, and wondered if Jeff possibly had one as well. He told me; “I wouldn’t say I necessarily have a favorite track per se, since I tend to gauge things as a whole. I’d say the entire record is really solid overall.”

As previously alluded to, Pilson has also been busy once more with The End Machine, a project he started with former Dokken bandmate George Lynch in 2018. I asked him what could be expected with their upcoming third album, The Quantum Phase (set to be released in March), and he explained; “Well, it’s our first album with our new singer Girish Pradhan, who’s just such an amazing young talent that brings so much to the table. His vocal styles really compliment the band, and we’re extremely excited for everyone to hear the end results!”

2024 also marks twenty solid years for Pilson as a member of Foreigner, and I had to know what it was like for him when he first joined a band of such stature. He told me; “It’s been nothing short of phenomenal, having grown up listening to so many of those classic songs over the years and then having the chance to be up there actually playing them live has been such a joy. And we’re definitely excited to be getting out there this year and doing one last major stretch of the whole nine-months-out-of-the-year touring cycle.”

I was also curious what it was like playing quite possibly one of the greatest power ballads of all time every night in the form of “I Want to Know What Love Is” (which actually turns forty years old this year), and Pilson stated; “To this day I still get goosebumps from playing it and hearing the crowd sing it back to us. It’s just one of those timeless songs that everyone knows and loves, I’ve always personally loved it, along with “Waiting For a Girl Like You.”‘

And speaking of power ballads, I also wanted to know if he felt “Alone Again,” the very first ballad he had ever co-written while a member of Dokken, still holds up to this day. Pilson explained; “Don (Dokken, lead singer) already had the bare bones for that song for quite some time, and I just came in and helped complete it. I’d say it definitely holds up though – being told from the perspective of someone longing for something they cannot have will always no doubt be a fairly universal theme.”

Of course I wouldn’t be a good journalist if I didn’t at least inquire if the chance for a reunion (or even possibly a one-off show or two) with Dokken could someday be a possibility in the distant horizon. Pilson stated; “I wouldn’t ever rule anything out entirely (because there’s always a chance), but I know he currently has his new album out that he’s still promoting at the moment, and I’m definitely busy with all of the projects I currently have going on right now as well, so it’s definitely not a necessity at this given time.”

I also couldn’t resist to ask what it was like filming the video for “Dream Warriors” (from 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors), and if he was a fan of horror films prior to that moment. He told me; “I wouldn’t say I was a huge fan of horror films before that, but I always liked the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, and working with Robert (Englund) and being around him as Freddy was a ton of fun, and just a total blast on set!”

As if being a member of each of the previously-mentioned bands was not enough already, Pilson also spent some time on-and-off with the legendary Dio in the ’90s and early 2000’s. I asked him to tell me a little about what that experience was like for him, and, of the three albums he recorded with them, if he had a personal favorite. He enlightened me; “That was another dream come true, to be up there alongside someone like Ronnie James Dio – what more can you ask for?! But I’d have to say (1993’s) Strange Highways was probably my favorite to record; I’d say I was definitely more involved with that one over the others, and truly captured where the band was at at the time the most.”

Last but not least, I had to ask about his involvement with the 2001 Mark Wahlberg film Rock Star (one of my personal favorites), where he played the part of Jorgen in the fictional band Steel Dragon. He informed me; “Well, I was already involved with working on the music for the film at the time, so it seemed only a natural fit to play in the band on screen. I still had to audition for the role like anyone else, but I must’ve done something right…though I’m still not holding my breath for Hollywood to knock down my door again to this day” (Laughs).

Album Review: Dokken – Heaven Comes Down (Silver Lining Music)

By: Jesse Striewski

The moment Dokken first dropped the single for “Fugitive” this past August, I knew the rock world was in for a reminder of just how solid a band they truly are (despite the negative image sometimes unfairly attached to them).

It’s been over a decade now since we’ve had new material from Don Dokken and company, and the guys truly give it their all here on album number twelve. Said first single “Fugitive” starts things off appropriately, while “Gypsy,” “Just Like a Rose,” and “Over the Mountain” keep up the momentum. “I’ll Never Give Up,” “I Remember,” and “Lost in You” all display a softer side a la such earlier hits as “Alone Again.”

At times it almost feels like a concept album, which each track feeling as though it were coming from the perspective of a lonely drifter or cowboy traveling through the desert plains (evoking the spirit of some of Bon Jovi’s early ’90s material). It won’t appeal to everyone (that’s a given), but those with a more sophisticated rock palate should be able to appreciate and enjoy.

Rating: 3/5 Stars