DOKKEN frontman Don Dokken has caught up with BraveWords.com correspondent Deb Rao regarding his recent vocal surgery, the truth behind the Dokken reunion attempt, the status of the band's new studio album and the future of the band. Check out the chat below:

Bravewords.com: Dokken is getting ready to commence their summer tour on June 18th in San Bernardino, CA. Tell us about the upcoming tour. How are your voice and ribs healing?

Dokken: "My voice is fine. I don't know if I'll ever be able to sing like in the '80's but there are a lot of singers that sing lower now. We were young and fresh, and singing at the top of your range was the style, I had problems in the '80's and had to have surgery. I had polyps in my sinuses, and no it wasn't from coke! That was never my drug of choice. Of course there will always be singers that are blessed by a higher power, RONNIE DIO, GLENN HUGHES, BRUCE DICKINSON and so on. There are to many to name, but I've seen a lot of singers that don't hit the high notes anymore, some bands now sample their backgrounds and lead vocals. I won't say who because its not polite. We all do the best we can for our fans. Age affects everybody, PAVAROTTI began to lose his voice at 60 and he took very good care of it; its just age and wear and tear. I think the fans forget sometimes some of us have been singing for over 35 years. I guess a good analogy would be no matter how well you take care of a race car, after a hundred races, it begins to lose. In my case I have to take some responsibility, I smoked, drank, and mostly assumed my voice would always be there for me. I was wrong. In my defence, after we did 50 shows in 60 days in Europe in 2008 my voice has never been the same. Someone forgot to tell me I wasn't in my 30's anymore. (Laughter)  I remember one night in Japan around '86 we all went out to see a BEATLES tribute band, Wild Mick (Brown; drums) went onstage with them and sang songs like 'Good Golly Miss Molly' and so on. He was awesome, but the next day his voice was trashed and very husky, until then he had a very clear voice, it’s been husky ever since. I actually like the sound of his voice better now, listen to his version of 'Lies' on Lightning Strikes Again, he sounds like John Lennon, what’s the point? It only takes one night as a singer to change everything."

Bravewords.com: For the first time since That Metal Show appearance you mentioned how you tried your best to make the Dokken reunion happen. In retrospect, Dokken has evolved so much as a unit since the departure of George Lynch in 1997. The onstage and writing chemistry between you and guitarist Jon Levin has been a tremendous asset for the band. Do you think now that Jeff Pilson not wanting you to discuss the reunion due to his obligations with FOREIGNER was a blessing in disguise for Dokken?

Dokken: "That’s a hard question to answer. For years Mick and myself were against it, finally we were talked into discussing it, several people, managers, agents and so on asked Mick to fly in from Phoenix. He agreed so we both drove out to where Jeff and George live. We had a meeting at Foreigner's booking agents house as a BBQ and a lot of industry people were there. They were all pushing for it to happen. Five minutes into the meeting Jeff said he would love to do it but was busy until 2012 with Foreigner. Mick and I were shocked he could have told us that in an email, so that was that. I had already gone out to Jeff's studio and spent the day with him and George. They played me some cool riffs and I did some rough vocal ideas, then we were asked to be on That Metal Show. It seemed it was all going to happen, but like I've said in other interviews, the night before the show I got an email from Jeff asking us not to mention a reunion. FYI, I 'saved the email.'  So I was in a tough spot. I had to tell Eddie Trunk the day of the show not to bring it up. It was a very uncomfortable situation for him and me. The rest is history, George started bashing me in interviews and putting all the blame on me that the reunion was a no go! I guess something good came out of it there was bad blood between Mick and George since our second break up. Mick toured with LYNCH MOB for a few weeks recently and apparently it went well as far as them getting along."

Bravewords.com: During the Shadow Life release leading up to the departure of George Lynch it was clear to see that the album reflected a darker side of Dokken that the fans were not quite used to. Grunge had taken over the metal scene, but Dokken still prevailed and kept their loyal following.

Dokken: "Shadow Life in my opinion was a bad attempt at going with the music trends at the time. There’s some good songs on it, but as a body of work, it wasn't good. Definitely not Dokken; it's our only record that doesn't have the Dokken logo on it. I refused to put it on; I didn’t have much to do with the record. Just lyrically no music input. It's Mick's favorite record so there you go. When Jon Levin joined the band he had grown up listening to us, we were his favorite band, as he put it 'if you like Cheerios you don't want jalapenos in it,' and I now understand that. I don’t think any music fan would want to hear VAN HALEN sound like MOTÖRHEAD and visa versa. So we do our best to maintain the Dokken sound. Maybe someday I will do a record that is totally different, but it will be under a different name. If I do it won't sound like the SOULS OF WE."

Bravewords.com: In a recent update you mentioned that Dokken were in the studio writing new material. How is the progress coming along?

Don: "Writing is a long process, were working when we can. Between touring and Jon's law practice its just about finding the time. So far I have high hopes that it will be really awesome. It's up to our fans to decide that, not us. There are many bands that came out at the same time as us working on there 20th record. I don't know how they do it? I think I'm too neurotic and insecure to write that fast, I'm always thinking I can make a song better. I'm trying to learn that maybe your first music idea is the best and not to lament over it. It would have been great to someday do a record with the original members, an exclamation point on our career but George can't seem to keep his mouth shut so I don't see it happening. There are several bands with original members still on tour today that don't like each other but they somehow make it work for the fans; it's called being professional. Maybe there’s just too much baggage to overcome, I don't know? What I do know is Jon, Mick, and myself are moving forward!  Hope you like what we have to offer in the near future."

Dokken live dates:

June

18 - National Orange Show Speedway - San Bernardino, CA

July

15 - 7 Flags Events Center - Des Moines, IA
16 - Rock USA - Oshkosh, WI
17 - Mayo Park - Rochester, MN
19 - Daniel Street - Milford, CT
21 - Sterns Square Concert Series - Springfield, MA
22 - Wild Bill's - Duluth, GA
23 - Amos Southend - Charlotte, NC

August

6 - Solano County Fair / Concert Arena - Vallejo, CA
17 - Upper Peninsula State Fair - Escanaba, MI
26 - Southland Park Racing and Casino - West Memphis, AR

September

17 - Clearwater River Casino - Lewiston, Idaho