Dokken formed in L.A. in 1978, and became one of the catchiest bands to emerge from the city's huge hair-metal scene. After a handful of name and lineup changes, cofounder and vocalist Don Dokken had the idea to bring the band to Germany to hunt for a record deal. The plan worked. After spending some time singing backup for Scorpions, Don hooked up with producer Michael Wagener. They produced an album in 1983, Breaking the Chains, which tore up the charts in Europe. By the time they released their followup, Tooth and Nail, Dokken were also a huge hit back home.