Rating: 
Summary: Best 80's "Hair" Band By Far.
Review: On the positive side, the music simply rules. I saw Dokken twice last year in St.Petersburg Fl as the headline act with Great White opening up, and in Tampa on the Poison tour. This DVD is a must have for any Dokken fan and any fan of the genre. Reb Beach makes one almost forget about George Lynch. On the negative side, I cant understand why all the split screens and floating boxes?? Lets just see the band live on stage. After a while, all the fancy split screens gave me a headache. Also, why the band chose that particular venue (the Sun Theatre in Anaheim Ca.) is unclear. The crowd was pretty pathetic thus the minimum of crowd shots was understandable. Forgetting these issues, the band covers all the essential songs except for perhaps "just got lucky" and "when heaven comes down". Pop this DVD in your player,hopefully its hooked up to your surround system, turn up the volume, and get ready to do some Rockin with Dokken.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT VIDEO
Review: Recorded at the Sun Theater in Anaheim, "Live From The Sun" features original Dokken members, Don Dokken on vocals, Jeff Pilson on bass and "Wild" Mick Brown on drums. Ex-Winger guitarist, Reb Beach replaces original guitarist, George Lynch. The disc features live concert material on DVD on one side, and on the other side an audio only CD recording of the concert.The well edited video features multiple angles, split screen, and multiple window presentations. At times there are as many as four separate windows on screen at one time. The effect is pretty cool. Most of the time the image cuts are in synch with the music, and you have enough time for your eyes to rove around before the image switches to something else. This presentation helps keep repeated viewings from becoming predictable or boring. Singer Don Dokken, is showing his age a bit, but he still has the same set of pipes that made him one of hard rock's great voices. Approaching 50, the man still rocks, but his singing style doesn't include a lot of prancing around on stage. That's more in bassist Jeff Pilson's department. He is all over the stage, and expends so much energy that he is soaked in sweat by the fourth number. Steady Mick Brown mans the drums. What really makes this video exciting is Reb Beach. I had the opportunity of seeing Dokken live during the "Erase the Slate" tour, and this video doesn't come close to capturing the energy and excitement of Reb's playing. He is a rock and roll animal, and his playing blew me away. He has George Lynch's rhythm chops down pat. For the solos, he plays most of George's signature licks, mixed in with own wild playing style. Beach, to a greater degree than Lynch, incorporates the "tapping" technique into his playing style. Tapping, once the rage in the 80's, has almost disappeared, so it's cool to see it being used again in a tasteful manner. Reb is so technically proficient, that he makes everything look way too easy. The set list primarily contains "classic" songs from 80's period, like "Alone Again", "It's Not Love" and "Kiss of Death". The exceptions are "Erase the Slate" and "The Maddest Hatter" two harder tunes from the Beach era Dokken, and "Too High To Fly" from the reunion album "Dysfunctional". "Too High" is one song that assumes a new life when performed live. Recognizing this, the video attempts to add some additional atmosphere to the number, the results are only partially successful, but they did try. The final number "In My Dreams", features excerpts from the original 1985 music video, acknowledging the passage of time, and noting the changes that have occurred over the years. Dokken has had a long and rocky past, and part of their history is explored in a short but informative interview segment, one of the disc's bonus features. A couple of music videos of acoustic numbers are also included. A photo gallery of the band, and images of art by Don Dokken, round out the extras. This video becomes a bit more significant because both Reb Beach and Jeff Pilson have since left Dokken. I fully expect that Don Dokken will continue to rock on, and recommend "Live From The Sun", the best concert DVD I have seen, to fans of heavy metal everywhere.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wild Beach Ride...
Review: Recorded at the Sun Theater in Anaheim, "Live From The Sun" features original Dokken members, Don Dokken on vocals, Jeff Pilson on bass and "Wild" Mick Brown on drums. Ex-Winger guitarist, Reb Beach replaces original guitarist, George Lynch. The disc features live concert material on DVD on one side, and on the other side an audio only CD recording of the concert. The well edited video features multiple angles, split screen, and multiple window presentations. At times there are as many as four separate windows on screen at one time. The effect is pretty cool. Most of the time the image cuts are in synch with the music, and you have enough time for your eyes to rove around before the image switches to something else. This presentation helps keep repeated viewings from becoming predictable or boring. Singer Don Dokken, is showing his age a bit, but he still has the same set of pipes that made him one of hard rock's great voices. Approaching 50, the man still rocks, but his singing style doesn't include a lot of prancing around on stage. That's more in bassist Jeff Pilson's department. He is all over the stage, and expends so much energy that he is soaked in sweat by the fourth number. Steady Mick Brown mans the drums. What really makes this video exciting is Reb Beach. I had the opportunity of seeing Dokken live during the "Erase the Slate" tour, and this video doesn't come close to capturing the energy and excitement of Reb's playing. He is a rock and roll animal, and his playing blew me away. He has George Lynch's rhythm chops down pat. For the solos, he plays most of George's signature licks, mixed in with own wild playing style. Beach, to a greater degree than Lynch, incorporates the "tapping" technique into his playing style. Tapping, once the rage in the 80's, has almost disappeared, so it's cool to see it being used again in a tasteful manner. Reb is so technically proficient, that he makes everything look way too easy. The set list primarily contains "classic" songs from 80's period, like "Alone Again", "It's Not Love" and "Kiss of Death". The exceptions are "Erase the Slate" and "The Maddest Hatter" two harder tunes from the Beach era Dokken, and "Too High To Fly" from the reunion album "Dysfunctional". "Too High" is one song that assumes a new life when performed live. Recognizing this, the video attempts to add some additional atmosphere to the number, the results are only partially successful, but they did try. The final number "In My Dreams", features excerpts from the original 1985 music video, acknowledging the passage of time, and noting the changes that have occurred over the years. Dokken has had a long and rocky past, and part of their history is explored in a short but informative interview segment, one of the disc's bonus features. A couple of music videos of acoustic numbers are also included. A photo gallery of the band, and images of art by Don Dokken, round out the extras. This video becomes a bit more significant because both Reb Beach and Jeff Pilson have since left Dokken. I fully expect that Don Dokken will continue to rock on, and recommend "Live From The Sun", the best concert DVD I have seen, to fans of heavy metal everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: Would be nice to hear "Burning Like A Flame" again...
Review: The DVD itself and its cover are beautiful. The cover for "Live From The Sun" is much more attractive than most DVD covers are.
The songs that were selected for the concert and performed at the Sun Theatre in Aneheim, CA, while not the best, still consists of some of Dokken's best tracks recorded. "Erase the Slate" and "Maddest Hatter" are from Dokken's latest project which was released in mid-'99. The concert itself, the camera footage and sound quality are all top-notch, as are the special features which are very interesting themselves. The band interviews, band photo gallery and Don Dokken's own special art gallery all help make this DVD well worth the price. This is why I rate "Dokken: Live From The Sun" with five stars. The only small gripe I have is that the band Dokken rarely seems to play one of my very favorite songs of theirs live anymore--"Burning Like A Flame." Besides that, and over-doing the split camera shots, everything is fantastic. I realise George is gone and everything, but the truth is he was an excellent guitar player, but he no longer fits with the band. For those who didn't know, Dokken broke up after "Back For The Attack" in 1988 and got back together in '95 and collaberated on a brand new project titled "Dysfunctional." Shortly after, George left (again), and they got back together in '97 and debuted an attrocious grunge-like, alternative sounding awful piece of work called "Shadowlife." Needless to say, none of the songs off that album are ever played live by the band. This leads us to 1999, the release of Dokken's first great album to date in years, "Erase The Slate" with Reb Beach, the band's new guitarist. Reb is wonderful; he treats each and every one of Gerorge's songs with respect and does the solos unbelievably well, too. You will not be disappointed by this DVD as long as you can get over the fact that, yes, George IS gone, and yes, Beach does all of the songs just as well. Don's voice not have been in top form when this performance was recorded, but nonetheless, does a fine job singing his heart out in each of the songs. If you are not a Dokken fan, I don't know why you are reading this in the first place. If you are just getting into Dokken,
I would still recommend this DVD to get you acquainted with the band. If you are a long-time fan, you will still find yourself to be very entertained by this performance. Great DVD.
Peace bros. (note: Reb Beach left Dokken a while back and now John Norum, former guitarist of Europe, and one of the guitarists on Don Dokken's solo project "Up From The Ashes," is the new guitarist for Dokken. I will miss Reb, but John is fantastic as well, so I will not call this a loss.)
Rating:
Summary: Would be nice to hear "Burning Like A Flame" again...
Review: The DVD itself and its cover are beautiful. The cover for "Live From The Sun" is much more attractive than most DVD covers are.
The songs that were selected for the concert and performed at the Sun Theatre in Aneheim, CA, while not the best, still consists of some of Dokken's best tracks recorded. "Erase the Slate" and "Maddest Hatter" are from Dokken's latest project which was released in mid-'99. The concert itself, the camera footage and sound quality are all top-notch, as are the special features which are very interesting themselves. The band interviews, band photo gallery and Don Dokken's own special art gallery all help make this DVD well worth the price. This is why I rate "Dokken: Live From The Sun" with five stars. The only small gripe I have is that the band Dokken rarely seems to play one of my very favorite songs of theirs live anymore--"Burning Like A Flame." Besides that, and over-doing the split camera shots, everything is fantastic. I realise George is gone and everything, but the truth is he was an excellent guitar player, but he no longer fits with the band. For those who didn't know, Dokken broke up after "Back For The Attack" in 1988 and got back together in '95 and collaberated on a brand new project titled "Dysfunctional." Shortly after, George left (again), and they got back together in '97 and debuted an attrocious grunge-like, alternative sounding awful piece of work called "Shadowlife." Needless to say, none of the songs off that album are ever played live by the band. This leads us to 1999, the release of Dokken's first great album to date in years, "Erase The Slate" with Reb Beach, the band's new guitarist. Reb is wonderful; he treats each and every one of Gerorge's songs with respect and does the solos unbelievably well, too. You will not be disappointed by this DVD as long as you can get over the fact that, yes, George IS gone, and yes, Beach does all of the songs just as well. Don's voice not have been in top form when this performance was recorded, but nonetheless, does a fine job singing his heart out in each of the songs. If you are not a Dokken fan, I don't know why you are reading this in the first place. If you are just getting into Dokken,
I would still recommend this DVD to get you acquainted with the band. If you are a long-time fan, you will still find yourself to be very entertained by this performance. Great DVD.
Peace bros. (note: Reb Beach left Dokken a while back and now John Norum, former guitarist of Europe, and one of the guitarists on Don Dokken's solo project "Up From The Ashes," is the new guitarist for Dokken. I will miss Reb, but John is fantastic as well, so I will not call this a loss.)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent MUSIC/DVD
Review: This DVD covers the most popular Dokken songs and has 2 or 3 songs from their "Erase the Slate" album. I must say that not only the old Dokken stuff will rock you but also their new material with Reb Beach. The DVD edit was pretty good in the sense that it showed individuals at the right time, meaning that if Reb played an interesting solo or riff, the camera focused on him, which is the most important thing to me. Focusing at the right person at the right time! I would definitely recommend you buy this one! P.S. You cannot compare Reb to George bec. each has his own style. George Lynch has definitely made his mark and has one of the best tone/vibrato. Reb has also made a name for himself and is not only limited to rock but also fusion. Let's put it this way - Dokken couldn't have made it without George and I see the same thing now, they can't make it without Reb!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent MUSIC/DVD
Review: This DVD covers the most popular Dokken songs and has 2 or 3 songs from their "Erase the Slate" album. I must say that not only the old Dokken stuff will rock you but also their new material with Reb Beach. The DVD edit was pretty good in the sense that it showed individuals at the right time, meaning that if Reb played an interesting solo or riff, the camera focused on him, which is the most important thing to me. Focusing at the right person at the right time! I would definitely recommend you buy this one! P.S. You cannot compare Reb to George bec. each has his own style. George Lynch has definitely made his mark and has one of the best tone/vibrato. Reb has also made a name for himself and is not only limited to rock but also fusion. Let's put it this way - Dokken couldn't have made it without George and I see the same thing now, they can't make it without Reb!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent DVD w/Awesome Video & 5.1 Sound
Review: This DVD looks and sounds awesome. The concert has true 5.1 sound that blows away any other concert DVD out there. The film is professional and the effects & camera angles keep things interesting w/o being annoying. I heared Don Dokken on KNAC.com saying he personally spent 2000 hours editing the film and re-mixing the entire album in 5.1 from scratch. It really shows! Watching Reb Beach on guitar will leave you thinking "George who?"
Rating:
Summary: Excellent DVD w/Awesome Video & 5.1 Sound
Review: This DVD looks and sounds awesome. The concert has true 5.1 sound that blows away any other concert DVD out there. The film is professional and the effects & camera angles keep things interesting w/o being annoying. I heared Don Dokken on KNAC.com saying he personally spent 2000 hours editing the film and re-mixing the entire album in 5.1 from scratch. It really shows! Watching Reb Beach on guitar will leave you thinking "George who?"
Rating:
Summary: Dokken: Live form the Sun.
Review: This is a great dvd. If you are Dokken fan you will love it. It has Interviews, art from Don Dokken. Exclusive acoustic tracks. Great footage of Dokken on stage and backstage. This is just a good live shot concert. I have been listening to Dokken for sixteen years and I have One night live and Unchain the night videos. Now I purchased this one and this is the best one. Dokken has been around for a long time and they still rock !
|
