You Really Got Me, by The Kinks, is one of the iconic classic rock songs of all-time.
Released in 1964, it was the band's first hit, and that distorted guitar sound at its heart is the stuff of legend. The guitar was played by Kinks’ founder, Dave Davies. He’s the younger brother of Ray Davies, the band’s lead singer. The two played together for years, cranking out songs such as Waterloo Sunset, Lola, and Come Dancing.
But there were always tensions in the band, including between the Davies brothers, and the group split up in the mid-90s. Both Ray and Dave have made a number of solo albums each, and Dave’s most recent is just out, called Rippin' Up Time. We caught up with him as the tour for the new album was getting underway, and among other things Davies reflected on decades of writing songs:
"As you get older, to me at least, it’s a bit like writing a screenplay," he says. "Get a character in your head, and put him in different situations..."
Davies and his band will be in Milwaukee Tuesday night for a concert at Turner Hall Ballroom. Davies says the gig will feature some Kinks tunes as well as songs from the new album.
You can be sure that distorted guitar will be turned up to eleven.
