Ray Davies, leader of British Invasion legends The Kinks and composer of such classic songs as “You Really Got Me,” “All Day and All of the Night” and “Tired of Waiting for You,” has been awarded a knighthood for his services to the arts on Queen Elizabeth’s New Year Honors List, reports the BBC News.
The 72-year-old from the London’s Muswell Hill district, five miles north of central London, said: “Initially, I felt a mixture of surprise, humility, joy and a bit embarrassed, but after thinking about it, I accept this for my family and fans as well as everyone who inspired me to write.”
Davies formed the band in 1963 with his lead guitarist younger brother Dave, drummer Mick Avory and bassist Pete Quaife (who died in 2010 at age 66).
Their third 45, “You Really Got Me,” in the summer of 1964, made them international British Invasion stars as the single hit No. 1 in Britain, No. 4 in Canada, No. 7 here and No. 8 in Australia. The Kinks’ next two singles also hit the Top 10 here, “All Day and All of the Night” and “Tired of Waiting for You.”
In their native Britain, the band hit the Top 10 a dozen times in the ‘60s. Those singles and late ‘60s LPs such as “Something Else” (1967), “The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society” (1968) and “Arthur” (1969) are among the most respected and influential albums of the era.
Davies wrote a series of concept albums in the early ‘70s. Beginning in 1977 and continuing through the mid-‘80s, Davies wrote power rockers and the band recorded a series of albums that resonated with his American audience. As a concert draw, The Kinks found they were more popular as ever, playing, not in small theaters or 2,000-3,000-seat venues, but in 15,000-20,000-seat arenas.
However, decades of mythic inter-band squabbling, Dave Davies with Avory, Dave with Ray, Ray with Dave, took their toll, and on June 15, 1996, The Kinks played their final show at the Norwegian Wood Festival at a swimming pool complex in Oslo, Norway.
For the next two decades, the Davies brothers had an on-again, off-again (mostly off) relationship, rarely seeing or even communicating with each other. In 2004, Dave suffered a debilitating stroke that took years of rehabilitation. He finally returned to performing in 2013.
Finally, after nearly 20 years, on Dec. 18, 2015, Ray and Dave performed together at a gig at London’s intimate 800-capacity Islington assembly Hall during the encore in which they performed “You Really Got Me.”
Ray Davies and The Kinks have influences countless bands, including Pete Townshend and The Who, hard rockers Van Halen, The Pretenders (in the ‘80s, Davies was in a relationship with that band’s leader Chrissie Hynde that produced a daughter), The Ramones and The Clash, Oasis, and Blur. Queen’s guitarist Brian May credited the group with “planting the seed which grew into riff-based (rock) music.”
The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1999, “You Really Got Me” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The group also received the prestigious Ivor Novello Award in London for “Outstanding Service to British Music.
In 2006, Davies was awarded the BMI Icon Award for his “enduring influence on generations of music makers” and in 2014, he was inducted into America’s Songwriters Hall of Fame.
FEW VETERAN ACTS PLAYING COACHELLA
The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio is usually a showcase for younger stars and up and coming acts and this year is no different with a nod to the veterans, especially when it comes to such prior headliners as Paul McCartney. However, this year’s fest, set for April 14-16 and again on April 21-23, only has a few veteran performers.
Enigmatic English experimental rockers Radiohead, led by Thom Yorke, headline the Friday lineups. The band formed in 1985 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, northwest of London. The quintet has been highly influential on the alt rock scene for a quarter-century.
The band’s 2000 album, “Kid A,” and its 2007 album, “In Rainbows,” each hit No. 1 here and in Britain and went Top 5 throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand, going platinum in most countries. In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked “Kid A” at No. 67 and “In Rainbows” at No. 336 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Each album won the Best Alternative Album Grammys in their year.
They only other veteran act set to play Fridays is, out of the blue, New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band whose ever-changing membership often features members in their 70s.
Even though Beyonce, who headlines both Saturdays, is only 35, she’s been a major star for nearly two decades, since the late 1990s when she fronted the all-girl R&B trio, Destiny’s Child, becoming an international star at age 17.
Each of Destiny’s Child’s four regular studio albums went platinum, including 1999’s “The Writing’s on the Wall” that has been certified 8 X platinum in the U.S., and has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide. As a solo artist Beyonce is the first recording artist to have their first six studio albums debut at No. 1. Like Radiohead on Fridays, Beyonce is the only veteran act to play the festival each Saturday.
Kendrick Lamar, the 29-year-old rapping superstar from Compton, tops the bill each Sunday, supported by 20-year-old New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde and French electronic duo, Justice.
Also performing Sundays are veteran English rockers New Order that formed in Manchester in 1980. While the five-piece band has been successful here (two gold albums and a platinum compilation, and 11 Top 5 dance chart hits), they are huge in Britain by comparison, racking up 11 Top 10 albums. Their most recent studio album, “Music Complete,” while only hitting No. 34 here, made it to No. 2 in the U.K.
The only other veteran acts to play on the Sunday lineup is journeyman Jamaican reggae Toots and The Maytals and 70-year-old Nigerian world music pioneer King Sunny Ade, who has been called one of the most influential musicians worldwide of all time.
FORMER YES LEGEND WAKEMAN RIPS ROCK HALL
Anyone hoping to see the surviving members of Yes reunite to perform at this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on Apr. 17 at the 19,000-seat Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, can apparently forget it. The English progressive rock band’s legendary keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman has thrown a monkey wrench into those plans.
In a post on his website (www.rwcc.com), the 67-year-old been a member of Yes on and off five different times between 1971 and 2004 and self-titled “grumpy” guy says he would have been pleased to see Yes be elected into the Hall “if it had happened years ago when it was really well deserved.” Yes has been eligible for induction since 1994.
“I find it hard to come to terms with the fact that so many bands are inducted into the Hall of Fame too late in their careers after key members have passed away. Classic examples are The Who and John Entwhistle, Deep Purple and Jon Lord and now YES and there will be no Chris Squire.”
It must be noted that while Deep Purple was inducted last year, four years after the death of keyboardist Lord, and Yes will be inducted this year, two years after the death of founding bassist Squire, The Who were inducted in 1990, a dozen years before Entwhistle’s death in 2002.
He concluded his post: “I have no idea if there will be any sort of (Yes) reunion, but whatever happens under no circumstances will I be any part of it, neither will I be attending.”
Wakeman has spent much of the last year with ARW with fellow former Yes members singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Trevor Rabin. The trio will tour Europe in March and Japan in April.
His latest solo album, “Piano Portraits,” comes out Jan. 13. The 15 tracks are covers of everything from The Beatles’ “Help” and “Eleanor Rigby” to Cat Stevens’ “Morning Has Broken,” his mentor David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and “Life on Mars” (Wakeman played on Bowie’s original recordings) to 10cc’s “I’m Not In Love” to Yes’ “Wondrous Stories” as well as classical pieces, “Swan Lake” and “Clair de Lune.”
In addition to Yes, Journey, The Electric Light Orchestra, Pearl Jam and others will be inducted at this year’s 32nd annual ceremony and concert. HBO will televise the event in May.
ELTON PAYS TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL
Last Wednesday, Elton John paid tribute to his good friend, George Michael, who died at his London home on Christmas at age 53, reports Britain’s Daily Mail.
As a giant photo of Michael was projected overhead, the 69-year-old Sir Elton began his “Million Dollar Piano” show at the 4,300-seat Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas with a performance of his 1974 hit, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”
The song initially hit No. 2. A live version featuring John and Michael was recorded in 1991 and that became an even bigger hit, reaching No. 1 here and in Britain, while winning the Best Pop Vocal by Duo or Group Grammy. The duo actually first performed the song together at Live Aid in 1985 with Michael singing to John’s piano accompaniment.
Concert attendees told the Daily Mail that it appeared that John was in tears as he performed the song. One concertgoer told the paper, “After he sang for George, he turned his back on the audience and was shaking and looked like he was crying. He received a standing ovation and had to be consoled by a band member before beginning the rest of the show.”
The eye witness added, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”
MICHAEL’S SECRET PHILANTHROPY REVEALED
Now that George Michael has passed, tales of his secret philanthropy, generosity and acts of kindness are emerging.
Britain’s Guardian reports that Michael often gave tickets to his London shows to the NHS (Department of Health) staff, and he once gave a full concert free of charge to his nurses of the hospital where his mother was treated as a special way of thanking them.
The founder and president of the British charity Childline revealed to the paper that Michael donated all the royalties to his 1996 hit, “Jesus to a Child” (No. 1 U.K.) to the charity, saying “thanks to the millions he had given, hundreds of thousands of children had been helped.”
After the 1993 AIDS-related death of his partner, Anselmo Feleppa, Michael supported the Terrence Higgins Trust for many years. A spokesperson said, “Along with other charities, we were grateful to benefit from the royalties of George’s 1991 duet with Elton John, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”
He also helped individual who touched his heart. On one occasion Michael had contacted a woman who appeared on “Deal or No Deal” and quietly gave her the money she needed for IVF treatment, TV host Richard Osman revealed in a tweet.
He once tipped a barmaid £5,000 because he discovered that she was a student nurse in debt.
Actor Emilyne Mondo wrote that Michael had volunteered at a homeless shelter with her, but had asked everyone there not to publicize this fact.
In Los Angeles, Michael assisted Project Angel Food, a home delivery program that provides meals for those living with critical illness, including AIDS victims, according to KABC-7 News.
During the height of the AIDS crisis in the late ‘80s, Michael bought a home in L.A., and relocated for a time. Shortly after arriving, he heard about the non-profit.
“All of a sudden like a miracle, there was a brown envelope that appeared at our doorstep, and inside the envelope was a handwritten note from George saying, ‘Keep up what you’re doing. Love, George’ and a check for $25,000,’” said Richard Ayoub, the executive director at Project Angel Food.
The money covered expenses for food, payroll and much more, John Gile, former CEO of Project Angel Food, said in a news release.
KABC says that following that first check in 1990, Michael volunteered his time at the charity and he continued to give, becoming Project Angel Food’s greatest benefactor. It’s estimated that his generosity helped thousands of people over the years.
To support George Michael’s legacy at Project Angel Food, visit www.angelfood.org/george.
OBIT: BEATLES FIRST MANAGER WILLIAMS
Liverpool businessman and promoter Allan Williams, who was The Beatles first manager, died at age 86 in his native Liverpool, reports Britain’s Guardian.
The management of the venerable Liverpool club he formerly owned, the Jacaranda, made the announcement of his death, saying, in part: “His legacy has allowed us to remain at the heart of the Liverpool music scene for almost 60 years and his memory will live on through every band that plays our famous stage.”
In 1958, Williams opened the Jacaranda as a hip beatnik coffee bar targeting local art students, poets and artists.
Among the art students that became Jacaranda regulars were Liverpool Art College students John Lennon and Stu Sutcliffe and their Liverpool Institute pal Paul McCartney. The three, soon to be joined by McCartney’s buddy, 15-year-old George Harrison, had a raw skiffle band, The Quarrymen, led by Lennon, who formed the group in mid-1957.
Lennon asked Williams to book The Quarrymen at his club. Instead, he hired them to paint the place (Lennon and Sutcliffe teamed to paint a mural in the Ladies Room). Eventually, Williams let the band play a few dates, including one gig that saw them back a stripper named Janice.
In 2009, Williams said that while many in Liverpool never had any confidence in The Beatles, he did. Echoing what their future producer, George Martin would say, he said: “It was mainly their personalities, because most of the groups were a bit on the thick side … They all had good educations; they were a bit posher and more articulate. So, I thought, no, I will take a chance (on them).”
During the summer of 1960, Williams began booking acts elsewhere outside of Liverpool. By then The Quarrymen changed their name to The Beatles and Williams sent them out on a tour of Scotland as the backup band for local Liverpool singer Jimmy Gentle.
Another locale Williams booked acts was in the wild and wooly seaport of Hamburg, Germany, first at the Kaiserkeller.
Sax player Howie Casey, leader of popular Liverpool band, The Seniors (his friend McCartney used Casey on several of his ‘70s LPs and he led his horn section on his massive 1976 world tour), warned Williams, “Listen, we’ve got a good thing going here in Hamburg. But if you send that bum group, The Beatles, you’re going to louse it up for all of us.”
Williams ignored Casey, and in fact, the first time The Beatles went to Hamburg, Williams drove them there himself in his van.
These clubs were dingy, dirty, often violent an often frequented by rather unsavory types. The Beatles usually lived together in one room and played shifts of eight hours on, eight hours off, and so forth around the clock. The conditions may have been less than ideal but those marathon performance shifts allowed The Beatles to hone their musicianship and onstage skills. They returned home to Liverpool as highly competent professionals. Soon, they became the most popular group in the Merseyside (Liverpool) area.
Williams managed the band through 1961, when he quit during a disagreement over his 10 percent commission. The Beatles attempted to negotiate a deal to lay Hamburg’s Top Ten Club without him, thereby keeping his commission for themselves.
In 1962, fellow Liverpudlian Brian Epstein contacted Williams just to make sure there were no outstanding contractual obligations with The Beatles. While there were none, Williams, he warned Epstein, “Don’t touch them with a f***ing bargepole. They will let you down.” That advice was ignored and the rest is history.
Whatever hard feelings that existed between Williams and The Beatles disappeared, with McCartney later describing him as “a great guy.”
In the ‘70s, he was instrumental in staging the first Beatles conventions in Liverpool and turning the city on the Mersey River into a major mecca for fans of The Beatles and other local acts that made good in the early ‘60s such as Gerry and The Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Searchers, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Foremost and others.
He was the perennial VIP guest at Liverpool’s yearly Beatle Week Festivals. He eventually found popularity as a special guest at Beatles conventions around the world, including in South America and Singapore.
In 1975, he published his memoir, “The Man Who Gave The Beatles Away” that was personally endorsed by Lennon.
In 1977, he released a tape he owned on one of their shows in Hamburg, “Live! At the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962” that was actually recorded a year after he stopped serving as their manager.
The Jacaranda’s statement added: “In May this year, Allan was awarded a top civic honor in recognition of his contribution to the music industry in Liverpool.”
Steve Smith writes a new Classic Pop, Rock and Country Music News column every week. It can be read in its entirety on www.presstelegram.com. Like, recommend or share the column on Facebook. Contact him by email at Classicpopmusicnews@gmail.com.
