DOKKEN frontman Don Dokken recently spoke to Bravewords.com correspondent Deb Rao regarding his recent vocal surgery, the band's spring Tour, and issues a very special message to Japan regarding the recent earthquake tragedy.

Bravewords.com: Are you happy with the results from your vocal surgery? I saw some videos from your show in Minnesota. You and the band sound great!

Don: "Thanks. Yes, it seems my voice is on the mend. I'm still singing with caution but every day it’s getting better, finally."

Bravewords.com: Tell us a little bit about the set list on the current tour. Will you be adding a lot of new tunes into the mix over the next couple of months?

Don: "Yes, we will be changing the set a lot. We're going to do songs that we have never done live, starting in April. I’m honestly a bit tired of just playing the hits, time to mix it up and I'm sure our fans will be happy about it as well."

Bravewords.com: Any plans to go into the studio to record a new Dokken album?

Don: "We're writing right now and plan on going into the studio soon between shows hopefully we'll have a fall release."

Bravewords.com: In one of our interviews, you mentioned that maybe an acoustic tour would be in the works? Any acoustic shows on the horizon?

Don: "For right now no. But I would love to do it again like I did on the QUEENSRŸCHE tour. It was a lot of fun."

Bravewords.com: Japan was recently hit hard with the earthquake and tsunami. Is there anything that you would like to say to all the Dokken fans in Japan and all the people trying to survive there after this horrific event? I know the band has a big following there and you have traveled there many times over your career.

Don: "It is truly a tragedy, but the Japanese are resilient people. We were planning on doing shows there late this summer but now everything's on hold. I think everyone in the world should donate for food and medical help. If and when we go back to Japan we will donate some of the tour profits, it's the right thing to do. We owe them a lot for all the years of supporting us. It's a great country, and I'm sure they'll pull through, but still it's a sad situation right now."

Dokken tour dates are currently as follows:

March

25 - Wild Horse Pass & Casino - Chandler, AZ

April

4 - Numbers - Houston , TX
15 - Hemisfair Park - San Antonio, TX
16 - Trees - Dallas , TX

May

14 - Sunset Station Casino - Henderson, NV

(Photo by Deb Rao)