Ever since The Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’ hit the airwaves, there’s been a rumor floating around that Jimmy Page, not Dave Davies, was the one playing that iconic guitar solo. But recently, Davies himself cleared the air on X, referring to an article to put those rumors to bed once and for all:
“Nice article, American Songwriter, but Jimmy Page never claimed to play on ‘YRGM.’ I don’t know how the rumor got started, but he didn’t play on it anyway. I played on it. Please correct.”
The guitarist also posted a video, saying:
“Jimmy Page is a good guy, but he never played on ‘You Really Got Me.’ I played my distorted guitar on [Singing] ‘You Really Got Me.’”
The Band Denied The Rumors Before
The story that Jimmy Page played the solo has been debunked not just by Davies but by other members of The Kinks and Page himself. The Kinks’ drummer, Mick Avory, even discussed this in an interview with AllMusic last year, further clarifying the situation.
Asked about Page’s contribution to the band’s third single, he explained:
“He did very little, as far as I remember. He came into the studio – I think he came in during ‘You Really Got Me.’ He sort of apparently snickered at what Dave had done because he was a more ‘polished player.’ And then he spent the rest of his years saying, ‘I played the solo on it.’ He must have said it because everyone else was asking the question.”
In support of Davies, the drummer noted:
“But that was definitely Dave Davies because even without knowing, you know it’s Dave rather than Jimmy Page. It just wasn’t in him to play like that. It was just completely off the top of his head – that solo. It fit – the attitude off it. And I never heard that from session men. They just come in and play something they feel – not what is necessarily the right thing. So, not much.”
The Led Zeppelin Guitarist’s Words On The Matter
Page himself has made it clear over the years that he did not play the solo on the 1964 song. An interview in the ’70s quoted him saying he ‘didn’t play on ‘You Really Got Me,’ and that’s what pisses [Ray Davies] off.’
The guitarist repeated his stance in a 2014 SiriusXM’s ‘Town Hall’ series chat:
“Oh, Crikey! I wasn’t on ‘You Really Got Me,’ but I did play on the Kinks’ records. That’s all I’m going to say about it. But every time I do an interview, people ask me about ‘You Really Got Me.’ So maybe somebody can correct Wikipedia so people won’t keep asking me.”
The track’s producer, Ray Davies, also confirmed Dave’s role in the iconic solo. He shared an anecdote about their studio banter, resulting in a subtle ‘f**k off’ from the guitarist that can be heard right before his solo part in ‘You Really Got Me.’
Nice article @AmerSongwriter but @JimmyPage never claimed to play on YRGM . I don’t know how the rumor got started, but he didn’t play on it anyway. I played on it. Please correct https://t.co/3I7gp8yQnE
— Dave Davies (@davedavieskinks) February 12, 2024
Driving me nuts @AmerSongwriter pic.twitter.com/YaDmWZWZQs
— Dave Davies (@davedavieskinks) February 12, 2024
