Jon Levin
Encyclopedia
Jon Levin is the current guitarist for the American heavy metal
band Dokken
.
and later George Lynch
from Dokken, whose place Levin would eventually take. He played in a club band called Devias at age 19 in the Long Island, New York area, and then auditioned for and joined German band Warlock
at age 22. When the grunge scene took over in the early 1990s, Levin took a break from being a musician because he wasn't interested in that type of music. Levin relocated to the West Coast and became an entertainment lawyer.
, Dokken's bassist, who asked him to play some solos on a demo. He anticipated playing on a solo album for Pilson, but when he arrived at the studio, Dokken in its entirety was there. Levin played on a Dokken track called "Dancin" (The Irish song) which originally was supposed to be included on the Erase the slate
cd but was later included on the Long Way Home
import instead. However Levin didn't join the group until late 2003. He is praised by many hardcore Dokken fans for his George Lynch
-influenced style of playing.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
.
Early years
Jon Levin was involved with music very early on in life. He began playing piano at age 4, trumpet by age 7, and guitar at age 9. Instead of having formal lessons, Levin played along to his favorite musicians including Eric ClaptonEric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and later George Lynch
George Lynch (musician)
George Lynch is a hard rock/heavy metal guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken, his own bands Lynch Mob and Souls of We.-Pre Dokken:...
from Dokken, whose place Levin would eventually take. He played in a club band called Devias at age 19 in the Long Island, New York area, and then auditioned for and joined German band Warlock
Warlock (band)
Warlock was a German heavy metal band, assembled in 1982. The band gained some commercial success in the mid 1980s. By the end of the decade, singer Doro Pesch was the sole original member who remained in the band, and thus proceeded to form Doro, a band that was essentially a continuation of...
at age 22. When the grunge scene took over in the early 1990s, Levin took a break from being a musician because he wasn't interested in that type of music. Levin relocated to the West Coast and became an entertainment lawyer.
Dokken
In 1998, Levin got a call from Jeff PilsonJeff Pilson
Jeff Pilson is an American bass guitarist, best known for his stint in the heavy metal band Dokken...
, Dokken's bassist, who asked him to play some solos on a demo. He anticipated playing on a solo album for Pilson, but when he arrived at the studio, Dokken in its entirety was there. Levin played on a Dokken track called "Dancin" (The Irish song) which originally was supposed to be included on the Erase the slate
Erase The Slate
Erase the Slate is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Dokken, released in 1999. It is the only Dokken album to feature former Winger guitarist Reb Beach.-Track listing:...
cd but was later included on the Long Way Home
Long Way Home (Dokken album)
Long Way Home is the eighth studio album by heavy metal band Dokken, released in 2002.Alternate versions of the album cover featured a special lighting effect around the body of the model....
import instead. However Levin didn't join the group until late 2003. He is praised by many hardcore Dokken fans for his George Lynch
George Lynch (musician)
George Lynch is a hard rock/heavy metal guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken, his own bands Lynch Mob and Souls of We.-Pre Dokken:...
-influenced style of playing.
With Dokken
- Hell To Pay (2004)
- Lightning Strikes AgainLightning Strikes AgainLightning Strikes Again is the tenth studio album by heavy metal band Dokken. It was originally scheduled for release on October 24, 2007, in Japan and on October 29 worldwide, but was postponed until 2008. The album was eventually released on May 13 in the US.The album entered the Billboard Top...
(2008)