Doro

Doro is a German hard rock and heavy metal act from Düsseldorf, led by vocalist Doro Pesch. Pesch first comes to prominence as the lead singer of Warlock before continuing under the name Doro for her solo career and touring band. The project is active from 1988 to the present and has a frequently changing line-up, with bassist Nick Douglas and drummer Johnny Dee among its longest-serving members. Other members include Tommy Henriksen, Jon Levin, Bob Rondinelli, Joe Taylor, Oliver Palotai, Luca Princiotta, Bas Maas, Dirk Böhmer and Chris Caffery.

Background

Doro Pesch is born in Düsseldorf and begins her career in garage bands in the city’s underground rock scene. She gains wider attention in the 1980s with Warlock, which increases its profile in the United States. As the line-up changes, Pesch becomes the only original member remaining in the group.

She then starts recording and performing as Doro, a name used for her solo work partly to avoid legal disputes involving PolyGram and her former management. She releases two albums in the United States with production by Joey Balin and Gene Simmons, but they do not lead to a major breakthrough there. During the 1990s, when grunge and alternative rock become dominant, her label largely restricts releases to Europe. Even so, she continues to tour extensively, remains a charting artist in Germany, and lives and records in the United States.

Style and career

The act is associated with hard rock and heavy metal. Over time, Doro becomes known as a veteran figure in the genre and as an influence on later generations of female metal musicians. The project also has a strong live reputation and includes numerous studio and live collaborations with other artists from the metal scene.

In 2020, Doro becomes the first heavy metal artist to give a drive-in concert during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2026, Pesch has released 19 studio albums and continues to record and tour internationally, based in New York City when not on the road. Studio albums include Force Majeure, Doro, True at Heart, Angels Never Die, Machine II Machine, Love Me in Black, Calling the Wild, Fight, Classic Diamonds, Warrior Soul, Fear No Evil, Raise Your Fist, Forever Warriors, Forever United and Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud.