The Kinks’ Dave Davies recently responded to criticism from electronic musician Moby, who called the band’s classic song “Lola” transphobic, in an interview with The Telegraph.
Davies addressed both his brother Ray Davies’ reaction to Moby’s comments and defended the song’s original intent and context.
“He [Ray Davies] wasn’t happy at all. [He asked] ‘who the f*ck is Moby?'” Dave Davies said.
The guitarist went on to explain the song’s background and the band’s perspective on the controversy.
“It was fun and quite beautiful. It was about real people and real people’s antics. There is nothing nasty about it. And we had a lot of people like that backstage, which is what happens when you are called the Kinks,” he continued. “What we learned growing up in that band is that everyone is different: No one is one thing.”
Davies also reflected on how the song was received when it was originally released compared to today’s standards.
“People were quite shocked by it [at the time]… but we loved it, and the world seemed to love it too. No one mentioned the word transphobia then. I don’t think the word existed,” he said.
Moby previously said in his interview with the Guardian, “The song I can no longer listen to is ‘Lola’ by the Kinks. It came up on a Spotify playlist, and I thought the lyrics were gross and transphobic. I like their early music, but I was really taken aback at how unevolved the lyrics are.”
Expressing concern about the potential impact of Moby’s criticism, Davies concluded his response with a broader statement about artistic freedom.
“[Moby’s comments made me] worried that it could turn people against us because it can feel like people are becoming weirder by the day. It can be dangerous to smear people. [We] should be grateful that we live in a world where people are free to make music and say what they want to say,” he stated.
The controversy began when Moby made his remarks in a Guardian interview. He stated that the song came up on a Spotify playlist and he found the lyrics problematic. Music Radar reported that Moby said he thought the lyrics were “gross and transphobic” and called them “unevolved,” despite liking the Kinks’ early music.
Dave Davies responded fiercely on social media, calling Moby “the little idiot” and expressing his offense at the accusations. Guitar Player noted that Davies stated he was “highly insulted that MOBY would accuse my brother of being ‘unevolved’ or transphobic in any way” and questioned Moby’s rudeness toward what he called a “simple song.”
The song “Lola,” released in 1970, has a rich history that contradicts Moby’s claims. The Telegraph explained that the track was written by Ray Davies and narrates a man’s nightclub encounter with Lola, who is revealed to be transgender, ending on an embracing note amid its playful tone. The song drew inspiration from the band’s manager Robert Wace’s evening with a cross-dresser in Paris. Davies researched drag culture for authenticity.
The Kinks had notable LGBTQ+ connections that further support Davies’ defense. Music Radar detailed that the band had previously explored themes of sexual identity uncertainty in their 1965 song “See My Friends.” Dave Davies had a bisexual affair in the 1960s when UK homosexuality was still illegal. The band toured with the queer avant-garde group the Cockettes. Davies has highlighted the band’s ally-like status during that era.
The controversy has also received support from an unexpected source. Trans punk pioneer Jayne County praised the song, saying she was “thrilled and amazed” that the Kinks sang about a trans person. Alternative Nation reported that County called it ice-breaking that brought a “hush, hush subject to the forefront” and depicted “a world full of all kinds of people,” helping to break “narrow-mindedness.”
