The View From Hear - A Heavy Metal Family Values Column by Paul Hanson

As I'm getting ready to write this article, I realize something. No longer are my opinions going to be written by an anonymous metal fan in Iowa. Included in this article are pictures of me interviewing the band. For those that know me only through my writing and emails, get prepared for the unmasking, the unveiling, of Paul Hanson, author of the Pandemonium column, The View from Hear. Hopefully, you don't think I look like a doofus, and if you do, well, don't tell me.

PART I: Interviewing Dokken

A personal first impression I have cemented in my mind is my first concert. The first live band I ever saw was the band Dokken in concert in 1986. They were opening for Loverboy at the Five Seasons Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 1986 puts me as a soon-to-be junior in high school. I think I saw Whitesnake open for Quiet Riot in 1983, but I don't have a clear recollection of what that show was like, except for hearing the Whitesnake song "Slide it In" and not, until 1989, rejuvenating my love for that song's simple structure. I don't remember Quiet Riot at all.

But tonight is December 28th, 1999, and I'm headed back to the Five Seasons Center to see Dokken. This time, though, I'm going to interview the band before they hit the stage. My friend Kevin and I are walking from the parking lot by O'Maggie's pub in downtown CR to Gringo's on 1st Avenue. We can barely get the door closed behind us. The place is packed.

"There's a McDonald's around the corner." So we eat at Mickie Dee's.

We arrive at the arena a little after 6:00. My two passes aren't at the guest window. Oh boy, same ol' crap, I think.

In the summer of 1998, I travelled to Des Moines, about 2 hours west of CR, to interview Slaughter's bassist, Dana Strum, and review the All Iowa Fair stop on the 98 Rock Never Stops tour. My guest passes never materialized so I got to see Jeff Carson, a country star known for the ballad "Butterfly Kisses" and huge snakes instead of seeing Slaughter, Quiet Riot and Firehouse. When the Five Seasons Center doesn't have my tickets, I'm immediately worried.

I get on the cell phone and eventually, I get my tickets. I'm told to go to the back of the arena and when I get there, after waiting a few minutes, I'm led to Dokken's dressing room.

As I enter a mere 25 minutes before showtime, things are hectic. The road manager enters a second room, where the band members were, and asked, "Okay, who wants to do an interview?"

Bassist Jeff Pilson emerged shortly after that inquiry. As he sat on a chair and I on the floor, one truth quickly becomes evident: Pilson is a serious musician. Forget all the 80s Glam Metal stereotypes. Pilson looks directly at me when he speaks, his many opinions candid and offering carefully considered answers. When my friend Kevin chimes in with a comment that furthers the conversation, Pilson is interested in the opinions of others. As we burned through my 15 hastily prepared questions, he was replacing a shoe support in his shoes in prepartion for the concert.

[Photo #2. I like this one the best. From left: Paul Hanson, Jeff Pilson Photo credit to Deirdre Daniels.]

Here he is, a member of a band I hold on a pedestal. I'm speechless. I tell him about seeing them in 1986. One of the incidents that stands out in my mind is when someone threw a bottle on stage and vocalist Don Dokken stopped the band. Dokken told us, "If you see someone who wants to throw shit up on stage, you show them to me and I'll kick the shit outta them!" Pilson chuckles and comments, "That's tough guy Don!"

One of my first questions centered on the 'official' Dokken fan club newsletter, of which I am a subscriber. The newsletter's editor recently posted a message that said, basically, "I have received too much negative feedback about including George Lynch [former guitarist] in the newsletter. Therefore, I'm not going to include him anymore in this newsletter." She went on to talk about how it was sad that people couldn't like more than one genre. [See The View From Hear, Column #19]. To Jeff, I asked, "What do you think about that?"

[Photo #1. From left: Paul Hanson, Jeff Pilson Photo credit to Deirdre Daniels.]

"Every generation needs its music," Pilson replied. He went on to explain how Irving Berlin, a classical composer, was denounced for writing ragtime tunes. "It's the same principle," adding that ragtime was considered 'devil's music' at the time. "Do I think George should have called it Lynch Mob? No, because people were expecting a CD like Wicked Sensation, which is a very good CD."

A popular item in the band's press kit is that guitarist George Lynch is gone and replaced by Reb Beach, former guitarist with Winger. Were you looking for the 'next' George Lynch? "No, we wanted someone that had their own personality and that would contribute to the band."

While discussing Beach's contributions, Pilson reveals that "Haunted Lullabye" and "In Your Honor" were the first songs written for the CD. Shifting to the new CD, I pointed out that the lyrics to "Change the World" include the lines "I can't change the world" but on 1986's Under Lock and Key, the song "Will the Sun Rise" (which was a strong anti-nuclear war song) was trying to. Pilson laughs and says, "Well, they're about different things. One's about relationships because "Change the World" goes on to say, "If I could, would it make you happy?"

Does the band ever play that live?

"We haven't played that song live in 13 years. I had a version worked up for the acoustic show we did, that became the CD One Night Live, but we didn't put it on. It might resurface again someday."

And speaking of live albums, are there any plans for another live CD as a follow-up to One Night Live and its predecessor Beast from the East? "Yes," Pilson replies, his eyes lighting up. "We are going to have a new live disc in the near future. It's going to be called Best from the West - Live from the Sun. It'll come out in February or March."

"Can I write that down?" I ask.

"Oh definitely. It's going to be a great album," Pilson replies.

I ask him about being grouped in with the other 80s hair bands, like Ratt and Motley Crue. Do you like that label?

"Well, it is just that: a label. Everyone is eventually labeled anyway. We're proud of what we did in the past."

Drummer Mick Brown then comes out of the 2nd dressing room to rummage through a road box with four different drawers full of supplies. Pilson, still talking with me pauses to stretch Brown's arms back. Brown grimaces a bit while being loosened up before returning to the 2nd dressing room.

[Photo #3. From left: Paul Hanson, Jeff Pilson, Mick Brown Photo credit to Deirdre Daniels.]

Being the career-minded professional, I ask Pilson about his long time goals. Do you ever think about retirement? Pilson looks at me like I asked him to cite the names of the Vice-Presidents of the US. "No. Why would I want to quit doing what I love? If Dokken, the band, wasn't around, I'd still be writing songs and playing music. Long-time goals for the band, I'd like to write the song that people remember 100 years from now, like "Stairway to Heaven."

"Like the Macarena?" I add.

"Yeah, the Metal Macarena," he laughs. "I'm always thinking about that, a legacy like that, that people will remember for a long time.

What do you think you'd be doing if Dokken wouldn't have reformed for Dysfunctional? "I was already in another band, a progressive band, that had just broken up when Don called to ask about writing Dysfunctional. I think I'd be writing and playing music, somewhere."

It is now close to showtime. Guitarist Reb Beach appears. As I shake my hand and say, "I'm Paul Hanson," he asks "Should I know you? Did you email me?"

"No, but I could," I offer.

"You just looked at me like I should know who you are," he replies.

"I'm writing a review/interview piece for a website out of Seattle called Pandemonium."

"Okay, cool. Gotta go get warmed up," and he retreats to the back dressing room. Soon there is the noise of a practice amp starting and soon after, I can faintly hear dizzying scales on his guitar.

Pilson shakes my hand again and is off for his final preparations. His new shoe insoles are firmly in place.

[Photo #5. From left: Paul Hanson, Jeff Pilson Photo credit to Deirdre Daniels]

He signs my copy of Shadowlife and Erase the Slate as does Brown, who's getting antsy to get on-stage. I give him a copy of a recent Icon where I had five CD reviews published.

When I ask if I can get the other two members to sign it, Brown replies, "We're almost ready to go on, come back after we play." And with a final 'see you' to Pilson, Kevin and I are entering the main part of the arena.

PART II: Dokken in Concert

Kevin and I head to the back of the arena and take the back steps to the right side of the arena, 1st balcony. We walk from the stage's right side to the left side, looking for a good seat. We end up in the 2nd balcony, 2nd row, stage left.

Almost immediately after we get our coats off, the house lights go out and Dokken hits the stage, playing the following setlist:

1. Erase the Slate

2. Into the Fire

3. Maddest Hatter

4. Breaking the Chains

5. Guitar Solo

6. Tooth and Nail

7. Alone Again

8. It's Not Love

9. In My Dreams (ENCORE).

In general, Dokken is scorchingly tight. Guitarist Beach is definitely fits in the band. All of the members look happy to be in front of the crowd and to be playing their craft. Vocalist Don Dokken likes his microphone stand and toggles between practicing spinning it and playing air drums to coincide with Brown's frantic pounding.

I have to come clean. I have always thought Mick Brown was metal's worst drummer. I came to that conclusion after several years of listening to Dokken's CDs. But tonight, Brown is impressing me. No that's not sucking up. "Erase the Slate" starts with a double bass part that Brown hits perfectly. When Brown and Pilson lock into a groove under Beach's solo in "Breaking the Chains," a toothpick couldn't fit between how tight they are. When they play "It's Not Love," Brown detours from the recorded version to add some interesting drum fills. While, in my mind, he's 'supposed' to be boring and predictable, Brown is doing his damndest to impress me.

It worked.

As a band, the band unites for some excellent sounding harmonies on "Into the Fire" and the new single, "Maddest Hatter." Vocalist Dokken gets the crowd to sing parts of the power ballad "Alone Again" and is impressed with the response he receives from us Iowa folk. "You guys know how to rock man!"

Damn right we do.

PART II: Def Leppard in Concert

Oh, was there another band playing too?

One of the most popular 80s metal bands, Def Leppard, is the headliner for this evening. They burst onto the stage with "Rock 'til You Drop" which is followed quickly with "Action." They play all their hits: "Women," "Animal," "Make Love like a Man," "Hands Dirty," "Photograph," "Rocket," and, of course, "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Rock of Ages."

Attending a Def Leppard concert is like listening to a 'greatest hits' collection. The band played 20 songs, including two encores. That's a long time to listen to vocalist Joe Elliott conclude each song with "Thank you, thank you very much." FIVE TIMES IN A ROW!

The band brings out acoustic guitars for their ballad "Two Steps Behind." One of the other members says something in the microphone about doing the VH-1 "Storytellers" special. "Tell us a story Joe."

"The story is I don't remember doing the show." I think he said he was too drunk.

Okay. Way to connect with your audience. Don't share 'too' much.

The real highlight, and it was one from start to finish, was watching drummer Rick Allen coax amazing drum patterns with his set. Allen lost one arm in a car accident years ago and, at the time, there was speculation he would have to leave the band. Well, we all know the band transformed itself into more a technology-based band and that 1987's Hysteria paved the way for the band's mainstream success. Allen's feet play pedals that make his snare and bass drum sound. He primarily uses his hand for cymbals and the hi-hat. The only non-highlight was when he played cymbals during "Two Steps Behind." It was unnecessary and he didn't play loud enough that anyone could hear him.

The band was having fun playing their songs and seeing female breasts being exposed to them, but for the most part Elliot's faillure to establish a relationship with the crowd, save for thank yous at the end of each song and a plea for 'people to get along' in the crowd, dragged the show down.

Def Leppard finishes their set with a 2nd encore, "Let it Go." They come out for a unified bow and then run off stage. True to Iowa form, the crowd is already leaving, instead of screaming for one more song. But when I think about the songs they played, what were they missing that wouldn't be on a "Greatest Hits" release?

They played:

1. Rock till You drop

2. Action

3. Demolition Man

4. Women

5. Make Love like a Man

6. Goodbye

7. Animal

8. Foolin'

9. Paper Sun

10. Slang

11. Promises

12. Love Bites

13. Two Steps Behind (acoustic)

14. Armagedeon It

15. Photograph (which I heard yesterday on the local Adult contemporary station!)

16. Rocket

17. Pour Some Sugar on Me

18. Rock of Ages

19. Let's Get Rocked (1st Encore)

20. Let it Go (2nd Encore)

I honestly can't think of one they forgot.

Part III: Post-Show

The house lights go on and my first concert since Megadeth/Sevendust/Monster Magnet in June of 1998 is over. We stick around chatting with the group of girls that sat next to us and climbed over us to go to the bathroom. Then we see one of the staff members of the Five, motioning us to go.

"We're being shooed," I say. A second staff member approaches the first and says, "They lost their shoe?" Ha ha.

We retrace our steps and return to Dokken's dressing room. There's a mean looking security officer standing and he looks skeptical when I tell him Dokken told me to return to the dressing room. As he turns to ask the band if they know me, Mick Brown emerges with a fifth of Jack Daniels and a full-to-the-brim cup. "Where's the secret way up to the 15th floor?" he bellows.

"Well, they're on the 15th floor, if you want to find them," Security tells me.

Kevin and I both have to work the next morning and so partying with the band all night doesn't sound very appealing. We head towards the main part of the arena floor and pause to look at Rick Allen's drumset. He gets high marks for playing what looks to be a Ludwig Black Beauty snare, the Rolls-Royce among drummers.

The cold air soaks into our lungs immediately as we enter the streets of Cedar Rapids at 10:30. It was a good concert. I'd definitely like to see Dokken play a longer set, with more songs from Erase the Slate. Def Leppard? This date, on 12/28/99, was the first on their tour in support of Euphoria. I'm sure they'll be on the road with a full-scale tour for some time.

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The View From Hear #21 - Metallica's S&M

The View From Hear #20 - Dokken, Def Leppard Live, Jeff Pilson Interview

The View From Hear #19 - All Hail the Mighty Zeppelin

The View From Hear #18 - Dokken, Slaughter, Metal Church

The View From Hear #17 - Guy's Night In

The View From Hear #16 - Christian Punks

The View From Hear #15 - Iowa Labels

The View From Hear #14 - A New Metalhead

The View From Hear #13 - The W.A.S.P. Reissues

The View From Hear #12 - Living Through A Little Death

The View From Hear #11 - Rockin' in Iowa City in the Late Nineties