Special report by Deb Rao:

One of the most influential bands to emerge out of the '80's genre, DOKKEN will be embarking on POISON's Live, Raw and Uncut Tour beginning on July 3rd. Dokken will be releasing their tenth studio album, Lightning Strikes Again on May 13th on Rhino Records.

On Lightning Strikes Again, Dokken return with an album that is reminiscent of the power guitar riffs and soaring vocals that launched the band onto the top of the charts in their heyday. The new Dokken single, 'Standing On The Outside', has already hit the radio. From the get-go, 'Standing On The Outside' recaptures the signature guitar sound infusing power packed guitar riffs, of guitarist Jon Levin along side the powerful vocals of Don Dokken. On Lightning Strikes Again, Dokken revisit the past, only to re-emerge them into the future, and prove that great guitar solos are back, and good lyrics and vocals will stand the test of time.

As preparations are underway for the tour, Jon Levin discusses the debut of the new Dokken single, 'Standing On The Outside', Rocklahoma, and his special thoughts on one of the most exciting, and riveting new album release this spring, Lightning Strikes Again.

Do you think your new single, 'Standing On The Outside', recaptures the Dokken classic sound?

Levin: "Yes, and I think it is one of the strongest songs on the record. It is great to out your best foot forward."

Lightning Strikes Again also has a modern day feeling too. With songs like 'Judgment Day', and 'Disease'. Tell me about those songs. I love what Don did on the vocals for 'Disease'.

Levin: "'Disease' is sort of the ones that are outside of the record. We couldn't do all of them sounding like the same thing or we would have a boring album. But, I really liked what he did to that one as well. The 'Judgement Day' one sort of started out as something vintage, and we sort of took it in a different direction. It sort of shines on it's own. Definitely, those two tracks stand out as the select tracks, buy they are still cool."

It was just announced that Dokken would be performing at Rocklahoma 2008 on July 10th.

Levin: "Yes, that is true. That just came out of the blue."

How important it is for the band to be playing Rocklahoma again for the second time and developing a new fan base, plus performing to all the die hard Dokken fans at the same time? There is going to be a new generation of fans seeing the band for the first time and a lot of these kids were not even born yet, when Dokken hit the scene in the 80's.

Levin: "We are really fortunate and pleased to be able to do it again. It was such a great experience doing it last year. It was a real highlight of our touring experience last season, so we are excited to be able to do it again. Mostly, they don't really let bands do repeat performances from one year to the next. We are real fortunate as a band to come back."

How long will the band be performing onstage at Rocklahoma? Any preview of the set list?

Levin: "Yeah no, I don't know what the time slot is. I think we are going to do an hour. But that is just too early for me to know that information."

Dokken is getting ready to head out on the Poison tour on July 3rd. I know some of the fans were wondering how long the band was going to get to perform and what the set list was going to consist of this summer?

Levin: "It is way to early to know what we are going to be doing yet. We still have a lot of time before this. We haven't even started rehearsals. We have so much time until then. As far as set times, I can estimate that we are going to be doing something from 50 minutes to an hour."

Jon, Is there anything that you would like to say about the upcoming release, Lightning Strikes Again?

Levin: "I have been listening to the album constantly in my car for the last number of days. I am really, really pleased on how it came out. I think that the mixes and the sounds are great. The songs are great. It is one of those records, I think you can put down and listen to from start to finish. I am just really pleased on how it came out. 'Judgment Day', 'This Fire', 'The Point Of No Return', 'Standing On The Outside', 'Heart To Stone' are all good. 'Release Me' turned out to be a sleeper for me, which I wasn't originally feeling but now I feel it is one of the stronger songs on the record. I really feel great on how the record came out. I couldn't be happier."