In a chat with Mojo, The Kinks’ Ray Davies said he and Pete Townshend were different.
When the interviewer asked if he was rivals with Townshend, the singer made a comparison between The Who and The Kinks:
“No. We were different. We weren’t in the same league [laughs]. The High Numbers opened for The Kinks, on several occasions. I always knew they’d be outstanding someday. When I say ‘a different league’ to The Who, I mean we were playing a totally different game. The Kinks were always in their own little world, while The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jimi all went off on that very American journey, very corporate. Pete and I are friends but we don’t push it. We respect each other, and part of that is respecting each other’s privacy.”
The Kinks and The Who have many similarities: both bands started in 1960s London, shared influences, and had turbulent relationships among members. Musically, they were different but both Davies and Townshend were key to the rock opera genre.
The Kinks Were Banned From Performing In The US
The Kinks’ American journey wasn’t that successful. During their 1965 US tour, the band got banned after a fight where Dave Davies spat at drummer Mick Avory, leading to a violent clash and both being hospitalized and jailed. The tour also struggled with poor ticket sales. Ray later called the ban unfair but admitted they had some self-inflicted problems:
“Some guy who said he worked for the TV company walked up and accused us of being late. Then he started making anti-British comments. Things like ‘Just because the Beatles did it, every mop-topped, spotty-faced limey juvenile thinks he can come over here and make a career for himself. You’re just a bunch of Commie wimps.’”
He continued:
“‘When the Russians take over Britain, don’t expect us to come over and save you this time. The Kinks, huh? Well, once I file my report on you guys, you’ll never work in the U.S.A. again. You’re gonna find out just how powerful America is, you limey bastard!’ The rest is a blur. However, I do recall being pushed and swinging a punch and being punched back.”
In February, Davies revealed that he and his brother Dave, after years of feuding, reconnected online. Ray lives in London, while Dave is in the US. They have reconciled, but Ray dismissed any plans for a full Kinks reunion.