Fan Club Show Offer

Pleased to announce that Paul Endacott, with the 60s heritage bus tours will offer a 20% discount to Official Kinks Fan Club members, and all attending the Fan Club show on 26th November, and Kollective dates on 24/25th November, plus … Continue reading

The Kinks: Songs of the Semi-Detached

A new book has been released by Mark Doyle covering a social study around the songs of Ray Davies and The Kinks. The SHINDIG review says it all.

A completely different look at Kinks history from the usual type of book, you could say that this book has been waiting to be written for a long time.

As a piece of rock criticism this is a masterful text, and as an examination of social change in 20th Century Blighty, it is as illuminating as it’s possible to get.

Doyle unravels the Kinks’ relationship to working class England in a variety of ways, casting a light on Ray Davies’ genius for creating immediately identifiable characters as vehicles for social commentary. Doyle’s insights into the subject matter of Davies’ lyrics are particularly illuminating, with the deliberate ambiguity of meaning in his composition a vital factor in their enduring appeal.

That half-smile may have lent a clue, but Davies’ veering between sneering hipster and Victorian Romantic meant that one was never sure that all was what it seemed.

Davies’ own love affair with London and its people is brought to life through the author’s exhaustive research and his commensurate skill in both contextualising the songs and celebrating the “apartness” of their creator. A compelling read for anyone even remotely interested in the band and its music.’ – Shindig

Get it here

Receive a 20% discount code off the retail price of £9.95 (valid for 6 months) KINKSFANS20