Jeff Pilson says Don Dokken is “nasty”, “uncool” and “inappropriate” over drug use comments

BASSIST Jeff Pilson says it’s “nasty”, “uncool” and “inappropriate” for Don Dokken to discuss in interviews the drug use of other band members in the 1980s.

Pilson, a member of the classic Dokken line-up, was responding to comments from the singer in interviews to promote the band’s current album Heaven Comes Down. Discussing Pilson, guitarist George Lynch and drummer Mick Brown, Dokken said: “I had three band-members that were completely addicted cocaine and alcoholics”.

The vocalist has also been quoted as saying he wrote most of the band’s hits and that they would have been successful more quickly with a different guitarist.

Pilson tells Hot Metal:  “Again, I’m an addict and an alcoholic and have talked about it. I don’t stay anonymous with my alcoholism. I talk about it because I have no problem talking about it.

“So if Don wants to refer to me as using drugs, its fine. I don’t mind.

“I think it’s a little uncool to be referring to other people who….

“You know, that was a long time ago and I just think it’s a nasty thing and I think it’s inappropriate to talk about stuff like that when people don’t want to talk about it or if it’s not their thing.

“It’s my thing to talk about it. It’s not everybody’s.

“So I think that’s uncool. All the other crap? Listen: is anybody really listening? Does anybody really care?

“I read ridiculous stuff about ‘Don wrote everything’. No he didn’t. We know that and I think most fans know that. What people say … you know, maybe he wants to get some attention.”

But Pilson says the relationship between him, Dokken and Lynch – Brown has retired – is not damaged to the extent that they would not work together again.

“Don’s said horrible stuff in interviews many many times before,” the decorated bass man says.

“George has said some pretty goofy things in interviews and that hasn’t stopped us getting together if the business has called for it.”