All it took was a simple phone call and George Lynch and Jeff Pilson found themselves reunited to write a new album that draws from their very powerful and intuitive connection, which has fueled favorites like “Just Got Lucky,” “Alone Again,” and “Breaking the Chains.”
When TPRS.com spoke to Jeff Pilson about the duos new album, Wicked Underground (Spitfire Records), he explained that even though former Dokken guitarist and bassist hadn’t spoke for four years, when they reunited in November of 2001, they were able to “clear the air” and get back to what they do – “play music, listen to music, talk about music”; and have a lot of laughs.
Pilson says, “We’re sort of on a subconscious same page, you know what I mean, we can kind of read each other’s minds and there’s like a communication that goes on that’s past just the boundaries of taste, it becomes more like you can feel each other and feel where we’re going. We definitely have that with each other on a very powerful and intuitive level. We do have similar tastes in a lot of ways. He likes certain things I don’t like and vice versa, but we tend to appreciate …we tend to get off on the same things.”
Intensity and energy are just a few of the elements that contribute to the sound of Lynch/Pilson. And, longtime fans will be pleased to know that the guys didn’t stop themselves from doing what comes naturally. Yet, they haven’t repeated themselves either.
“I think a lot of people in our genera or whatever right now feel really held back, because there’s so little acceptance of that kind of music right now. And you know what, we told ourselves, ‘screw that, let’s just do what we do’ let’s not try to reinvent the wheel for the sake of the market,” explained Pilson.
As for the future of their new union, Pilson says that a tour and another album are certainly possible, but he’s sure it’s going to depend on how it’s received, since they both have a lot on their plates right now. He admits he would love to go out and front the band on the road, but several key elements would have to fall into place so that they could present it properly.
“I can’t see us going out and doing a real grueling club tour just because we do have other things going on but if we had a well timed package tour, that would be great.”
He later added, “We’re certainly open to it (working together again). We both have a lot of things going on. We’re not going to struggle with this thing, but I’ll tell you, we would enjoy it, and we would love to do another record. And, if the audience is open to it, if it looks like people want to hear another one, we’ll probably be there to do it.”
Many are probably also wondering if the union of Lynch and Pilson means there is hope that the four original members of Dokken will try to make it work again. Pilson was hesitant to dismiss the idea completely, but it seems very unlikely.
“I can’t say ‘never’. I probably never would have guessed that George and I would have worked together again. Except, I think George and I always had a real strong affinity for one another, and once the air was cleared it was pretty easy to work together again.
As for Dokken, I just don’t see it happening. I don’t think it would be enjoyable, I don’t think we’re all in common areas musically and there is a lot of bad blood. I kind of wish that we would all clear the air and get passed everything. There’s that part of me — I love the other guys, it goes pretty deep in a lot of different ways, but I can’t imagine being in a situation where it would be enjoyable to work with again and life is too short.
I just don’t see the point, unless it were something where I really felt like we were inspired to do a great record, that would be the only way I would really want to do it. And, I don’t see that happening.”
Those looking for a fresh perspective on the Dokken songs they love should however check out George Lynch’s new Lynch Mob release Revolution (Deadline Records), which features the greatest hits of both Dokken and Lynch Mob revamped by Lynch, along with Mob vocalist Robert Mason and bassist Anthony Esposito, and drummer Michael “Fro” Frowein, who coincidentally can also be found on the Lynch/Pilson Wicked Underground release.
Pilson says that Frowein had already been working with Lynch for a while before they met. “He and Michael were writing up in Sacramento. George would basically come up with ideas and then he’d want to jam them with ‘Fro’ and he really liked his drumming. George said we should really try this guy, he’s an unknown but he’s great, and he was. And, he’s a wonderful person. The first time the three of us got up to play, it was like ‘yep, this is right’, you just know it right away.”
As for the moniker Dominic Moon and the band that inspired it, Pilson said his band has been put on what could possibly be a “semi-permanent hiatus.”
“I lost a guitar player that was real critical to the band for the live show and then just got kind of bogged down with all the other projects I’m doing. And, I kind of realized that I am trying to move more into the producing field and that kind of thing, and it was just going to be really hard to take that to the next step.
So, I might still do another record with it (Underground Moon) some day, because I really love the music, and I really enjoy doing it. And the record was just Tommy and I, which is really my ideal working situation. As far as going out and doing gigs and that sort of thing, I have to be more selective of my time now and it’s tricky.”
