Kinks' Ray Davies Shot in Robbery Attempt

Yahoo ^ | 1/5/2004 | Associated Press

[JennysCool]

NEW ORLEANS - Singer-songwriter Ray Davies (news) of the celebrated British rock band the Kinks was shot in the leg while chasing thieves who snatched a purse from a woman he was with, police said Monday. He was not seriously injured.

Police said Davies, 59, and the woman were walking near the edge of the French Quarter when the shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Davies was treated and released at a hospital, said Capt. Marlon Defillo, a police spokesman.

One suspect was captured within hours and another person was being sought. The woman was not hurt. Police would not release her identity.

The shooting happened blocks away from Bourbon Street, which was awash with people in town for Sunday night's Sugar Bowl, the national college championship game between LSU and Oklahoma. Police were stationed on every corner of the area and were able to respond quickly to the shooting, Defillo said.

The Kinks, part of the 1960s British invasion, had a string of hits including "You Really Got Me," "Sunny Afternoon," "All Day and All of the Night" and "Lola." Davies founded the band, known for its hard-edged, guitar-driven sound and witty lyrics, with his brother Dave.

Last week, Davies received royal honors in London. Along with singer-guitarist Eric Clapton (news), he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire at a ceremony on New Year's Eve.

The shooting site is a largely residential area on the border of the French Quarter and the Faubourg Marigny area.

[Aquinasfan]

Here's a very obscure tune from "Something Else," but a gem nonetheless.

Two Sisters

Sylvilla looked into her mirror
Percilla looked into the washing machine
And the drudgery of being wed
She was so jealous of her sister
And her liberty, and her smart young friends
She was so jealous of her sister

Sylvilla looked into the wardrobe
Percilla looked into the frying pan
And the bacon and eggs
And the breakfast is served
She was so jealous of her sister
And her way of life, and her luxury flat
She was so jealous of her sister

She threw away her dirty dishes just to be free again
Her women's weekly magazines just to be free again
And put the children in the nursery just to be free again
Percilla saw her little children
And then decided she was better off
Than the wayward lass that her sister had been
No longer jealous of her sister
So she ran 'round the house with her curlers on
No longer jealous of her sister

[dennisw]

Give me The Kinks, The Animals, The Rolling Stones on tinny automobile speakers. Far better than what's out there now no matter how digitally engineered and enhanced.

[dennisw]

Heh! I remember you posting a while ago that Stevie Winwood lives near you with his American wife and children.

[Doohickey]

Here's hoping all the days ahead
Won't be as bitter as the ones behind you
Be an optimist instead
And somehow happiness will find you
Forget all your doubt and sadness
I know that better things are on their way

[sushiman]

One of the great Kinks tunes that was never released as a single in the USA but was a hit in Britain . I recall Keith Moon of The Who saying in article that it was his favorite Kinks tune . Dave Gregory of XTC has it listed in his top 20 fave singles ...


Autumn Almanac


From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar,
When the dawn begins to crack.
It's all part of my autumn almanac.
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow,
So I sweep them in my sack.
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.

Friday evenings, people get together,
Hiding from the weather.
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun,
Because the summer's all gone.

La-la-la-la...
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
La-la-la-la...
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.

I like my football on a Saturday,
Roast beef on Sundays, all right.
I go to Blackpool for my holidays,
Sit in the open sunlight.

This is my street, and I'm never gonna to leave it,
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine,
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away,
Because it's calling me, (come on home)
Hear it calling me, (come on home)

La-la-la-la...
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
La-la-la-la...
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!

[sushiman]

Another personal fave , DEAD END STREET !

There's a crack up in the ceiling,
And the kitchen sink is leaking.
Out of work and got no money,
A Sunday joint of bread and honey.

What are we living for?
Two-roomed apartment on the second floor.
No money coming in,
The rent collector's knocking, trying to get in.

We are strictly second class,
We don't understand,
(Dead end!)
Why we should be on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
People are living on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
Gonna die on dead end street.

Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)

On a cold and frosty morning,
Wipe my eyes and stop me yawning.
And my feet are nearly frozen,
Boil the tea and put some toast on.

What are we living for?
Two-roomed apartment on the second floor.
No chance to emigrate,
I'm deep in debt and now it's much too late.

We both want to work so hard,
We can't get the chance,
(Dead end!)
People live on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
People are dying on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
Gonna die on dead end street.

Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)

(Dead end!)
People live on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
People are dying on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
Gonna die on dead end street.

Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Head to my feet (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
How's it feel? (yeah)
How's it feel? (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)

[auboy]

Kinks Bump! Thanks to all for the lyrics.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

As a long-time Kinks fan I can't let this thread go by without saying something. Agree that for my money the Kinks were the best. If you listen to Ray's autobiographical album storyteller, he talks about getting kicked in the arse on the soccer field (apparently he as a decent soccer player back in the day) and then getting taken by his mum so a specialist about his condition. There is this long story about how he feared he would become like the "hunchback" in their neighborhood which, given Ray's shall we say, vivid, imagination grew into a huge childhood fear. My guess is this recent incident will grow in Ray's mind and more than a few songs will come out of it, if anyone's looking for a silver lining. Ray and his brother are not the sanest people in the world, but they certainly are among the most creative and innovative.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Oh and a bump for the guitar solo(s) in Headmaster!

[wardaddy]

Yea...his wife is a local and they have large digs on the ridgetop above me with the rest of the gentry while we plebes live in the hollow below.

I think he and family spend most of the school year in the UK in the countryside for their 3 or 4 children.

My wife sees him about at times.

I always though Dear Mr Fantasy was a remarkable early rock tune for it's very rich textured sound (Jimmy Miller)

[Seamus Mc Gillicuddy]

You've got a point. I'll work on it.

[sushiman]

" he talks about getting kicked in the arse on the soccer field "

I read that he was a promising boxer in his youth , but in the district championships he had to fight the champ of Great Britain who punished him severly , adding to the catalog of injuries he suffered as a young lad .

Too bad he didn't get a chance to kick the twerp's ass who shot him .

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I didn't know that. Wouldn't it be cool to tip a pint or too with Ray some day?

[rabidralph]

I loved their Low Budget and Captain America.

[sushiman]

Back in the early 70's The Kinks played at UCONN . A female friend of mine was a HUGE fan , and absolutely adored Ray . She attended the concert , and afterwards , on the way home , stopped off at a convenience store for a snack . She was shopping , when suddenly she heard some commotion at the front of the store . There was Ray Davies standing a few feet away from her . The clerk had locked the doors to the store because lots of fans had flocked to the front of the store to see Ray . There she was , locked in a 7-11 with her all time favorite musician ! She talked with him , and he posed for pictures ( holding a box of Post Toasties as I recall ! ) . Apparently the clerk called police for some help , and they showed up promptly to escort Ray out of the store and into the waiting road van ( UPS-like truck ) . Great , huh ?

[sushiman]

" Captain America. "

That would be CATCH ME NOW I'M FALLING .