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Kink: An Autobiography

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"One of the Survivors" is the title of a 1973 Kinks song and a fitting description of their founder and lead guitarist, Dave Davies. As detailed in "Kink: An Autobiography," Davies experienced enough debauchery, drama, and excesses in his first 49 years of life to fill several lifetimes. And what's even more impressive, he lived to tell the tale.

While brother Ray's autobiography, "X-Ray," is restrained, Dave's lets it all hang out. Sex, fights with Ray, drink and drugs, fights with Ray, UFOs, fights with Ray...it's all there in no-holds-barred black and white. Equal time is given to various aspects: family dynamics, the Kinks' music, touring, his stormy relationship with Ray, sexual experimentation, the politics of the music business, love, and spirituality. The book covers a lot of ground in 280 pages, and even includes photos and a Kinks discography.

It would be easy to slam this effort because of its ramblings and tangents, especially in later chapters when it seems to lose focus. For some readers, the author's claim to have been overtaken by intelligent life forms is enough to discredit the entire undertaking. But not for me. If Davies believes his body was invaded by extraterrestrials, who am I to question his reality? And while some of his confessions (like cheating on his long-suffering wife Lisbet) and his endless digs at Ray were slightly offensive, to me his story is, at its most basic, a tragic tale of the rivalry between a talented but vulnerable younger brother living in the shadow of his more talented and dominant older brother. In spite of his self-indulgences, it's difficult to hold a grudge.

For any Kinks fan, this is a must-read book. Davies is generous in referencing Kinks songs, e.g., which recordings were his personal favorites, anecdotes about their production and release, and the now-famous story about how he created his unique sound on "You Really Got Me" - the sound that launched their careers and inspired a legion of rockers.

Epilogue: Dave Davies is proving once again that he is a survivor. After suffering a serious stroke in 2004, he's fought his way back to recovery. Earlier this year, he recorded a new song called "God in My Brain," which he wrote, arranged, produced, sang, and performed, playing all of the instruments.

In the ten years since Dave Davies published his autobiography, a lot has happened to the world and to the brothers Davies. A recent re-read of the book might, therefore, be biased by the accumulated knowledge of events that have occurred in the interim. Such was the case as I was deeply shocked when news of his stroke was announced. I can only imagine how it terrifying would be to awaken in a body that would not fully respond to my commands. For me, the thought that David might never be able to play any of those fantastic, incendiary riffs was a sober reminder of the passage of time. I also had to ponder - in a more-clichéd, but nonetheless objective consideration - whether years of hard-living - though admittedly unlikely to approach Keith Richards levels - had caught up with him.

It is also both reassuring and frustrating to - looking both backwards and forwards - reach a personal belief that the original band and, in particular, the Davies, will never play together. Too much time, too much sibling rivalry and way too much of Raymond's bitterness and meanness will prevent it from occurring. And, even that isn't all so unusual. After all, look at John Fogerty and his litigation with his band-mates...including his brother!

But, I start to digress. Let's go back to the book.

Now, as when I first read it, I felt this book was equal measures of therapy and envy. The former had to do with David's need - maybe a requirement as a result of therapy and/or his religious conversion - to "confess his sins." Depending on your point of view, the list of admitted sins was fairly lengthy: drug use, bisexuality, illegitimate children, adultery, etc, etc., etc. Let's just accept what he says, but then consider - at least for a brief period of time - what you or I, or anyone for that matter - would have likely done if - at the age of 16 or 17 - we were suddenly inserted into a world where we could do as we liked? Maybe, just maybe, we would have done some - if not all - that he did. Don't think so? Just think of Britney Spears.

The latter reason of envy is, I think, built upon what it must have been like as Raymond's brother. You have to admit it must have been hard to constantly be reminded that you did not write as well and did not sing as well as your sibling. Do I think that Kink is the best that David could do in the wake of X-Ray? Yes.

And yes, the book is not up to the literary standards of X-Ray. On the other hand, it is - in my opinion - a far more even handed rendering of history; even if the UFOs are included. It is also a very, very good exposition of what the "swingin' 60s" were like in London and what being a successful band can mean...both negatively and positively.

In that aspect, Kink is well worth the time to read, either before or after X-Ray. Perhaps one should consider the two works as bookends for the band.

The Davies family was a large one and it is easy to imagine that Pater dashed off to the Clissold Arms for the odd pint or two simply to escape the estrogen. When Raymond Douglas Davies was born, his arrival was cause for celebration. He was the first boy in the Davies brood. Life changed for Mister Special when Mum surprised the entire household by delivering another son, David, and Ray was no longer necessarily the center of attention. Dave was the eleventh child in the household for those who are keeping score. Had Groucho Marx paid a visit to Fortis Green, he may have been tempted to repeat his celebrated question, "Did your parents have any other hobbies?" if the opportunity presented itself.

Fast forward and in a few years time, "Ray and the Ravens" are performing at debutante parties and trying to score a record contract. The initial recording sessions failed to attract much interest. With borrowed funds, the band returns to the studio one last time and scores a hit with "You Really Got Me." During the session, Ray shoots a nervous glance at his brother as a key guitar solo is about to begin. Dave responds with an expletive that will be covered with an overdub of Ray shouting "Oh, no!"
With high definition recordings, Dave's angry reply is unmistakable and clear. Ray is still embarrassed.

The record label renamed the band "The Kinks" and the group enjoyed a period of critical and popular success during the British Invasion. Intitially, the record albums were balanced in terms of Ray and Dave showcasing their material equally, but in time Ray came to be the dominant creative force in the band. As time progressed, Dave was fortunate to get one lead vocal per recording. Nonetheless, his guitar work and backing vocals were invaluable to the band's success and staying power. Eventually, the group faded from the "Top of the Pops" and survived on the basis of their constant touring. Along with the usual rock and roll excesses, the Kinks were noteworthy for the beer consumption and onstage drunkeness was not out of the ordinary.

The constant friction between Ray and Dave, which sometimes rose to the level of physical violence, became as well known as their music. At times, it is difficult to determine who was Cain and who was Abel. Dave relates receiving a call from Ray's psychiatrist warning him that his brother was planning to kill him. When Dave responded by inquiring what had he done to insult his brother this time, the therapist interjected that Ray had actually threatened to kill Dave and the purpose of his telephone call was to warn him. In calmer moments, Ray complained that Dave was a irresponsible wastrel. The evidence on this point was overwhelming if only in terms of child support payments. When Dave challenged his brother's heavy handed methods of running the band, Ray replied that he was recognized as "a genius." How do you counter that?

Pete Townsend has called Ray Davies of "The Poet Laureate" of British Rock. While overall record sales for the Kinks diminished, the band developed a dedicated base of fans that more than made up for their lack of mainstream appeal. Within the industry, everyone understood how good their music was despite the lack of colossal profits and the band was seen as influential.

Dave has endured more than his share of hardships and self inflicted wounds. His survival is nothing short of remarkable. I had the good fortune to see the Kinks perform in concert on two occasions. I also saw Ray perform as a solo act once. I am grateful to have seen Dave perform as a solo twice before he suffered a stroke. I am hoping that his recovery progresses to the point that he is able to resume recording and touring.

As a book, "Kink" contains a cornucopia of stories from the band's thirty year run. It also includes some of Dave's unorthodox attempts to define his own spirituality and reconcile the contradictions in his life. Davies believes in meditation and unidentified flying objects. I have made a conscious effort to refrain from revealing too many anecdotes, so you will have to read the autobiography for yourself.

Dave Davies' book is good simply because it talks about all those things that Ray didn't in his autobiography. And I only recommend this book as a companion piece to 'X-Ray' because to be perfectly frank, it's kind of a stinker.

As a writer, Dave is serviceable...telling us what we want to know with a minimum of flowery language and a barrage of exclamation points and embarassing asides. But if you want to know what the Kinks were thinking when they nose-dived in the 80's...this will help.

Much has been made of Dave's claims of visitation by an unnameable intelligence. And yeah, it's strange and I don't really believe it...i believe he believes it....but it's not really the point of reading this book...unless you like to laugh at your rock stars (i do! i do!)

A nice glance into the hedonistic excesses of rock star life, but one that paints a fairly unflattering portrait of Dave. An interesting view into the brother dynamic but without any real insight or information.

All in all, it made time pass.

KINK is subtitled The Outrageous Story of My Wild Years as the Founder and Lead Guitarist of the Kinks. Dave Davies is the younger brother who spent most of his life living in the shadow of Ray Davies, the lead singer of the Kinks and writer of most of their songs. Dave started playing in a band when he was 15 and quickly became addicted to their success and the R&R lifestyle of the 60's. While there is plenty of sex, drugs and rock and roll, this memoir has much added depth. There is a poignant "there but for fortune" scene about half-way through the book where Dave meets Keith Moon in a bar for the last time before Moon dies.

What saved Dave from the fatal excesses of his peers was a strong sense of family, that even extended to his troubled relationship with Ray. They are not the Everley Brothers. Dave knows he is being abused, but he also knows that Ray loves him as much as he loves Ray. He doesn't give up on Ray even when their mom and Ray's shrink tell him that Ray will destroy him.

The other saving grace for this hard-drinking rocker is Spiritualism, a faith that grows stronger as Dave ages and sees him through his bad times. It is surprising and very touching to find such a strong belief in UFOs, psychic energy, yoga, and universal love in a person who has led such a excessive life. Yet his deep compassion, love, and faith shine through his friendships with band members, his close relationships with the women in his life, and his love of his children.

One is left with the picture of a simple working-class man who rises to a whole new level of consciousness and spirit through the medium of music. This is required reading for any Kinks fan, but is also a delightful tale of the power of hope and love that will inspire many others.

On the good side, it's more emotionally direct that the memoir of his sibling and Kinks leader, Ray. But it's pretty shambolic and its nowhere near as well written as his brother's work.

The high points should be the 1960s part - the Kinks in that time produced some amazing music. But we don't get much about the music, we get a lot of stories about the general debauchery. Tales of drink, drugs, and non-choosey sex from that time are a dime a dozen and, frankly, are now getting pretty tired.

The book takes an unusual twist when Dave gets visited by alien life forms. When I got to this bit I thought 'this is a wind up, right?' but no, he is deadly serious.

The most unusual thing about the extra-terrestials part of the book, though, is they seem to be the only life-form the author met that he didn't try to have sex with.

Having listened to and lusted after Dave Davies for over 20 years, I was extremely curious to read the auto-bio of the "Jan Brady" of the fabulous Kinks. I was surprised and amused at his early escapades, but what overwhelmed me was his shameless attitude towards his hedonism, infidelity, and general confusion of why his genius brother Ray treats him as he does. And still, he ends his book sounding like a man happy with his life and at peace with himself. When I was first done reading it, I wasn't sure if I was happy or upset that I now knew so much about him, but that's pretty much how Dave seems to make people feel. But I went right back to playing his solo stuff, so he is still a welcome entity in my psyche. All in all, entertaining. God save the Kinks!

"Kink" may not be as literate or as cerebral as "X-Ray," but it offers a very personal insight into Dave Davies' life as the greatest guitarist in rock history. The most compelling aspect of this book is Dave's straight forward, almost conversational narrative. After reading it, I really felt like I got to know this great man.

Although I bought this book to find out the stories behind the Kink's music, such as Lola and other hits, Dave Davies spent most of the book telling of his days of debauchery. But I came away feeling almost like I knew him, because he told his story, however pathetic at times, in a very pesonable, unaffected way. The driving force behind the Kinks is really the screwed-up relationship between Dave and his genius brother, Ray. I would recommend it to any Kinks fan.

Dave writes from his very heart and soul with strong emotion and great sincerity and insight about hiw legendary battles with brother Ray. He gives the reader great indepth detail about his touring days as a prime example of the legendary sex, drugs and rock & roll in high gear and to the limits of maximum excess. Dave is a brilliant composer, inovative lead guitarist and overall musician on his own and the merits of his own work stands up well to the test of time. The compositional problem that Dave faced was that he happened to be member of the legendary Kinks with his brother Ray who is without question one of the greatest pop poet storyteller's in the business and his work to this day still exhibits that very fact. Dave goes on to discuss his and Ray's early school days, his relationship with his family, his many loves, his children and many other interesting issues and topics near and dear to Dave's heart. He write's about his thoughts and involvement in areas such as religion, politics, the occult, UFO hunting and many other fascinating subjects. Dave does tell The Kinks story from his point of view in which one has to assume is very accurate, stunning, amazing and incredibly interesting to say the least. From a literary standpoint the reader has to respect and appreciate the beautiful piece of musical and artistic literary history that this book represents. A highly recommended read and very entertaining. I hope that Dave write's a book of lyrical poetry at some point.