Dave Davies

This article is about the English musician best known for his work in The Kinks. For more people named David Davies, see David Davies.

Dave Davies
Promotional photo of Davies in 1971
Promotional photo of Davies in 1971
Background information
Birth nameDavid Russell Gordon Davies
Born (1947-02-03) 3 February 1947 (age 77)
Fortis Green, London, England
OriginMuswell Hill, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Guitarist
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1963–present
Labels
Websitedavedavies.com

David Russell Gordon Davies (/ˈdeɪviːz/ DAY-veez;[1][a] born 3 February 1947) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the English rock band the Kinks, which also featured his older brother Ray. Davies also sometimes undertook writing and/or lead vocals duties within the band, for example on songs such as "Death of a Clown", "Party Line", "Strangers" and "Rats". He has also embarked on a solo career, releasing several singles during the late 1960s and has since released eight solo albums.

Davies is prolific with his innovative nature on the electric guitar, specifically in being one of the first to use electric guitar distortion and exposing the effect to the mainstream. His signature distorted power chord riffs on songs would heavily influence future heavy metal and punk rock acts. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 as a member of the Kinks and, in 2003, was ranked 91st in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".[3]

  1. ^ Davies, Dave [@davedavieskinks] (6 November 2021). "My last name is pronounced Davies sounds like DAVEES" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Ray Davies". The Leonard Lopate Show. 9 November 2009. Event occurs at 1:32–1:40. Retrieved 23 December 2009. "[Davies:] Think of it as 'viz', v-i-z".
  3. ^ "News". Rolling Stone. 10 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2017.


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