Fronted by singer Don Dokken and pyrotechnic guitarist George Lynch, Dokken came to define the hugely popular (if often unfairly maligned) genre known as “hair metal” with their exuberant hooks, dazzling musicianship, and flashily explosive live shows.

Initially known as The Boyz, the band came together in 1978 and quickly earned a reputation on the fiercely competitive Los Angeles club circuit. Renaming themselves Dokken, they released their 1982 debut album, Breaking The Chains, first in Europe and then in the U.S. via Elektra.

Driven by non-stop MTV and rock radio airplay, the album’s title track proved a hard rock smash, catapulting Dokken to the forefront of heavy metal. From there, the band ruled the 1980s, racking up hit after worldwide hit, including “Into The Fire,” “Alone Again,” “Burning Like A Flame,” and “Dream Warrior,” as well as three consecutive RIAA platinum-certified albums.

Citing creative differences, Dokken split in 1988, with Don Dokken going on to pursue a solo career and George Lynch further developing his lightening-fast style with his own Lynch Mob. The band’s lasting mark is best summed up by their moniker’s entry into the American vernacular as a slang term for undeniable awesomeness: “Rockin’ like Dokken!”

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