Another Great in Bad Shape
 

Many of you I'm sure know how much I love the KINKS. This year has been very bad for the brothers Davies. Ray was shot in the leg in Jan. trying to stop a mugger from taking his (Ray's) lady friend's purse.

But in July Dave Davies suffered a stroke. While the news is shocking they say he'll recover.

I ask those who are musical afficianadoes and spiritual to please include Dave and Ray in your prayers and let them know they have fans that love their work.

I also ask, if any of you have memories of a KINKS song to please share them so that we can share some happy moments that their music inspired.

Me? I'll never forget seeing the KINKS in concert in '94. They were pretty much delegated to playing small venues and had been touring with Aimee Mann (wonder where she is now?). But this was Columbus and Aimee Mann cancelled, many of the college students who had tickets then proceeded to ask for their money back and quite a few did not even know who the KINKS were.

Despite an audience of perhaps less than 500 and a lousy, local, opening band that filled in for Aimee Mann, they played with much energy for close to 2 hours.

(WIthin that year, I had seen McCartney, Floyd, Stewart, Joel and a few others but none as great as the KINKS)

Ray being the great frontman made a joke about the Beck's beer he was drinking, claiming he deserved better beer like Stroh's or Old Milwaukee.

After the show I went around to the back and had a concert T signed by Ray (still have it and it is among my most prized possessions). He was alone when he came out and graciously signed everything everyone had and talked to as many as possible. Ray had made my day.

Last year I saw Dave solo for the second time. The concert was in Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom and was as great as any concert I had ever been to. After the show Dave signed his solo "BUG" CD for me and a Beachland Ballroom poster.

Dave has always been accesible to his fans on his website, but at the concert last year he was accesible to all fans and made new ones.

A few of us went out to eat after the concert and as we recieved our food Dave's band walked in and sat by us. It was one of the greatest memories I shall ever have. His band was absolutely great, even though his drummer, Jim Laspesa, stole fries from the lovely Sharon's plate.

It is for these times and the many other great memories I have of the KINKS and the Brothers Davies that I shall forever cherish and why I keep them in my meditations.

"God Save the KINKS" was a 60's and 70's slogan, and at times they truly needed something to save them. They definately need their fan's love today though and what better way to show it than to post fond memories and what they mean to you.

May your God be with you always and thank you for reading my ramblings,

Phil

The link and news release of Dave's Condition:

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,...,00.html?tnews


Kinks' Davies Hobbled by Stroke

by Charlie Amter
Aug 11, 2004, 7:05 AM PT



Dave Davies is working out the kinks after suffering a stroke last month.

The 57-year-old cofounder of the influential British rock band the Kinks collapsed in an elevator June 30 after giving a round of interviews promoting his latest record, Bug, at the London offices of the BBC.

His son, Christian, immediately took the rocker to the hospital, where he remains today.

The guitarist's spokesman, Alan Robinson, says Davies remains in good spirits despite the fact that Davies "is paralyzed on the right hand side of his body." Robinson reassures fans that Davies still retains some feeling and can "still hold a guitar pick."

Robinson says that Davies is "going to need at least another month of hospital treatment." Both Robinson and Christian Davies remain optimistic about the Kinks cofounder's full recovery, though.

"The doctors are confident that with physical therapy, he will recover," says Robinson. In a message on his father's Website (DaveDavies.com) last week, Christian Davies writes, "My dad asked me to post a message as he wishes to let you know he is doing well. He is still in hospital in London after suffering from signs of exhaustion. His doctors have advised him to take a break for a few months. Dave will be taking this time off to focus on healing, writing and plenty of yoga!"

Davies has 15 American tour dates for October listed on the concert Website Pollstar.com, but it seems unlikely he will be able to make a full recovery by this fall.

Davies, along with his brother Ray, started the Kinks in the early 1960s. Their debut single, a cover of Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" was released in February 1964. But it was the band's third single, "You Really Got Me," that helped the Kinks take their brand of infectious guitar pop to the top of the charts worldwide.

The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, but the band hasn't cracked the Top 20 pop charts in the U.S. since 1983's "Come Dancing," which peaked at number 12 on Billboard's Hot 100.

Davies and his brother were hoping to mount a comeback this year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "You Really Got Me."

This has been a particularly rough year for the Davies brothers. Ray Davies was shot in the leg by a New Orleans mugger in January.

Indeed, Dave Davies is the latest musician over 50 to suffer serious either brain or cardiovascular problems in recent weeks. On the same day Davies had his stroke, David Bowie, 57, canceled his European tour due to heart-related problems. Isley Brother Ron Isley, 63, also had a minor stroke last month while overseas. And in the past week, former Eagles bassist Randy Meisner, 58, and the Oak Ridge Boys' William Lee Golden, 65, have also suffered heart-related ailments.