I had time to think about this when I began my new life as it were, last year. The only time I was seriously disappointed was when I realized that one of the musicians I admired was extremely unfriendly towards young music students, and was far too greedy for his/her (!) own good!But nothing could prepare me for the wonderfully stimulating and thought-provoking, yet unpretentious conversation I was to have with one of the legends of rock and roll: Dave Davies.
Now, speaking of The Kinks - I adore Ray's songs - who doesn't? Just as Lennon/McCartney were the backbone of The Beatles, Ray's beautifully crafted, lyrically superb songs for The Kinks were the reason The Kinks remained in my top three favourite pop/rock groups of all time (the Beatles & Creedence being the other two). But right now, I'm not even talking about music. I'm talking about Dave Davies - how on earth can a person be so talented, intelligent, down to earth and generous and yet not get their dues? How many people can name ten Dave Davies songs - how many know that he is extremely knowledgeable about a lot of things - from metaphysics, eastern philosophies and astrology to classical music including Schubert and Beethoven? There is nothing worse, in my mind, than someone who bathes in past glory, revelling in the genius that they showed in youth, and making absolutely no effort to move past that and on to other things. Of course I don't mean a musician should stop touring, or performing the great hit songs when they reach a certain age. What I mean is that I love discovering that a great musician is also an avid reader, with thoughts and opinions on a certain author, or that a great pianist is equally obsessive about films. I often find that actors, musicians, painters - any of the so called creative professions are so all-consuming that it is very easy to get stuck in some sort of artistic bubble, with little ability to absorb anything else. One of the things I love about doing my radio programs, especially when it comes to interviews/conversations with other musicians, is asking them questions that have little or no connection to music! If I want to know about Leon Fleisher's right hand, I can read about it in every single newspaper article or interview. I love the fact that Naida Cole was brave enough to embrace a completely new profession, career, educational field. So when I stumbled upon the film that Dave Davies put together on spirituality (not ONLY spirituality, it even has some brilliant Kinks footage) I was hooked. I wanted to know more about Dave's music, of course I was familiar with the songs he wrote when he was in The Kinks, but not his later stuff as much. But it was the fact that he had other interests, passions and was so eager to share those that stimulated my interest in his work.
I found it fascinating to read the two autobiographies last year - Ray's X Ray (published in the mid nineties, 1994 I think) and Dave's Kink (published a year later). Ray's reads like a clever memoir with a twist, Dave's reads like one long stream of consciousness. I have a great admiration for people who bare their souls (well, as much as one can bare without causing pain to any other person) and Dave is one of these people. I struggle to make small talk with people who are so full of themselves that they often have very little to say. One of the most excruciating nights of my life was a dinner party where people were quoting Dickens and name dropping - I honestly felt that if I could survive that, I could survive anything. In contrast, having a conversation with Dave Davies for my second radio special on this wonderful person and musician felt like the most natural thing in the world. See, here's where I think fame, money, status, celebrity, it's all nonsense. Someone who has been in one of the greatest rock bands ever is easier to talk to than some half wit "star" soprano who has sung the lead in one opera and is basking in the glory of one season. And it's not as if I don't get nervous - I am a nervous person by nature. I believe that even as a child, I was not really suited to the very high pressure environment of the classical concert stage unless I can do my own thing and break the mould a little bit. So yes, I do get nervous when I have to interview someone who I hold in high regard. It does not, I repeat NOT get more intimidating than when one has to speak to a legendary guitarist with an obsessive interest in eastern philosophy. It does and doesn't help that I am from India - shouldn't I know all about Vivekananda, Kundalini, Hatha Yoga, Ramakrishna already? Well, yes - a lot of this I still remember from school.
Here's where speaking to Dave Davies as part of the second program was such a revelation.It soon became obvious that this was not going to be an interview - that we were questioning, answering, agreeing, laughing (okay, this sounds lame but you get my drift) without any pretense whatsoever. What a pleasure. I have NEVER had anyone apologise to me about keeping me far too long. And I have NEVER had anyone that I have interviewed actually go out of their way to ask me anything about myself. What a lovely person, so free of all the character traits that ruin most talented people. Now, I have to admit, this is literally from our conversation and from contact before and after it. We all have our weaknesses and flaws that are revealed only to our nearest and dearest, most often just one other person who you decide to go on life's bizarre journey with. Point is, in a world that is filled with awful people, ignorance and negativity, I love it when someone comes along to totally restore my faith in humanity. There is also nothing better than getting inspired by someone/something - I received some very encouraging emails from a fairly new listener who also presents/produces a program on 103.2 Dublin City FM (not sure if he wants his name revealed on my crazy blog). The fact that people take the trouble to write their thoughts and feelings down is something I take very seriously, and as a result, even though I only check emails once or twice a week, I do my best to reply properly to anyone who takes the time to write in. But speaking of being inspired - listen to the song Love Gets You by Dave Davies when the program is aired on Saturday night (and podcast on Sunday morning). How is this song not as well known as some of the 1394830492134067234 other pop songs that form a large part of our psyche?
Anyway, I will end this by paying tribute to Dave Davies in the only way I know best, over the airwaves. If you haven't heard the first program I did, then you can listen to it here, otherwise, tune in to 103.2 Dublin City FM on Saturday Night 15 May at 9.00 p.m. or visit www.changingtherecord.com on Sunday morning and listen to the latest program on this legendary musician. It features music & my conversation with Dave. If you have something to say - then email me at offbeat AT dublincityfm DOT ie (sorry spammers!!).
Truth is like good music - it stays with us forever.
Dave Davies
