PART FIVE On the road in the mid 70's By September 1977 we had started recording an album that was later to become Misfits. We also released a single in England that winter called 'Father Christmas', which didn't do particularly well which I suppose is not entirely surprising as it was really an anti-Christmas song in many ways. It was about street kids asking Father Christmas to stop messing with toys, preferring that he simply gave them the money instead, or gave their father a job because he was out of work. I loved that record, but it wasn't very well received. People didn't want to be reminded of life's problems at Christmas time. I think the general public was happier listening to the usual sentimental seasonal escapist slop. The Kinks performed a special Christmas show at the Rainbow in London. It was a lot of fun; we dressed up in silly costumes and played many of our early hits. Earlier in the day we had rehearsed 'Father Christmas' as an encore. Ray was to come on stage dressed in the full Santa outfit and we would then promptly go into the song. Dave and Ray at Konk studios - 1974 From the wings I watched Ray change into his costume on the other side of the stage, and at that moment I decided to play a little trick on him. In those days we would usually finish our encores with 'You Really Got Me'. There are not many songs that can follow that. So as we mounted the stage for our last encore, I went into 'You Really Got Me'. It was wonderful to see Ray's expression as he came on stage in full Father Christmas regalia, having to sing 'You Really Got Me'. Every so often he would look over at me, snarling and sneering through his long white beard. It was perfect. Hilarious. The audience probably thought it was just a seasonal gesture on our part but it was really funny. Backstage afterwards Ray called me every name under the sun, finishing his disgruntled outburst by throwing his beard at me in a ferocious fit of temper. I've never had a Santa Claus call me a fucking cunt before.

'Kink - An Autobiography'. By Dave Davies. Published by Hyperion Books (US) & Boxtree (UK) ©Dave Davies 1996