PART SEVEN In 1990 the Kinks were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Ray and I both felt a little uncomfortable with the idea at first, but it was a nice tribute, a show of respect for a body of work that has spanned some thirty years. The Kinks have influenced so many people in the music business. It was a gesture that was well appreciated. It was also quite a touching irony that Graham Nash was the one who inducted us, especially since all those years ago he had been such a staunch supporter of the band. As much as I appreciated the recognition, I've always had my own ideas about how these particular ceremonies should be conducted. Dave and Ray on tour in the early 90's So I'd like to announce here the winners of the Dave Davies Special Achievement Award. Two awards go to Ray Davis of the Kinks. First, a Lifetime Achievement awards for 'The Most Exasperating and Impossible Creative Genius I have ever worked with'. Second, 'The Most Important and Influential Rock Singer/Songwriter of Our Time'. Bruce Springsteen will get the award for 'Appearing at the Most Hall of Fame Awards Ceremonies'. Don't worry, Bruce, you'll get the proper award when it's your turn. Be patient. To Chuck Berry, for 'The Longest Running Cool Guitar Player Award'. Bruce, please, hang on, not yet, not yet. Jeez, some people. Now, 'The Greatest Guitar Player in the History of the World Ever to Play in Clogs Award' goes to Brian May. 'Best Rock 'n' Roll Band in the History of Rock' goes to (shit, these envelopes, you can never open them when you want to) aah... um... to the Rolling... sorry, wrong envelope, that was for the 'Oldest Rock 'n' Roll Band Still Playing Live Award' and the 'Oldest Rock 'n' Roll Band Still Alive Award'. Oh, here it is. The award goes to the Kinks. Bruce, stop it, you're gonna get it in a minute... if you keep on the way you're going. Remember, Bruce, patience is a virtue. Oh, all right. 'The Most Talented Singer/Songwriter, Guitarist, Performer, Rock Video Star, Humanitarian, Working Class Hero Award' goes to, shit, sorry Bruce... goes to Ray Davies. Never mind, Bruce, maybe next year, tell ya what, we can all get up on stage at the end and sing Chuck Berry songs. Or 'Born in the USA'. We could do 'Born to Run' as an encore. Or 'Born Near a Factory in the USA' or 'Seen Running from a Factory Some Years After Being Born in the USA'. I could sing 'Born in the UK Now Living in the USA'. We'll have such a great time, it'll be such fun. We can all meet in a bar around the corner beforehand, get really pissed or drink loads of Perrier water, ha, ha, ha, and let Weird Al Yankovic 'do' all of us. Recently we were invited to play at the opening of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. Bruce was there, as well as hosts of others. I thought it was fitting that Chuck Berry, who had inspired us and all the British Invasion bands, closed the show. It was great fun to spend a few days with all these music legends, although I did find it curious that the Kinks were the only British band on the bill.

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