Multiple artists will be taking the stage on Sunday, July 17
th as part of “ROCK THE VALLEY” at the
Red River Valley Fair. Artists include THE DOKKEN LYNCH REUNION TOUR, WINGER, LITA FORD,
SWEET, STEELHEART, AND WIG WAM!
DOKKEN exploded out of the boiling hard rock/heavy metal scene in Los Angeles in the early 1980s.
1983’s “Breaking the Chains” with its catchy title track, set the stage for DOKKEN becoming the
most dominant creative and commercial force in the world of Melodic Hard Rock for the following
years. Such classic albums as “Tooth and Nail,” “Under Lock and Key,” and “Back for the Attack” all
became multi-platinum selling smashes and the live “Beast from the East” went gold in Europe and
Japan. DOKKEN is now Don Dokken (vocals), Mick Brown (drums), Jon Levin (guitar) and Chris
McCarvill (bass). DOKKEN has survived and kept their loyal fans and has been embraced by a whole
new generation of rock fans.
GEORGE LYNCH began learning to play the guitar at the age of 10. A naturally gifted musician, his
guitar playing quickly progressed and became a creative outlet for him. When he joined Dokken in
the early 1980’s, success came very quickly. As history proves, much of the band’s album sales and
credibility is the result of his guitar abilities and songwriting. His worldwide success made him one
of the most influential rock guitarists in modern music, even earning the band a Grammy
nomination in 1989 for Best Rock instrumental. By 1998, LYNCH finished his commitment with
Dokken and set out to work with the Lynch Mob. This resulted in “Smoke This,” an album that
featured a culmination of his playing styles, but with a new approach. The 1999 tour that followed
brought his playing to a new audience and resulted in a renewed interest in the band and GEORGE
LYNCH’s influence. The most notable is his endorsement with ESP Guitars as he is held as their
highest profiled endorser for close to 20 years. When GEORGE LYNCH is not recording, writing or
touring, he’s creating incredible collector’s art guitars under his Mr. Scary Guitars band.
Formed in 1987, WINGER soared to immediate success with their 1988 self-titled release. The
album spawned the hit singles “Seventeen” and “Headed For A Heartbreak” and achieved platinum
sales status. WINGER also stayed on the Billboard Top 200 chart for over 60 weeks where it peaked
at #21. Their next album, “In The Heart Of The Young,” also achieved platinum status and contained
the singles “Can’t Get Enuff” and “Miles Away.” The change in musical climate of the mid-90’s
compounded with unprovoked ridicule on MTV’s popular Beavis and Butthead, led the band to go
on hiatus in 1994 following the release of their critically acclaimed third album “Pull.” In 2001, the
band reunited and have not looked back since. WINGER is comprised of original members Kip
Winger on vocals/bass, Reb Beach on guitar, Rod Morgenstein on drums, plus long-term guitarist
John Roth.
LITA FORD began her career in 1975 as a founding member and guitarist of the groundbreaking all
female group the Runaways. The group’s hard rock/punk edge spawned hits like “Cherry Bomb” and
“Queens of Noise.” LITA FORD and the Runaways proved their timelessness in 2014 when “Cherry
Bomb” was featured in the critically acclaimed Marvel/Disney Studios hit movie “Guardians Of The
Galaxy” and was nominated for a Grammy Award. LITA FORD launched her solo career in 1983 with
her debut album “Out For Blood” establishing her as the premier female performer In rock and
Heavy Metal. The “Lita” album solidified her as one of the most influential female performers in the
music industry and earning her the title “Queen of Metal.” LITA FORD released three more studio
albums following “Lita.” “Stiletto, “Dangerous Curves,” and “Black” that produced the radio and
video hits “Hungry,” “Playin’ with Fire” and “Shot of Poison” again nominating her for a Grammy.
2021 marked another major milestone in her career when she presented her iconic Morice II B.C.
Rich Warlock guitar to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The guitar currently is on exhibit in the main
foyer at The Rock Hall.
One of the most influential British rock bands, SWEET, rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as a
premier glam rock act. The band achieved a rocket ride to success with multiple mega platinum hits
including “Ballroom Blitz,” “Fox On The Run,” “Love Is Like Oxygen,” “Little Willy,” “Action,”
“Teenage Rampage,” “ACDC,” “Blockbuster,” and “Hell Raiser” to name a few. Around the world,
the group has sold more than 55 million records. THE SWEET reformed in 2008 and together the
band has toured extensively all over the world including a major South American tour with Journey.
Some of the most notable acts THE SWEET was packaged with are as follows: Boston, Sammy Hager,
Joan Jett, Peter Frampton, and Steve Winwood. THE SWEET’s current band includes bassist/vocalist
Stevie Stewart, drummer Richie Onori, guitar virtuoso Mitch Perry, and lead singer Paulie Z.
The aptly named STEELHEART is the rock n’ roll band fronted by internationally known Croatian-American musician Miljenko Matijevic. Miljenko’s powerful multioctave vocal range is and always
has been the steel, heart and soul of what is STEELHEART. Their first album reaching #40 on the
Billboard 200 chart in 1990, being certified Gold by the RIAA in 1991. The band’s fanbase growing
swiftly around the world as they told 33,000 albums on its first day in Japan alone. Power ballad
“She’s Gone,” hit #1 on the international charts and stayed there for 17 weeks. Their next album,
“Tangled in Reins,” had a more mixed eclectic song style with heavy hitting, hard driving songs like
“Loaded Mutha,” “SteelHeart,” “Electric Love Child,” and fun loving “Sticky Side Up,” to tear jerking
ballads such as “Mama Don’t You Cry.” With much heart and steely determination, this band has
been going strong and rocking hard for 30 years and STEELHEART shows no sign of riding into the
sunset.