George Lynch, Don Dokken and Jeff Pilson feel they have another really good Dokken record in them

George Lynch, Don Dokken and Jeff Pilson feel they have another really good Dokken record in them

Foreigner, The End Machine, Black Swan and occasional Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson was recently interviewed by Tom Leu for the Sound Matters Show. Pilson is promoting The End Machine‘s sophomore album Phase2 that will be available via Frontiers Music Srl on April 9, 2011.

In terms of the addition of Steve Brown on drums for The End Machine, Pilson indicated (as transcribed by Sound Matters Show with slight edits): “But, actually Mick [Brown] had originally suggested it at some point, when we knew he was retired and not gonna be playing anymore. But then George [Lynch] was actually the one who said it ‘well, what about Steve?’ and it was like yeah, let’s do it. I mean he feels so much like Mick [Brown] to play with, and he sings a lot like Mick. His enthusiasm was incredible. He’s a really talented overall musician. And what I really wasn’t prepared for was how great he was in the studio. Man, he just came into the studio and just knocked it out of the park. He’s done a lot of studio work, and it really showed. A lot of finesse and professionalism, but still with that enthusiasm and energy and that’s what I always want. The listeners don’t have to know how much work was involved, but frankly, it took nothing. He drummed great. It was perfect. Very, very happy, And yeah, pretty damn great choice.”

On whether there is another Dokken record on the calendar yet, Pilson opined: “Don’t know. It’s not about animosity anymore, it’s about schedules you know? We’ll see. I’d love it if it could happen, but it would have to be awhile because Don [Dokken] is doing a Dokken record with his version of the band, and contractually he has to do that first. But maybe when that’s done, who knows… I just don’t know. I don’t know where we’ll all be at. But the gist of it is, I think, at least with George, and Don, and I… I think there’s a feeling that we’ve got another really good record in us, we should do it. So, I hope we do. It’d be great.”

With respect to whether a new Dokken album could draw drummer “Wild” Mick Brown out of retirement, Pilson indicated: “Well we would certainly hope to try, but if not, I know somebody that sounds and plays and awful lot like Mick.”

You can listen to the interview with Jeff Pilson at Sound Matters‘ website.