Dave Davies (The KInks)| The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
5/27/20261 hr 4 min
Billy Corgan sits down with Dave Davies, the pioneering guitarist/co-founder of The Kinks and one of the architects of distorted hard rock. From the raw explosion of “You Really Got Me” to the emotional genius of Ray Davies, Dave reflects on growing up poor in postwar England, discovering Little Richard and blues music, surviving fame in the ‘60s, and helping create one of the most influential bands in rock history.
The episode dives into brotherhood, creativity, spirituality, and the magic behind songs like “Waterloo Sunset,” “See My Friends,” and “I’m Not Like Everybody Else.” Dave opens up about his spiritual awakening, the band’s chaotic early years, his relationship with Ray, and why love, not fame or success, is ultimately what matters. There are also incredible stories about Eddie Van Halen, British Invasion chaos, guitar experimentation, and the creation of some of rock’s most enduring records
THE RATS IN A CAGE TOUR: ' A One-of-a-Kind Show Featuring Two Distinct Sets Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness Plus Nearly Four Decades Of Hits And Dark Treasures.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDave Davies· Guest0:00
You know, the Kinks is a, a, a, an enigma in a way. You know, why, why it's... The, the people shouldn't even been in, in the band.
Billy Corgan· Host0:11
Maybe that's part of it.
Dave Davies· Guest0:12
And- That's kinda what I'm after ... I mean, it was so spontaneous- Mm ... that we didn't realize what we'd been doing.
Billy Corgan· Host0:19
But the thing is, is when you look at your brother's writing, there's been no other writer ever like him.
Dave Davies· Guest0:24
To be honest, it, it was magical really.
Billy Corgan· Host0:28
Yeah.
Dave Davies· Guest0:28
And, like, he could write anything.
Billy Corgan· Host0:31
I kn- I, I get the sense as a fan there's alw- only love.
Dave Davies· Guest0:35
Oh, and I'm just s- getting emotional thinking about it.
Billy Corgan· Host0:39
Mm. I know you know the mythology of who played the solo on You Really Got Me. You know?
Dave Davies· Guest0:44
Well, of course, I did.
Billy Corgan· Host0:45
Who was the wildest?
Dave Davies· Guest0:47
Well, I was.
Billy Corgan· Host0:48
Dave Davies, thank you for being on my podcast.
Dave Davies· Guest0:52
Well, it's great. Uh, I'm very privileged to be here.
Billy Corgan· Host0:57
Thank you. So, uh, here we are. It's 30th Street Guitars, yes. Is, if- That's right ... friends of yours, right?
Dave Davies· Guest1:03
Yeah, they... It's great.
Billy Corgan· Host1:05
Here in New York.
Dave Davies· Guest1:06
Guitars, great.
Billy Corgan· Host1:07
But as, but as soon as I walked in, I wanted to spend money.
Dave Davies· Guest1:10
Yes. Well, you do, but- Okay, so here's the secret nerd question.
Billy Corgan· Host1:14
We'll start here. Do you still have your '60s Flying V?
Dave Davies· Guest1:19
No.
Billy Corgan· Host1:19
Oh.
Dave Davies· Guest1:20
No, I don't. I don't keep my guitars.
Billy Corgan· Host1:23
Really? You're not sentimental?
Dave Davies· Guest1:25
Y- Because if I get sentimental, I get too