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Kink: An Autobiography
In a raw and riveting, completely candid autobiography, Dave Davies, co-founder of the legendary, ever-popular English rock band The Kinks, delves into the turbulence of his own amazing sex, drugs, and rock and roll; his famous feuds with brother Ray; and an insider's life in the steamy center of the music scene. of photos.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 11, 2008
Dear Dave Davies: I don't know. You are a brilliant guitar player, you wrote some great songs, and you seem like a pretty decent guy. I loved hearing the stories behind songs like "See My Friends" and "David Watts" and "Arthur" and your evident love for your family, friends & country is charming. But when you started talking about your psychic powers and telepathic communication with invisible beings from outer space, you kind of lost me. So you get only 2 1/2 stars, sorry. Next time, maybe just stick to the rock. Thanks, your fan, Abby.
p.s. You did sum up the appeal of the Kinks' music quite nicely in this passage, though:
"Kinks music is people's music. It is simple, sad, poignant music for lovers, and especially lovers who have lost . .It is riding a number 41 bus to Holloway Road. It is dancing in a deserted ballroom. It is about being thrown into a situation with people you have absolutely nothing in common with and trying to make it work."
p.s. You did sum up the appeal of the Kinks' music quite nicely in this passage, though:
"Kinks music is people's music. It is simple, sad, poignant music for lovers, and especially lovers who have lost . .It is riding a number 41 bus to Holloway Road. It is dancing in a deserted ballroom. It is about being thrown into a situation with people you have absolutely nothing in common with and trying to make it work."
July 12, 2020
I don’t know how this autobiography doesn’t have a 5 star rating. It took me quite the while to read, but only because I was fighting off a book slump.
I love The Kinks, hell, I’m listening to them as I write this very review (Drivin’ is the song, if you wanted to know). Most people know their 1964 hit You Really Got Me, including my fellow Zoomers thanks to TikTok, but they are criminally underrated wholly. (The song changed- Days just came on). They wrote songs about their childhood, which give ME nostalgia, despite being just a listener. Come Dancing, an upbeat hit of theirs during the 80’s, is profoundly sad when you find out the story behind the song. (Dead End Street came on now).
About the book, Dave Davies is my favourite Kinks member and I adore him even more after reading his autobiography. I can relate to the poor, crowded family house, with some family drama happening from time to time. I can relate to struggling in school, questioning my sexuality, and getting my heart broken. When he described his life throughout the 50’s and 60’s, I felt like I was there, experiencing everything along side him. I’ve always wanted to experience the 60’s rock n’ roll craze firsthand, and I sort of got that through Dave Davies’s autobiography. The story about Sue at the start and the end make me tear up. I could go on and on really.
He writes in such a fun and quirky way, that I’d find myself laughing out loud quite often. I feel like I got to know him better on a personality level just through the writing. (Picture Book came on).
I’ve read other reviews, and it bothered me how some readers were ‘put off’ by Dave’s describing of intimate moments and his passion for spirituality. It’s an autobiography, what did you expect? Why would he gloss over these important moments in his life?
Great autobiography, one of the best I’ve read, obviously.
I love The Kinks, hell, I’m listening to them as I write this very review (Drivin’ is the song, if you wanted to know). Most people know their 1964 hit You Really Got Me, including my fellow Zoomers thanks to TikTok, but they are criminally underrated wholly. (The song changed- Days just came on). They wrote songs about their childhood, which give ME nostalgia, despite being just a listener. Come Dancing, an upbeat hit of theirs during the 80’s, is profoundly sad when you find out the story behind the song. (Dead End Street came on now).
About the book, Dave Davies is my favourite Kinks member and I adore him even more after reading his autobiography. I can relate to the poor, crowded family house, with some family drama happening from time to time. I can relate to struggling in school, questioning my sexuality, and getting my heart broken. When he described his life throughout the 50’s and 60’s, I felt like I was there, experiencing everything along side him. I’ve always wanted to experience the 60’s rock n’ roll craze firsthand, and I sort of got that through Dave Davies’s autobiography. The story about Sue at the start and the end make me tear up. I could go on and on really.
He writes in such a fun and quirky way, that I’d find myself laughing out loud quite often. I feel like I got to know him better on a personality level just through the writing. (Picture Book came on).
I’ve read other reviews, and it bothered me how some readers were ‘put off’ by Dave’s describing of intimate moments and his passion for spirituality. It’s an autobiography, what did you expect? Why would he gloss over these important moments in his life?
Great autobiography, one of the best I’ve read, obviously.
December 27, 2007
Great straight ahead autobiography about the Kinks. Amazing stories that involve everyone from Keith Moon, to Brian Jones, John Lennon, and so on. Paints a vivid picture of the period and that particular scene. And of course, Dave is way far out there! So much so, that he later describes his encounters with aliens! Good Read.
January 22, 2013
Very enjoyable memoir by one of the most underrated singer/songwriter/guitarist in rock n' roll history: Dave Davies of The Kinks. At times fun, at times sad, Davies speaks from the heart, is by no means guarded in any way as he confesses his strengths and his sins through his entire life. What shocked me was Davies' revelation that he had been bi-sexual in his youth...with several homosexual affairs...and even a brief homosexual relationship. I figured Ray Davies (Dave's older brother...and leader of The Kinks) as a bisexual man for sure...yet wild, macho Dave Davies? I think Davies even outs drummer Mick Avory as well. Who knew, for example, that Dave Davies once fancied Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones? Not that there's anything wrong with that. Needless to say, there is a lot of sex in this book...in addition to drugs and rock n' roll.
I also appreciated Dave Davies' candid comments about the man whom he loves dearly...yet who has used and abused him all his life...his genius older brother Ray Davies It is their tortuous relationship that is at the heart of KINK. From what Dave Davies says...its a bonafide miracle that he and his brother were able to stay together (as a band) for as long as they did..it also gives fascinating insight into why The Kinks eventually broke up...never to reunite again (at least as of this writing).
As much as I enjoyed the book...I found it difficult at times to read some of Davies' spiritual confessions...as I was not able to fully understand what he was talking about. The author also occasionally goes off on tangents that take me out of the book...i.e. his overly thorough explanation of how artist royalty rates work. Towards the end of the book, Davie's turns his autobiography into diary form...rambling on about what he did that day...and his stream-of-conscious thoughts about London and Los Angeles. I was also dismayed by Davies' jealousy...or issues....with Bruce Springsteen (whom he takes a dig at for Springsteen's numerous Rock N Roll Hall of Fame award show appearances)...and his dislike of Dire Straits.
That said, I am thankful that Dave Davies wrote a book at all...and was willing to give the reader some insight into what makes him tick...and what transpired during the long, storied history of The Kinks.
I also appreciated Dave Davies' candid comments about the man whom he loves dearly...yet who has used and abused him all his life...his genius older brother Ray Davies It is their tortuous relationship that is at the heart of KINK. From what Dave Davies says...its a bonafide miracle that he and his brother were able to stay together (as a band) for as long as they did..it also gives fascinating insight into why The Kinks eventually broke up...never to reunite again (at least as of this writing).
As much as I enjoyed the book...I found it difficult at times to read some of Davies' spiritual confessions...as I was not able to fully understand what he was talking about. The author also occasionally goes off on tangents that take me out of the book...i.e. his overly thorough explanation of how artist royalty rates work. Towards the end of the book, Davie's turns his autobiography into diary form...rambling on about what he did that day...and his stream-of-conscious thoughts about London and Los Angeles. I was also dismayed by Davies' jealousy...or issues....with Bruce Springsteen (whom he takes a dig at for Springsteen's numerous Rock N Roll Hall of Fame award show appearances)...and his dislike of Dire Straits.
That said, I am thankful that Dave Davies wrote a book at all...and was willing to give the reader some insight into what makes him tick...and what transpired during the long, storied history of The Kinks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2013
Not half way through yet. TMI - interesting but there is a great deal here that I don't want to know about. yuck.
OK I finished. This is an interesting read if you are a fan, but I can't say it is a good book overall. As an educator I am familiar with Gardners Theory of Multiple Intelligences, but Dave Davies Theory of Multiple Intelligences was just too much for me. Had to skim that chapter as well as most of the last chapter. Ironically after that Dave took offence when people dismissed him as being "way out."
I used to wonder why The Kinks took a back seat to inferior bands when it came to success in the music industry. I think this explains it a bit. Thumbs up on the background family stories. Thumbs down on the weird blather. The sarcastic monologue about the Hall of Fame awards ceremony was very funny and made wading through the rest of this book almost worth it. (Relax Bruce!)
Still love this band though.
OK I finished. This is an interesting read if you are a fan, but I can't say it is a good book overall. As an educator I am familiar with Gardners Theory of Multiple Intelligences, but Dave Davies Theory of Multiple Intelligences was just too much for me. Had to skim that chapter as well as most of the last chapter. Ironically after that Dave took offence when people dismissed him as being "way out."
I used to wonder why The Kinks took a back seat to inferior bands when it came to success in the music industry. I think this explains it a bit. Thumbs up on the background family stories. Thumbs down on the weird blather. The sarcastic monologue about the Hall of Fame awards ceremony was very funny and made wading through the rest of this book almost worth it. (Relax Bruce!)
Still love this band though.
March 29, 2012
dave davies is disturbed
August 8, 2012
Most Honest and up music Book i have ever read ............
October 24, 2016
An aptly named autobiography that really broadened my understanding of Dave Davies. I learnt of his many repressed emotions and feelings on topics, his lifestyle as well as his interests outside of music (it gets a bit Kinky, but it does tone down... thankfully).
He mentions his brother a lot. He tells of friends, with a modest amount of name dropping... Let's be fair, it must be quite difficult not to name drop if you're writing about events in your life and most of your friends just happen to be very famous! His writing style is very personal. His small rant on vegetarianism made me laugh out loud, it's a shame he was holding back, he could have said a lot more.
I won't say how, but there is an event mentioned throughout the book (it's not exactly mentioned. It's more like a re-occurring nightmare that haunts and troubles Dave and gradually starts to involve the reader as it finds its way into almost every chapter of the book) that changed Dave's life (for the better or worse depends on whose side you're on) and near the closing of the book something on the breach of unbelievable happens that made me cry with sadness. Or maybe it was joy. I'm not 100% sure, by this point it was around midnight and I was too tired and confused to figure out what category of crying mine fell under.
This book was "lent" to me (okay, maybe lent is the wrong word. Maybe Kink sort of figuratively leapt into my hands. I can't be too sure) by a friend. The point is, I have to give this book back but I have become oddly attached to it. Do you think they'll notice?
He mentions his brother a lot. He tells of friends, with a modest amount of name dropping... Let's be fair, it must be quite difficult not to name drop if you're writing about events in your life and most of your friends just happen to be very famous! His writing style is very personal. His small rant on vegetarianism made me laugh out loud, it's a shame he was holding back, he could have said a lot more.
I won't say how, but there is an event mentioned throughout the book (it's not exactly mentioned. It's more like a re-occurring nightmare that haunts and troubles Dave and gradually starts to involve the reader as it finds its way into almost every chapter of the book) that changed Dave's life (for the better or worse depends on whose side you're on) and near the closing of the book something on the breach of unbelievable happens that made me cry with sadness. Or maybe it was joy. I'm not 100% sure, by this point it was around midnight and I was too tired and confused to figure out what category of crying mine fell under.
This book was "lent" to me (okay, maybe lent is the wrong word. Maybe Kink sort of figuratively leapt into my hands. I can't be too sure) by a friend. The point is, I have to give this book back but I have become oddly attached to it. Do you think they'll notice?
August 1, 2019
Most books start off slow - so much so, that I often find myself thinking "do I really want to read this?" Not so with this book. Dave Davies popped out of the womb looking for mischief and good times. He's lucky to be alive after all he put himself through in the 60's and 70's. Most books about the Kinks focus primarily on band leader Ray Davies, so it was eye opening to see how things looked from Dave's perspective. He was a wild kid in the early days of the band, willing to hop into bed with just about anybody, and eager to try all the drugs that were thrust at him. He was also one of the smarter ones in the rock and roll world, when he looked at himself and saw what the drugs and drinking were doing to him. Some people laugh when Dave starts to talk about spirituality and alien communication - well, who am I to say he hasn't had these experiences, just because I haven't? I appreciate his openness throughout this book. And finally, we get Dave talking about some of the songs he wrote for the Kinks, songs like "Strangers", "Death of a Clown", "Living On a Thin Line" and "Funny Face". I've re-read this book several times, it all goes by very fast, but unlike Ray's 'autobio', it's all real.
January 30, 2016
One of the most honest autobiographies of any pop/rock musical performer ever. He speaks of being a brash teenager when The Kinks rode The British Invasion, occasionally knocking The Beatles aside in popularity in the hit-song race of the time. He speaks of high highs and low lows. He speaks of brother and band-leader Ray with dead honesty, love and acknowledgement of his foibles. Dave also shares intimate moments not known to the public prior to this book's publication. The Kinks went from superstars of the British Invasion, then were banned from the US for five long years (for reasons explained in the book). The Kinks continued recording, but to low sales without American airplay, which was crucial to a band's success at the time. Slowly the band, and Dave, built themselves back up to low-attendance cult status, then, after signing with Clive Davis at Arista, The Kinks began to reemerge to become an arena rock act by the end of the '70s. Dave speaks of his personal triumphs and things he's not proud of, upon recalling such events. Strongly recommended.
June 24, 2014
Dave Davies is a "rock star's rock star." He's guilty of all the excesses of the profession, probably slightly, mad, and a wonderful guy for all that. Most of the criticism of him comes from people who, I suspect, don't know either the business or the lifestyle except as outsiders. Judge him as one will, everything in this book rings true....
See my full review at http://newsoutherngentleman.wordpress... - link at my Goodreads page. Thanks for stopping by....
See my full review at http://newsoutherngentleman.wordpress... - link at my Goodreads page. Thanks for stopping by....
November 9, 2017
Ray’s little brother tells us how it is to be a Kink. Nice life so far. Father with 15 rock superstar with 17. What more can you want from life? A little respect from your brother it seems. It is never quite clear what exactly it is that makes their relationship the love-hate that it is. This book proves that someone can be crazy - a mystic and still obviously intelligent and funny. (7/10)
December 21, 2015
I appreciated this memoir from the slightly less celebrated Davies brother. A great guitar player with an attitude and plenty of great behind the scenes stories.
January 31, 2020
The end gets a bit long winded but Dave shares such funny, often inappropriate stories that are well worth the read.
April 23, 2024
Truth to be told, I'm not really a fan of The Kinks. In fact, my favorite era of them is actually either their gritty Rock and Roll period (their first three albums) or Stadium Rock years (1979-1983). Their late 60's albums which many considered to be their masterpieces are alright for me, but only Village Green wins my heart in the long run. That said, it'd be interesting to read the story about the band that pioneered Britpop light-years ahead as well as facing several ups and downs throughout their career. That's why I read “Kink: An Autobiography”, the eye-opening autobiography from the guitarist and co-founder himself: Dave Davies.
.
The flavor here is strikingly similar to Lemmy's White Line Fever since it's an uncensored tales of Rock star with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. We see everything from growing up with his older brother, Ray, who later co-founded the band as well as their love/hate relationship that goes on throughout their lives since then. Then, The Kinks kickstarted with explosive "You Really Got Me" single. It turns out that they were ripped off by Pye Records since they got only 2% of royalty! Although it was later re-negotiate, they were still being treated poorly as well as being banned from touring in USA after refusing to play unpaid gigs. What comes after that for the band is a series of awful albums that followed by a comeback...and then terrible stuffs again. It sadly becomes a traditional for The Kinks since they actually have good materials, yet Ray's ego in terms of direction usually led the band to horrendous album, both in terms of sales and fans reception.
.
So what about Dave himself? Apart from the tales of him doing drugs and screwing every women (although he was married and had kids at the time!), there are several interesting spiritual stories here. For instance, he almost jumped out of the building due to the voice inside his head said so, due to effects of doing drugs for years, but a woman he knew just knocked on the door. Thus, he believed that god saved him and he decided to completely stop doing drugs and became a better person. Or when he hypnotized someone but forgot to end the process properly. These stories are interesting and some of them uplifts me since it shows the redemption of our hero.
.
But then...the train-wreck begins near the end of the book. He becomes preachier and preachier on the subject of world peace and being vegetarian! In fact, there's the whole chapter about him being contacted by aliens and they tell him how to clear his mind as well as A LOT of stories about injustice, world peace, and Jesus! Although I wonder whether why those creatures pick Christianity instead of Buddhism or Hindu as well as whether they affected the band in terms of quality (since The Kinks albums after that suck pretty hard), it bores me to no end...to the point that I'm not sure that it's probably him in the end who wants to spread this message to readers and use aliens as MacGuffin...or the aliens are certified preachers since it just goes on and on and literally stops the flow of what could have been an awesome book.
.
While "Where Have All The Good Times Gone?" is my all-time favorite Kinks song, readers may wonder where is all the great storytelling gone when the book reaches the end. Kink: An Autobiography is not a bad book by any standard. It's fun, humorous, makes me listen to a lot (and I mean A LOT) of Kinks music in recent months, but there's no way I'll read those self-righteous stories about peace, love, and understanding again. When the book reaches around chapter 15, make sure to accelerate your reading speed.
=======================
"The keyword that kept me going was hope. One must never lose hope and give in to despair. Hope is one of the most powerful weapons we have against the darker forces of the mind. I remember some words from an Indian spirit-guide, given to me through a psychic medium at that time: 'Hope creates a light in the spirit-world that our guides and helpers gravitate towards. Despair is like a dark cloud that covers the light of the soul and is a difficult vibration to penetrate.' My feeling is, never lose hope, eventually someone will see the light and come to your aid. Reject nothing - keep the realm of possibilities open. Sometimes help may come to you in the simplest way - the smallest thing can change a mind. Even the most childlike thought or action can produce an effect in the mind that would confound the devil himself."
=======================
Score: 3.5/5
.
The flavor here is strikingly similar to Lemmy's White Line Fever since it's an uncensored tales of Rock star with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. We see everything from growing up with his older brother, Ray, who later co-founded the band as well as their love/hate relationship that goes on throughout their lives since then. Then, The Kinks kickstarted with explosive "You Really Got Me" single. It turns out that they were ripped off by Pye Records since they got only 2% of royalty! Although it was later re-negotiate, they were still being treated poorly as well as being banned from touring in USA after refusing to play unpaid gigs. What comes after that for the band is a series of awful albums that followed by a comeback...and then terrible stuffs again. It sadly becomes a traditional for The Kinks since they actually have good materials, yet Ray's ego in terms of direction usually led the band to horrendous album, both in terms of sales and fans reception.
.
So what about Dave himself? Apart from the tales of him doing drugs and screwing every women (although he was married and had kids at the time!), there are several interesting spiritual stories here. For instance, he almost jumped out of the building due to the voice inside his head said so, due to effects of doing drugs for years, but a woman he knew just knocked on the door. Thus, he believed that god saved him and he decided to completely stop doing drugs and became a better person. Or when he hypnotized someone but forgot to end the process properly. These stories are interesting and some of them uplifts me since it shows the redemption of our hero.
.
But then...the train-wreck begins near the end of the book. He becomes preachier and preachier on the subject of world peace and being vegetarian! In fact, there's the whole chapter about him being contacted by aliens and they tell him how to clear his mind as well as A LOT of stories about injustice, world peace, and Jesus! Although I wonder whether why those creatures pick Christianity instead of Buddhism or Hindu as well as whether they affected the band in terms of quality (since The Kinks albums after that suck pretty hard), it bores me to no end...to the point that I'm not sure that it's probably him in the end who wants to spread this message to readers and use aliens as MacGuffin...or the aliens are certified preachers since it just goes on and on and literally stops the flow of what could have been an awesome book.
.
While "Where Have All The Good Times Gone?" is my all-time favorite Kinks song, readers may wonder where is all the great storytelling gone when the book reaches the end. Kink: An Autobiography is not a bad book by any standard. It's fun, humorous, makes me listen to a lot (and I mean A LOT) of Kinks music in recent months, but there's no way I'll read those self-righteous stories about peace, love, and understanding again. When the book reaches around chapter 15, make sure to accelerate your reading speed.
=======================
"The keyword that kept me going was hope. One must never lose hope and give in to despair. Hope is one of the most powerful weapons we have against the darker forces of the mind. I remember some words from an Indian spirit-guide, given to me through a psychic medium at that time: 'Hope creates a light in the spirit-world that our guides and helpers gravitate towards. Despair is like a dark cloud that covers the light of the soul and is a difficult vibration to penetrate.' My feeling is, never lose hope, eventually someone will see the light and come to your aid. Reject nothing - keep the realm of possibilities open. Sometimes help may come to you in the simplest way - the smallest thing can change a mind. Even the most childlike thought or action can produce an effect in the mind that would confound the devil himself."
=======================
Score: 3.5/5
September 7, 2021
The first three quarters of this autobiography from Kinks guitarist Dave "nuttier than squirrel shit" Davies are hugely enjoyable, a no holds barred take on the ups and downs of fame in a seminal rock and roll band. It's the story of an eccentric London boy who found fame and enormous success and his hedonistic quest to indulge himself in everything life offered. It's never boring, with tales of teenage pregnancies, school expulsions, the cliched debauchery of life on the road, female partners, male partners, alcohol, drugs and the love/hate relationship with brother and fellow band member Ray that borders more on hate than love. Everything you could want in a rock and roll story.
Sadly the final quarter is borderline tedious, completely bizarre and best ignored. Unless the crazed ramblings of a man who believes his body was inhabited by aliens is your thing. Horses for courses and all that. There's also a whole chapter dedicated to the things he misses about England when he's in Los Angeles and vice versa. This could have been interesting but he chose to present them as a shopping list, just page after page of "ice cream, Guinness, Woolworth, Paddington Station" and so forth, you get the idea. That said some of his writing eccentricities can be hilarious, for example he spends around three pages explaining everything he despises about meat eaters and finishes it with "but I don't want to get into that, each to his own". He's a character, for sure.
It isn't all debauchery, there are some very touching and sweet moments, such as his reunion with his now adult daughter he had never met before, his mother's death, his desperate need to make sense of the complicated relationship with his brother. His lack of self awareness where women are concerned is also hilarious, for all the wrong reasons. He flits from one relationship and marriage to the next with no clear understanding of the damage he does or the havoc his selfish nature wreaks. Maybe the aliens were responsible?
More importantly he gives great insight into The Kinks' songs, the story of how David Watts came about is one for the ages. A must have for fans of one of the UK's greatest bands.
Sadly the final quarter is borderline tedious, completely bizarre and best ignored. Unless the crazed ramblings of a man who believes his body was inhabited by aliens is your thing. Horses for courses and all that. There's also a whole chapter dedicated to the things he misses about England when he's in Los Angeles and vice versa. This could have been interesting but he chose to present them as a shopping list, just page after page of "ice cream, Guinness, Woolworth, Paddington Station" and so forth, you get the idea. That said some of his writing eccentricities can be hilarious, for example he spends around three pages explaining everything he despises about meat eaters and finishes it with "but I don't want to get into that, each to his own". He's a character, for sure.
It isn't all debauchery, there are some very touching and sweet moments, such as his reunion with his now adult daughter he had never met before, his mother's death, his desperate need to make sense of the complicated relationship with his brother. His lack of self awareness where women are concerned is also hilarious, for all the wrong reasons. He flits from one relationship and marriage to the next with no clear understanding of the damage he does or the havoc his selfish nature wreaks. Maybe the aliens were responsible?
More importantly he gives great insight into The Kinks' songs, the story of how David Watts came about is one for the ages. A must have for fans of one of the UK's greatest bands.
April 6, 2023
This one is better than Thin Line, which is just atrocious.
It's still a collection of TMI as one other reviewer described it, from the silly to the nasty and then circling around to the wildly insane. I always get lost once we get into the otherworldly jazz, and the level of crazy is truly appalling. People who hear voices need help. Period, full stop. People who hear voices and *heed* them really, really need help. People .. who hear voices from space and heed them to the point of altering their lives are the frightening, weird cults we read about on the news.
Dave would have been a good musician, but he was always trying to be, Not Ray. Therefore, the whole 'I'm Not Like Everybody Else' was really, 'I'm Not Ray Davies'.
And there's worse things to be than Ray Davies. Many of Dave's tales of his elder brother are derogatory, but honestly do we even know if they are true? Someone with this level of 'issues' such as voices in the head from outer space. Do we trust their stories as gospel?
I signed up here to review some good books, and in the process found the Dave books come up. They're awful. Not the quality of the book, but the content, the actual substance. We get to know Dave in ways we didn't want to, and it doesn't improve our opinion of him. The Kinks get a crap bath as well, stories that may or may not be true. I remember on an EP many years ago, a live concert, Ray referring to his 'delectable brother'.
Now we find out Dave was never treated as any such thing, but a pariah, abused and misused.
It's depressing. Much of the Kinks music is sad, downer stuff, but the sheer beauty of it redeemed it every time.
Unfortunately, there's no beauty here, and nothing gets redeemed.
Depressing read.
It's still a collection of TMI as one other reviewer described it, from the silly to the nasty and then circling around to the wildly insane. I always get lost once we get into the otherworldly jazz, and the level of crazy is truly appalling. People who hear voices need help. Period, full stop. People who hear voices and *heed* them really, really need help. People .. who hear voices from space and heed them to the point of altering their lives are the frightening, weird cults we read about on the news.
Dave would have been a good musician, but he was always trying to be, Not Ray. Therefore, the whole 'I'm Not Like Everybody Else' was really, 'I'm Not Ray Davies'.
And there's worse things to be than Ray Davies. Many of Dave's tales of his elder brother are derogatory, but honestly do we even know if they are true? Someone with this level of 'issues' such as voices in the head from outer space. Do we trust their stories as gospel?
I signed up here to review some good books, and in the process found the Dave books come up. They're awful. Not the quality of the book, but the content, the actual substance. We get to know Dave in ways we didn't want to, and it doesn't improve our opinion of him. The Kinks get a crap bath as well, stories that may or may not be true. I remember on an EP many years ago, a live concert, Ray referring to his 'delectable brother'.
Now we find out Dave was never treated as any such thing, but a pariah, abused and misused.
It's depressing. Much of the Kinks music is sad, downer stuff, but the sheer beauty of it redeemed it every time.
Unfortunately, there's no beauty here, and nothing gets redeemed.
Depressing read.
May 9, 2024
Dave Davies’ memoir is quite a yarn, but not perhaps in the way you’d expect. There is lots of good perspective on his relationship with his brother Ray and on many of the Kinks albums. He inexplicably skips certain key albums though, such as Village Green Preservation Society. It isn’t clear why, and the reader is left to conjecture. Overall the narrative is breezy and easy to get engaged with.
A big turn off for me was his constant focus on describing many of his sexual conquests. Dave, nobody cares.
The book takes a pretty hard left turn when Davies gets into a strange acid trip-like experience, and then spends a fair bit of time discussing his unorthodox beliefs. I’ll skip the spoilers.
Anyway, it’s an easy book to avoid unless you’re a hardcore Kinks fan like me. In that case it’s a must read.
A big turn off for me was his constant focus on describing many of his sexual conquests. Dave, nobody cares.
The book takes a pretty hard left turn when Davies gets into a strange acid trip-like experience, and then spends a fair bit of time discussing his unorthodox beliefs. I’ll skip the spoilers.
Anyway, it’s an easy book to avoid unless you’re a hardcore Kinks fan like me. In that case it’s a must read.
February 15, 2019
Dave's a bit of an odd fellow, and many sections of his book badly needed an editor, but he at least seems a lot more honest about himself than Ray is. There's a lot of good info on the Kinks in here, but there's also entirely too much detail about Dave's sexual exploits, and an embarrassing amount of earnestness about his experiences with "intelligences" or aliens or whatever they are. (Again, at least he's being honest.)
July 17, 2022
Not quite as good as Ray’s (one of the better rock memoirs I’ve read), but still an absolute delight. Dave seems like a really genuine guy, warts and all. I have so much more respect for him upon reading this, even if certain elements were a bit dated.
Highlights for me: the insights into See My Friends, his 60’s sexscapades, his spiritual journey (if a bit long winded and alienating), and everything with between him and Sue, especially their reunion in the 90’s.
Highlights for me: the insights into See My Friends, his 60’s sexscapades, his spiritual journey (if a bit long winded and alienating), and everything with between him and Sue, especially their reunion in the 90’s.
August 30, 2017
las biografías musicales no son lo mío. Salvo honrosas excepciones.
April 30, 2018
Oh Dave, I had no idea you were such a nutjob!
July 7, 2020
I look at one of the key members of the Kinks one of British rock bands.
January 1, 2022
Three stars but that's graded on a curve that's based on what Dave Davies is willing to reveal about himself (wittingly and un-).
November 10, 2025
3-1/2 stars rounded up. Melancholy. Published in the late 90s; I wonder what he would have to say about the decades since then.
September 6, 2016
Although presented as an “outrageous” true story of a rock-and-roll party-animal, this book is best viewed as a cautionary tale of how unfettered drugs, sex and money can turn a poor boy into an irresponsible, paranoid, delusional madman. Toward the end of the book, Davies finds “redemption” in the occult, believes he’s inhabited by alien consciousnesses, can’t maintain a caring relationship with anyone (least of all brother Ray), and is generally spoiled and self-centered. What a jerk!
Perhaps unsurprisingly, he seems blissfully unaware that his “bad behavior” over the years could have affected anyone other than himself. This proves to be the books fatal flaw, for at least if Davies displayed some genuine self-examination this book would be more than just a self-serving batch of excuses. But Davies offers no genuine insight into the rock-and-roll mindset, and seems quite incapable of it. Still, there’s some moderately interesting gossip here, even if Davies lacks the courage to name the worst offenders. And some of the more over-the-top bits are quite funny, if unintentionally so.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, he seems blissfully unaware that his “bad behavior” over the years could have affected anyone other than himself. This proves to be the books fatal flaw, for at least if Davies displayed some genuine self-examination this book would be more than just a self-serving batch of excuses. But Davies offers no genuine insight into the rock-and-roll mindset, and seems quite incapable of it. Still, there’s some moderately interesting gossip here, even if Davies lacks the courage to name the worst offenders. And some of the more over-the-top bits are quite funny, if unintentionally so.
January 13, 2009
I've liked the kinks for a long time, and always gave all the credit to frontman Ray Davies. Dave was just the guy who did "Death of a Clown", right? Wrong. He wrote some of the Kinks' best music and went uncredited by his unappreciative brother. (This is Dave's story, I have yet to read Ray's book.)
The book opens with a bang -- Dave is rocking out, and destroying hotel rooms, getting out of his mind drunk, and fucking everyone, and co-creating songs that Paul McCartney wishes he wrote. And when one does the math, one realizes he is doing all of this stuff at age 17. It's unreal. An amazing story. He then wonders why The Kinks were banned from America for 3 years.
I loved this book for the first half. The latter half was interesting because it gave props to some of the albums I am less familiar with, and would like to get to know ("Soap Opera" for example). But at some point, it seems like the editor has gone on vacation. Bummer.
The book opens with a bang -- Dave is rocking out, and destroying hotel rooms, getting out of his mind drunk, and fucking everyone, and co-creating songs that Paul McCartney wishes he wrote. And when one does the math, one realizes he is doing all of this stuff at age 17. It's unreal. An amazing story. He then wonders why The Kinks were banned from America for 3 years.
I loved this book for the first half. The latter half was interesting because it gave props to some of the albums I am less familiar with, and would like to get to know ("Soap Opera" for example). But at some point, it seems like the editor has gone on vacation. Bummer.
May 2, 2016
While the history about the Kinks from one perspective was fascinating, it was rambling and a bit disjointed at times. Dave Davies is an amazing guitarist, but I don't care for his writing style.
I have purposely not read autobiographies/biographies of musical artists the reason being I don't want the "personal" to interfere with how I feel about the music. Since I knew so little about the Kinks, I relaxed my rule to find out why the brothers don't get a long and more information about the songs they wrote. Well, I got more information. Perhaps too much as there was far too much about things I didn't care about and not enough about what I wanted to know. Fortunately, there are a few more books about the band.
It was ultimately OK and I'm glad I read it.
Do I recommend it? If you like the Kinks, check it out it is worth it.
Would I read it again? I don't know, probably not since I have stack of books I need to read, but I may keep it as a reference.
3/5 stars.
I have purposely not read autobiographies/biographies of musical artists the reason being I don't want the "personal" to interfere with how I feel about the music. Since I knew so little about the Kinks, I relaxed my rule to find out why the brothers don't get a long and more information about the songs they wrote. Well, I got more information. Perhaps too much as there was far too much about things I didn't care about and not enough about what I wanted to know. Fortunately, there are a few more books about the band.
It was ultimately OK and I'm glad I read it.
Do I recommend it? If you like the Kinks, check it out it is worth it.
Would I read it again? I don't know, probably not since I have stack of books I need to read, but I may keep it as a reference.
3/5 stars.
January 3, 2014
I loved the Kinks in my teenage years and was really pleased to find this out of print book in a bookshop on a National Trust Property for the amazing price of 50p.
Unlike some biographies I've read where some things are glossed over, this really seems to be a very honest, warts and all life story. The many clashes between Dave and his brother Ray are legendary but I think that Dave being the youngest child in the family got spoilt by his mother, had women and hangers on telling him how great he was and like all teenagers was very self obsessed and so, of course, the only person who ever said no to him was his brother and he didn't like it.
Unlike some biographies I've read where some things are glossed over, this really seems to be a very honest, warts and all life story. The many clashes between Dave and his brother Ray are legendary but I think that Dave being the youngest child in the family got spoilt by his mother, had women and hangers on telling him how great he was and like all teenagers was very self obsessed and so, of course, the only person who ever said no to him was his brother and he didn't like it.
January 21, 2016
I was disappointed in this book. Some parts of it were great but it seemed Dave Davies kept slipping into repeated descriptions of the drugs, sex and rock and roll of the old days interspersed with sniping at his brother. I wonder if Ray's autobiography is out there. I'd like to hear his side of things. I also thought a good editor might have been able to do more with this book. Dave would segue into some of his alien and spiritual ramblings in the middle of a description of something completely unrelated.
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