Tim “Ripper” Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, DIO DISCIPLES) has contributed guest vocals to the forthcoming debut album from TOOTH AND NAIL, the new project featuring current and former members of DOKKEN — George Lynch (guitar), Jeff Pilson (bass), and Mick Brown (drums). Tentatively due in March 2012, the CD will feature new original material as well as reworked versions of around five or six DOKKEN classics. Owens is said to have recorded a killer new version of DOKKEN‘s “Kiss Of Death” in what is described as a Ronnie James Dio-inspired performance. Additional lead vocal duties on the CD will be handled by former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach (on DOKKEN‘s “Alone Again”), Doug Pinnick (KING’S X), Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown (on DOKKEN‘s “When Heaven Comes Down”). The drum tracks on the new, original compositions will be taken care of by Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER).
Regarding how TOOTH AND NAIL came together, Pilson said in an August 2011 interview, “The DOKKEN [original lineup] reunion has been scrapped, and I take a lot of the initial responsibility for that because of my schedule and commitment to FOREIGNER. I was, however, upfront about that from Day One. We did talk, though, and I think we all thought it was going to happen somehow at some time. Then Don [Dokken, vocals] and George got in some nasty e-mail fights, which I’m not really in a position to evaluate but they did get ugly and seem to put an end to further reunion thoughts. The two of them had their own business outside of the pending reunion and something just went south. For whatever reason, it was time to move on. Then George asked me about working with him on the next LYNCH MOB record — and I jumped at the chance. He and I started writing, got into a groove and wrote an album’s worth of stuff, all with the intention of Oni [Logan, LYNCH MOB singer] writing lyrics and it being their next record. Brian Tichy laid down some incredible drums at his studio (and co-wrote some music on one track) and we had an incredibly strong start. Then Oni just wasn’t feeling the music as being LYNCH MOB, so it was shelved. We figured it’d be the start of another LYNCH/PILSON record some day. Then, actually, it was Brian who had the idea that Mick, George and I should do a band, similar to what HEAVEN HELL was to BLACK SABBATH, and call it TOOTH AND NAIL. Because of everything else we have going, it’ll be just a recording project at first, but sure sounds fun. We’d record the classics keeping true to the originals but make them fresh and organic. Then the idea of doing new songs came up, and it grew from there.
He added, “I have absolute belief that the music George and I make together (along with Brian Tichy in this case) is real and inspired, and that’s what it’s really all about. So out of a mess of a reunion attempt, I think we’ll end up with a really fabulous record, and what could be better than that?”
When asked if TOOTH AND NAIL is basically DOKKEN without Don, Pilson said, “Don is, and will always be, the singer of DOKKEN and an invaluable part of the DOKKEN chemistry. No one ever wants to take that away or dispute it one iota. But the three of us do have time tested amazing chemistry, and because we were writers on these songs, I feel we have a lot to express. If anything I think this will be a show of respect for Don, not some kind of competition. I only hope people enjoy it in the spirit for which it’s intended . . . Don’t think of this as DOKKEN without Don… that’s misleading. Think of it as a band with great chemistry coming up with new music that excites them, and also paying tribute to DOKKEN — music which the members all are heavily invested in emotionally.”
TOOTH AND NAIL recently took part in a photo session with acclaimed photographer Alex Solca. Those pictures, along with an official press release announcing the project, are expected to be made available in the next couple of weeks.
For more information, visit TOOTH AND NAIL‘s official Facebook page.
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