During a recent episode of The SDR Show, Dokken and Lynch Mob guitarist George Lynch offered an unflinching look back at his early encounters with Don Dokken — long before Dokken became a household name in metal.
Lynch recalled his pre-Dokken band playing the Los Angeles club circuit alongside acts like Van Halen and others, when he first crossed paths with Don‘s earlier band, Airborn.
“I remember we played a gig at the Starwood… and Don‘s band, Airborn, was up there on stage and they were playing what sounded exactly like one of our songs… called ‘Night Boys,’ and he was saying it was his song, so he plagiarized it. And we were, like, ‘What the [fuck]?'” Lynch recounted.
He added that Don routinely borrowed — or outright stole — songs from other bands at the time. “He also played a very deep track, a Judas Priest song, and announced to the audience it was his song… the balls on this guy are just crazy.”
Lynch didn’t shy away from a controversial comparison, adding, “I always say Don has the same exact personality traits and character as [Donald] Trump, except Trump‘s a better singer.”
Asked why their relationship remains fascinating more than four decades later, Lynch explained it as a classic case of human dynamics:
“It really comes down to our character and what’s important. I grew up a certain way. I believe a certain thing. He has a different belief system… The way he conducts himself has benefited me, my family, and given me a career, but it’s also something I abhor. I could not behave in that way. I could not steal and cheat and lie. So it’s a weird push-pull dynamic.”
Lynch also addressed Don‘s recent suggestion of reuniting the classic Dokken lineup to write and record a new EP. While no formal plans have emerged, Lynch remains open to collaboration.
“I still do shows somewhat frequently with Dokken… either Lynch Mob will open, and I come out for an extended encore, or I’ll fly out for a few songs. He hasn’t mentioned the EP to me… But if you’re gonna do an EP, you have to tour on it. Touring is where the work is and the money is. That would make it worthwhile.”
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