Dave Davies, the brother of Ray Davies, was the lead singer and songwriter of The Kinks until 1964, when Ray took over the lead vocal duties. Prior to this, Dave was also the lead guitarist and backup singer for the band. Growing up, both brothers were exposed to a diverse range of musical styles, including their parents' music hall background, their older sisters' jazz and early rock 'n' roll tastes, and the music of their own generation.
Dave's innovative approach to music led to the creation of the distorted power chord sound on the song "You Really Got Me". He achieved this by taking a razor blade and slashing the speaker cone on his Elpico amplifier, and then driving it into a VOX AC30. This distinctive sound became a hallmark of much of the band's early material, including "All Day and All of the Night" and "Till the End of the Day".
In contrast to his brother, Dave led a more extravagant lifestyle, splurging on expensive clothing from Carnaby Street and high-end guitars, such as his prized Gibson Flying V.
It is evident that Ray wrote songs like "Dedicated Follower of Fashion", "Dandy", and possibly even "Starstruck" with Dave in mind. Dave and Ray had their share of feuds, and other band members often found it challenging to get along with him, particularly drummer Mick Avory. Despite this, Dave was a talented musician and songwriter, with a distinctive style that set him apart from his brother.
In 1967, Dave released his first solo single, "Death of a Clown", which was co-written with his brother Ray. He went on to contribute other notable songs to the Kinks' discography, including "Strangers", "Rats", "Living on a Thin Line", "Wait Til the Summer Comes Along", "Mindless Child of Motherhood", and "This Man He Weeps Tonight". These later songs were influenced by a tumultuous high school relationship that ended in an unwanted pregnancy, an experience that deeply haunted Dave.
Today, Dave continues to tour as a solo artist, but unfortunately, he is no longer on good terms with his brother Ray, and both have ruled out the possibility of a Kinks reunion.
