Alone Again

The Zoo Crew is spinning the heartfelt power ballad "Alone Again" by Dokken from their 1984 album Tooth and Nail, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the vibes. This song has a fascinating backstory. Don Dokken, the band’s frontman, wrote it in 1975 or 1976 when he was just 22 or 23, recording it on a four-track cassette that sat forgotten in a closet for nearly a decade. When Elektra Records pushed the band to include a ballad on Tooth and Nail to match the trend of glam metal bands like Journey and Night Ranger, Don rediscovered the tape. He collaborated with bassist Jeff Pilson to rework the track, transforming it into the emotional anthem we know today. Interestingly, guitarist George Lynch initially opposed including it, as he wanted the album to stay ballad-free, but he was ultimately persuaded. Don has shared in interviews, like one with Blabbermouth.net, that he can’t recall who or what inspired the song, saying, “People ask me all the time, ‘Who did you write it about?’ I don’t know. ‘Was it about a girlfriend?’ I don’t know! I just wrote it. My memory’s not that good.”

Another tidbit about "Alone Again" is its role in propelling Dokken to wider fame. Released as a single in March 1985, it climbed to #64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, driven by heavy rotation of its Wayne Isham-directed music video on MTV. The video, mostly in black and white, mixed performance footage with shots of Don alone in a hotel room, capturing the song’s theme of post-breakup depression. This exposure helped Tooth and Nail peak at #49 on the Billboard 200 and achieve platinum status by 1989. Posts on X from accounts like @ThisDayInMETAL highlight the album’s significance, noting its release on September 13, 1984, and its status as a glam metal classic, despite Don’s insistence in a 2004 interview that Dokken wasn’t just a hair metal band like Mötley Crüe or Poison.

Dokken’s journey began in the late 1970s in Los Angeles, where Don Dokken formed the band in 1978. Born in 1953, Don grew up with a passion for music, influenced by classic rock and early heavy metal. Before Dokken, he played in local bands and even caught the attention of German producer Dieter Dierks, who invited him to sing backing vocals for the Scorpions in 1979. This experience gave Don industry connections and confidence to pursue his own project. He assembled Dokken with guitarist George Lynch, bassist Juan Croucier, and drummer Mick Brown, though Croucier later left for Ratt and was replaced by Jeff Pilson. Their debut album, Breaking the Chains, came out in 1981 in Europe and 1983 in the U.S., blending melodic hard rock with metal edge. Despite early struggles, Tooth and Nail marked their breakthrough, showcasing their signature harmonies—unique because all members were strong vocalists, as Don noted in a Blabbermouth.net interview. The band’s persistence paid off, selling over 10 million albums worldwide by the late 1980s.

Fans can connect with Dokken through their official website, where they share tour dates and news. Their social media presence includes Facebook, Instagram, and X, offering updates and throwback content. For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, fan communities thrive online. The Dokken Wiki on Fandom provides detailed song and album info, while Dokken Fan Club on Facebook is a vibrant group where fans share memories and discuss the band’s legacy. These platforms keep the spirit of Dokken alive for both longtime supporters and new listeners tuning in at THE ZOO.