Burning Like a Flame

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as The Zoo Crew spins the fiery track "Burning Like a Flame" by Dokken from their 1987 album Back for the Attack. This song, a standout from the album, hit number 20 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing Dokken’s knack for blending melodic hooks with hard-hitting riffs. One juicy piece of trivia comes from the song’s music video, directed by James Yukich, which kicks off with an animated sequence morphing into a red-haired woman, followed by the band rocking out in a labyrinth and playing pool, all while dressed as firefighters with animated flames blazing in the background. The video’s surreal vibe, complete with a customized writhing skeleton guitar crafted by sculptor Steve Fiorilla, perfectly captured the song’s intense energy and the band’s larger-than-life 80s metal aesthetic.

Another tidbit from the Zoo Crew’s vinyl vault: "Burning Like a Flame" was a bit of an outlier for Dokken, as some fans, like those on Mr. Mike’s Media Madness, noted it had a happier, almost awkward tone compared to the band’s typically darker, heavier sound. Despite being the lead single, it didn’t quite break into the pop charts as hoped, which some attributed to Dokken’s inherently metal edge, too raw for mainstream pop audiences. Posts on X from fans like @harrisp72 in 2025 highlight George Lynch’s “tasty little solo” in the track, a testament to his virtuosic guitar work that carried much of the song’s fire. The song’s recording was part of a grueling process for Back for the Attack, with Don Dokken himself admitting in interviews that the album’s ambitious 13-track length pushed the band to their limits, a sentiment echoed in a Sleaze Roxx review calling it a “super-duper long” effort.

Dokken’s journey to this blazing track began in the late 1970s in Los Angeles, where Don Dokken, George Lynch, and Mick Brown formed the band initially called The Boyz. Don, the charismatic frontman with a multi-octave voice, moved to Germany in 1981, securing a deal with Carerre Records and releasing their debut album, Breaking the Chains, in 1983 under the Dokken name. Though it didn’t chart highly in the U.S., it gained traction in Europe, setting the stage for their Elektra Records signing. With Jeff Pilson joining as bassist in 1983, the classic lineup was complete, and their 1984 album Tooth and Nail propelled them to stardom with hits like “Alone Again” and “Into the Fire,” selling over a million copies. Dokken’s blend of Don’s melodic songwriting and Lynch’s shredding guitar heroics defined their rise in the 80s hair metal scene, alongside contemporaries like Mötley Crüe and Ratt.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, check out Dokken’s official website for tour dates, merch, and news. Connect with the band on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates and fan interactions. Fans can also join the conversation at the Dokken Fan Club on Facebook or explore discussions on the Classic Rock Forum, where diehards share their love for the band’s legacy. While no official fan websites dominate, the Metal Storm community offers a space for heavy metal enthusiasts to connect over Dokken’s catalog. So, keep those dials locked on THE ZOO, and let "Burning Like a Flame" keep your freak flags flying high!