DOKKEN frontman Don Dokken has checked in with BraveWords.com correspondent Deb Rao with an exclusive update from the road. The Q&A; chat reads as follows:

BraveWords.com: How has the music industry changed since when Dokken first hit the metal scene back in the early eighties?

Dokken: "When I went to Germany to get the record deal, they wanted to sign me as a solo artist. The original album, Breaking The Chains originally came out in Europe and the band was called was called Don Dokken. It was pretty rare. There were 500 copies of it that said 'Don' on the cover. So when we got the band together, I just dropped the 'Don' and we became Dokken. I am stuck in 1989. I think the '90's killed music. There were no good songs on the radio. Music was depressing then. Dokken is old school. We come from the genre of VAN HALEN and the SCORPIONS."

BraveWords.com: Dokken were known for their innovative music videos. What was your favourite Dokken video?

Dokken: "I would have to say 'It's Not Love'. We were riding down Hollywood Boulevard in a flatbed truck. We were playing live, yeah know! We kept getting stopped. I think we got stopped four times!"

BraveWords.com: I recently saw Dokken perform at the M3 Festival in Columbia, MD. Do you prefer playing arenas to clubs?

Dokken: "The audiences were great this weekend. The sound system at Penn's Peak was amazing. I kind of like playing the clubs better. It is more intimate. Playing to 10,000 people, is kind of like playing to flies dissected. Everyone is scattered and far away. The venues are varied on this tour from clubs to arenas. We go from playing the Chameleon Club to playing a 10,000 seater at the Stars and Stripes Festival."

BraveWords.com: As a singer, who first influenced your style of singing?

Dokken: "I listened to Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE) a lot. I love 'Highway Star'. I love Ian Gillan's falsetto. I listened to Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN AND HELL, BLACK SABBATH) and Steven Tyler (AEROSMITH) started it all."

BraveWords.com: Dokken will be doing a show with The Scorpions soon on July 11 in Greece. Are you looking forward to this?

Dokken: "I am looking forward to working with The Scorpions. It is more like a vacation, I am taking my kids there".

BraveWords.com: The music world is mourning the loss of MICHAEL JACKSON. What are your thoughts on the passing of this Superstar?

Dokken: "I think it is very sad that we lost the "King Of Pop". I can't believe it. Every generation has their musical icon. He was younger than me."