Since getting back together in the late '90s,
Dokken has seen many an ensuing lineup flutter. But the band has continued pressing on regardless, despite singer
Don Dokken and drummer
Mick Brown being the only constant members left. As you can tell by its title, 2002's
Then & Now features tracks that are a mixture of both live and studio -- all of which were from late-'90s releases (in other words, the definitive versions of many of
Dokken's most popular tracks are nowhere to be found). The set also features a total of three different guitarists -- original
Dokken member
George Lynch, as well as replacements
Reb Beach (
Winger) and
John Norum (
Europe). The album-opening "Erase the Slate" shows that despite the album of the same name released in 1999,
Dokken still held onto their '80s metal roots -- as detected in
Beach's shredding leads -- while live takes of such headbanging favorites as "Breaking the Chains" and "Into the Fire" are also included. ~ Greg Prato