Dave Davies facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dave Davies
Promotional photo of Davies in 1971
Background information
Birth name	David Russell Gordon Davies
Born	(1947-02-03) 3 February 1947 (age 78) Fortis Green, London, England
Origin	Muswell Hill, London, England
Genres	Rock pop hard rock
Occupation(s)	Guitarist singer songwriter
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1963–present
Labels	Angel Air Koch
Associated acts	The Kinks

David Russell Gordon Davies (born 3 February 1947) is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist and backing singer for the famous English rock band the Kinks. His older brother, Ray, was the main songwriter and singer for the band.

Dave Davies also wrote and sang lead vocals on some Kinks songs. These include "Death of a Clown", "Party Line", "Strangers", and "Rats". He has also had a successful solo career, releasing several songs in the late 1960s and eight solo albums since then.

Davies is known for his creative use of the electric guitar. He was one of the first musicians to use electric guitar distortion. This sound became very popular in mainstream music. His unique distorted power chord guitar riffs greatly influenced future heavy metal and punk rock bands. In 1990, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Kinks. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 91st on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

Early Life and Music Beginnings

6 Denmark Terrace, where Dave Davies was born

David Russell Gordon Davies was born in North London at 6 Denmark Terrace, Muswell Hill. He was the youngest of eight children. He had six older sisters and an older brother, Ray, who later became his bandmate.

Growing up, the Davies brothers were surrounded by many types of music. Their parents enjoyed music hall songs. Their older sisters listened to jazz and early rock n' roll. The brothers often competed for attention from their parents and sisters.

Dave started playing skiffle music. Soon, he bought an electric guitar and began experimenting with rock sounds. The Davies brothers and their friend Pete Quaife would practice together in the front room of their house. This room was the center of many activities, including large parties. At these parties, their parents would sing and play the piano. This musical environment helped the Davies brothers develop their unique style. It later influenced the Kinks' blend of traditional British music hall. Dave and Ray even created the famous two-chord riff for their 1964 hit song "You Really Got Me" on the piano in that same front room.

Forming The Kinks

Dave Davies formed the band The Kinks with Pete Quaife in 1963. His brother Ray joined soon after. Ray became the most well-known member and the band's leader. The group was complete when drummer Mick Avory joined. Dave Davies and Mick Avory had a difficult relationship. This was one reason Mick left the band in the mid-1980s. However, they had lived together as housemates in the mid-1960s.

Ray and Dave Davies were the only two members who stayed in the band consistently. Other bassists and keyboard players often changed. Dave usually played a supporting role to his brother. He often worked behind the scenes. Dave did contribute as a lead singer and songwriter on some Kinks songs. These included "Party Line", "Death of a Clown", and "Strangers".

Early Success (1963–1966)

Dave Davies & Mick Avory (Dutch TV, 1967)

Dave Davies was responsible for the unique distorted sound on the Kinks' first big hit, "You Really Got Me". He created this sound by cutting the speaker cone of his Elpico amplifier with a razor blade. He then connected it to a larger Vox amplifier. This was one of the first times distortion was heard in popular music. It had a huge impact on many later musicians, especially in heavy metal and punk rock.

"You Really Got Me" was the band's third single. Their first two songs did not become hits. They had a contract for three singles with Pye Records. They needed a hit to get another contract. Pye Records did not like the song and refused to pay for studio time. The band found other ways to pay for recording the single. It became a huge hit, reaching number one in the UK and number 7 in the US.

The Kinks released three albums and several smaller records called EPs in the next two years. They also performed and toured constantly. They were the main act on tours with bands like The Yardbirds. This busy schedule caused tension within the band. There were even some famous fights on stage during this time. The most well-known incident happened in May 1965 in Cardiff. It involved drummer Mick Avory and Dave Davies. Avory later said it was part of a new act where the band members would throw their instruments.

In the late 1960s, the Kinks' music style changed. Ray's songwriting improved, and he led the band in a new direction. They moved away from their traditional R&B/blues sound. They began to play more thoughtful and nostalgic music. Examples include songs like "Autumn Almanac" and "Waterloo Sunset". Their albums, such as Something Else by the Kinks and The Village Green Preservation Society, also showed this new style.

Solo Career Beginnings

In July 1967, Dave Davies released his first solo song, "Death of a Clown". It was officially credited to him, even though his brother Ray helped write it. Before this, Dave had only released his own songs on the B-sides of singles or on Kinks albums. Pye Records, the Kinks' label, saw a chance for Dave to have a hit on his own. "Death of a Clown" was released as his first solo song. Even though it was a "solo" song, the Kinks played as the backing band. The song also appeared on the Kinks' album Something Else by the Kinks.

"Death of a Clown" became a big hit, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. Pye Records wanted to release a solo album by Dave. A follow-up song, "Susannah's Still Alive", came out in November 1967. However, it only reached number 20 on the Melody Maker chart. The solo album was put on hold to see how another single would do. People were excited for the new album, which was nicknamed A Hole in the Sock Of. "Lincoln County" was chosen as the next single, but it did not become a hit. When a fourth single, "Hold My Hand", also failed to chart, Dave lost interest, and Pye Records decided not to release the album.

Years later, in 2011, the songs meant for his first solo album were released as a collection called Hidden Treasures. This album included the singles, B-sides from Kinks singles, and some songs Dave had recorded for Kinks albums. Many of these songs had been put together before in 1987 for an album called The Album That Never Was.

The Kinks released The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society and Arthur in 1968 and 1969. Critics loved these albums, but Village Green did not sell well around the world. Arthur also had only average sales. Even though critics praised these records, they were not big commercial successes.

"Lola" and Later Kinks Albums

After Arthur, the Kinks had a big comeback with their hit song "Lola" in 1970. They also released a concept album called Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. Dave recorded two of his own songs for this album: the acoustic "Strangers" and the hard-rocking "Rats".

In late 1971, the band released Muswell Hillbillies. This album had a country-rock and Americana theme. Critics liked it, but it did not sell very well. The band's next five albums, which included a large theatrical group, were not very successful with critics or in sales.

The Kinks left RCA Records in 1977 and signed with Arista. They stopped using the extra singers and brass players from their theatrical shows. They went back to being a five-piece rock band. Their first album for Arista was Sleepwalker. This album was a commercial and critical success for the group. It was the first album in what critics call the "arena rock" phase of the band. During this time, they used more commercial and mainstream production styles. Dave later said he was happy to return to more guitar-focused songs. He considers Sleepwalker one of his favorite albums.

The 1980s and Beyond

Davies performing in 1979

Dave Davies saw the Kinks through both good times and bad. The band reached their highest commercial success in the early 1980s. They started using MTV to promote their music, which was popular at the time. The music video for their 1982/83 song "Come Dancing" helped it reach number 12 in the UK and number 6 in the US. This was their biggest hit since "Tired of Waiting for You" in 1965.

The Kinks' popularity began to decline in 1985. Their songs soon stopped appearing on the music charts. Mick Avory left the band after the Kinks' last album for Arista, Word of Mouth. This was mainly because of the growing tension between him and Dave Davies. Bob Henrit replaced Avory as drummer. Ray Davies invited Avory to manage Konk Studios, where he also worked as a producer and sometimes contributed to later Kinks albums.

The group signed with MCA (US) and London (UK) records in late 1985. They began working on their next album, Think Visual. The album was released in 1986 but only reached number 81 on the Billboard charts. Critics did not like it much, and it was not played often on the radio. Dave Davies contributed two songs to Think Visual: "Rock 'n' Roll Cities" and "When You were a Child".

The Kinks recorded several more albums for MCA. Their last studio album for them was UK Jive in 1989. It was received a little better than Think Visual, but it did not make it into the Top 100. Dave Davies contributed the song "Dear Margaret" to the album. The cassette and CD versions also included two more Dave Davies songs, "Bright Lights" and "Perfect Strangers".

Columbia Records dropped the group in 1994. The Kinks then struggled to find another record label. All four original members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. However, this did not help revive their career. The Kinks eventually signed with Columbia Records. They released their final studio album together, Phobia, on 13 April 1993. Despite publicity, the album was not successful, peaking at number 166. The singles released from it also failed to chart. Dave Davies contributed the songs "It's Alright (Don't Think About It)" and "Close to the Wire" to Phobia.

Columbia dropped the group in 1994. The Kinks then returned to their old Konk Records. The group released To The Bone on the small independent Grapevine Records in 1994.

The Kinks took a break from recording and touring in 1996. Ray and Dave reunited on stage to perform "You Really Got Me" in London on 18 December 2015. Rolling Stone magazine called their performance "rousing".

Solo Work, 1980s–Present Day

After his first solo album was not released, Dave Davies's solo career started again in 1980. He released Dave Davies (AFL1-3603), where he played all the instruments himself. The album, named after its catalog number, reached number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart. He then released Glamour (1981), which charted at number 152. Davies brought in a backing band to play with him on this record. Chosen People was released in 1983 but did not make it onto the Billboard 200.

Davies released his first new solo studio album in twenty years, Bug, in 2002. Fractured Mindz followed in January 2007. This was his first new studio work since he had a stroke in 2004. He had recorded one song, "God in my Brain," for a compilation album in 2006.

Two Worlds was recorded in 2010 by The Aschere Project, which is Dave Davies and his son Russ. Both of them wrote, produced, and recorded all the songs. Dave described the album's style as "a mixture of rock, kinda classical and electronic music." In February 2010, Davies released a DVD about his life called Mystical Journey, filmed by his other son. His planned US tour to support the DVD was postponed due to doctor's advice.

In February 2013, it was announced that Dave Davies would release his sixth studio album, I Will Be Me, on June 4, 2013. Davies went on a short tour in the US to promote the album. He performed his first UK show in thirteen years in February 2014. In October 2014, to celebrate the Kinks' 50th Anniversary, Davies released a new album called Rippin' Up Time. Many songs on it looked back to the band's early days. Davies appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2014 to promote the album. That episode was the most-watched Tonight Show episode of 2014.

In 2015, the Dave Davies solo album Rippin Up New York City was released. He went on a solo tour in the US in October and November to promote it. On December 18, at his concert in London, Ray Davies joined him on stage. They performed the Kinks' hit "You Really Got Me" together. This was the first time in almost 20 years that the brothers had performed together.

Dave Davies has continued to tour in the US as of 2018, receiving positive reviews.

Signature Guitars

A Gibson Flying V

Dave Davies has played many guitars over the years. The most famous one is his Gibson Flying V. Davies bought it in 1965 and soon started using it in live shows and on TV. Davies was one of the few guitarists who played Flying Vs at that time. The guitar was not being made anymore because it was not popular when it first came out in 1958. Guitarists like Lonnie Mack, Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, and Davies himself helped make the instrument popular again. It later became one of the most recognizable guitars of the heavy metal era.

Davies has played many other guitars throughout his career. He has used several models of Gibson Les Pauls, including a "Goldtop" model and a black '78 model. On his website, he lists the following guitars:

• Gibson Les Paul – Standard, Custom, Deluxe, Artisan, and Goldtop models
• Fender Elite Telecaster
• Fender American Standard Telecaster
• '63 Fender Telecaster sunburst (owned by Ray, used as Dave's main guitar between 1967 and 1969)
• '54 Fender Stratocaster
• Gibson Flying V
• Gibson L5-S
• Gibson L6-S
• Guild F-512 NT 12-string acoustic
• Harmony Meteor

Personal Life and Health

Dave Davies has several children. He has four sons, Martin, Simon, Christian, and Russell, from his marriage to Lisbet. They divorced in 1990. His three children, Daniel, Lana, and Eddie, are from a relationship with Nancy Evans.

Davies published an autobiography called Kink in 1996. In the book, he discussed his relationships and the sometimes difficult professional relationship with his brother during the Kinks' career.

Davies has been a vegetarian since the late 1960s. He has stated that he believes meat is not good for the nervous system.

On June 30, 2004, Davies had a stroke. This happened as he was leaving a lift at Broadcasting House, where he had been promoting his album, Bug. He was taken to University College Hospital. Davies was released from the hospital on August 27. By 2006, Davies had recovered enough to walk, talk, and play the guitar.

In September 2013, Rolling Stone magazine wrote about Davies and his girlfriend Rebecca G. Wilson. She sang backing vocals on his songs "Front Room" and "King of Karaoke". Since 2014, Wilson has toured as Davies' backup singer.

A second autobiography, Living on a Thin Line, was released in July 2022. The book's title is the same as a Kinks song from 1984.

Discography

Studio Albums

• AFL1-3603 (1980) US Billboard No. 42
• Glamour (1981) US Billboard No. 152
• Chosen People (1983) US Billboard No. 202
• Bug (2002)
• Fractured Mindz (2007)
• I Will Be Me (2013)
• Rippin' Up Time (2014)
• Open Road (2017) with Russ Davies

Soundtrack Album

• Village of the Damned (1995) with John Carpenter

Live Albums

• Rock Bottom - Live at The Bottom Line (2000)
• Transformation - Live at The Alex Theatre (2003)
• Rainy Day in June (2004)
• Rippin' Up New York City - Live at the Winery NYC (2015)

Official Bootlegs

• Solo Live - Live Solo Performance at Marian College (2000)
• Bugged... Live! (2002)
• Belly Up (2008) - recorded live at the Belly Up Club in San Diego on 29 April 1997, which was at the start of the first major solo tour of the U.S. by Davies
• Around the Galaxy (2009)

Compilation Albums

• The Album That Never Was (1987) - singles recorded for his unreleased debut solo album
• Unfinished Business (1999)
• Kinked (2006 release on Koch Records)
• Hidden Treasures (2011) - released and unreleased tracks recorded for his unreleased debut solo album
• Decade (2018) - unreleased tracks from the 1970s

Singles

Other Appearances

Demo Recordings (The Meta Media Demo Series)

• Fortis Green (1999)
• Fragile (2001)

Guest Appearances

• In the Mouth of Madness soundtrack, lead guitar on track one (1995)

Projects with Russ Davies

• Purusha and the Spiritual Planet as Crystal Radio (1998)
• Two Worlds as The Aschere Project (2010)

See also

In Spanish: Dave Davies para niños