Dokken: Long Way Home Tour The Tivoli, Helsingborg, Sweden - May 22, 2002
Review & Photos by Anders Sandvall
Dokken
preformed an excellent performance during the Sweden Rock Festival in
Sölvesborg, Sweden last summer and now they are back in Europe again.
They bring the new strong record LONG WAY HOME for which they are
touring in support of. The tour began in England and now it’s
time for Scandinavia and they kicked off in Sweden. Yesterday it was
time for the first concert in Helsingborg in the southern part of
Sweden. I met the band in the morning and talked to everyone and
especially with Mr. Dokken during his signing of my records. The reason
why they haven’t been in Europe besides last summer for 11 years is
that the band-members didn’t like Europe. But he wanted to come. He
didn’t know how long they could keep the Swedish guitar hero John
Norum. The rumors said that once again the band "Europe" would
reform...AGAIN. John is the only one who knows. Mr. Dokken appreciated
meeting the Scandinavian fans last year. He told me that they would
mostly play oldies and two new songs from the new record LONG WAY HOME.
This was for two reasons. The new record is so new and thus not yet well
known. As well, most people come to hear the old songs from the 80's.
Barry Sparks, the new bassist, is too "clever" to play in his
band. Everyone in the band behaved nice and walked around in Helsingborg
looking at the sea and the boutiques.
There
were plenty of people and the concert was sold out. We had to wait for
the band in one and a half hour. The line-up was almost the same as last
summer despite the bassist.
Don Dokken - lead vocals
Wild Mick Brown - drums
John Norum - guitar
Barry Sparks - bass (former member of the Y. Malmsteen and MSG)
This concert was better than the one I witnessed last summer.
The atmosphere this time was more intimate. The feeling was more
energetic and we all had the feeling that they enjoyed being back -
especially Don. Dokken. They started the show with the old classic
"Kiss of Death." Then they gave us the classics as a fine
necklace: "Hunter", "Into the Fire", and "Tooth
and Nail." We heard two new tracks - "Sunless Days" and
"Little Girl." We even got "It’s Not Love" (extra
long with a really impressive bass solo and John gave us a qualified
solo on guitar and there after Don Dokken invited us to sing along with
him as he always does). They also invited us to sing along in the song
"In My Dreams." The whole band seemed to have fun. Everyone
moved around. Don Dokken still has a strong voice, he sounds like a god
(I don’t find him dull on stage. Many find him so for some reason). I
am very impressed over Barry on bass who is really skilful and his
bass-solo made me speechless!! John played his fingers almost to the
point of bleeding. He is a real guitar hero and his playing was much
better this time than last summer He is really, really good! Mick
handled the drums with such a force that they broke! The sound quality
was very good, and everybody in the band was heard.
Don
was in a very good mood and made fun with the audience all through the
gig. He talked between the songs and he imitated Ozzy and felt sorry for
him because of the MTV show about Ozzy and his family - although Don has
big respect for Ozzy and likes him a lot. He also made fun with Mick who
spoiled his drums all the time. Don had promised him one beer for one
song and Mick wanted to make a good job and play at least 45 songs.
Barry was so keen on his solo so he didn’t want to stop. Don told him
to, but changed his mind and let him go on for a while and then John
showed us his skill. I enjoyed the show enormously and love these 80's
metal heroes. I just stood there and was very happy to hear the old
songs live again during one hour and fifteen minutes. It was magic! They
are welcome back soon and Dokken is still going strong. A concert in
world class style! Dokken's brand of metal is somthing needed in this
era when not as many bands play this style. This was one of the better
concerts I've been to this year as far as I am concerned.
The
only minus was the show time - too short for a band with their extensive
back catalogue of songs. Only one encore...Very STINGY!!!!!
Thanks to Dokken’s manager during the show. Thanks to my friend
Pekka who was keeping the track of the playlist.
Set list
Kiss of Death
The Hunter
Sunless Days
Into the Fire
Maddest Hatter
Breaking The Chains
Little Girl
Alone Again
It’s Not Love (bass and guitar solo)
Tooth and Nail
In My Dreams
Erase The Slate (encore)
Just after this review was written and ready to go
live we got this news item (early June 2002) :
John Norum has left Dokken half way through the band's
European tour in support of the new album. His departure is being
attributed to an amp falling on him and injuring his arm, although
there seems to be some skepticism that this is actually the case.
Until John is able to return (if he returns?), the band has hired Alex
De Rosso to fill in for him. If John is un-able to play the shows for
the Summer tour in the US, Alex will continue to play. Check Alex's
website at www.AlexDeRosso.com
and of course visit the official Dokken website at www.dokken.net
for updates to what is going on with the band!
Dokken
preformed an excellent performance during the Sweden Rock Festival in
Sölvesborg, Sweden last summer and now they are back in Europe again.
They bring the new strong record LONG WAY HOME for which they are
touring in support of. The tour began in England and now it’s
time for Scandinavia and they kicked off in Sweden. Yesterday it was
time for the first concert in Helsingborg in the southern part of
Sweden. I met the band in the morning and talked to everyone and
especially with Mr. Dokken during his signing of my records. The reason
why they haven’t been in Europe besides last summer for 11 years is
that the band-members didn’t like Europe. But he wanted to come. He
didn’t know how long they could keep the Swedish guitar hero John
Norum. The rumors said that once again the band "Europe" would
reform...AGAIN. John is the only one who knows. Mr. Dokken appreciated
meeting the Scandinavian fans last year. He told me that they would
mostly play oldies and two new songs from the new record LONG WAY HOME.
This was for two reasons. The new record is so new and thus not yet well
known. As well, most people come to hear the old songs from the 80's.
Barry Sparks, the new bassist, is too "clever" to play in his
band. Everyone in the band behaved nice and walked around in Helsingborg
looking at the sea and the boutiques.
There
were plenty of people and the concert was sold out. We had to wait for
the band in one and a half hour. The line-up was almost the same as last
summer despite the bassist.
Don
was in a very good mood and made fun with the audience all through the
gig. He talked between the songs and he imitated Ozzy and felt sorry for
him because of the MTV show about Ozzy and his family - although Don has
big respect for Ozzy and likes him a lot. He also made fun with Mick who
spoiled his drums all the time. Don had promised him one beer for one
song and Mick wanted to make a good job and play at least 45 songs.
Barry was so keen on his solo so he didn’t want to stop. Don told him
to, but changed his mind and let him go on for a while and then John
showed us his skill. I enjoyed the show enormously and love these 80's
metal heroes. I just stood there and was very happy to hear the old
songs live again during one hour and fifteen minutes. It was magic! They
are welcome back soon and Dokken is still going strong. A concert in
world class style! Dokken's brand of metal is somthing needed in this
era when not as many bands play this style. This was one of the better
concerts I've been to this year as far as I am concerned.
The
only minus was the show time - too short for a band with their extensive
back catalogue of songs. Only one encore...Very STINGY!!!!!
