Dave Davies

The Kinks guitarist recommends keeping your bandmates close and your audience happy…

- David Mead

What was the first ever gig you played and how did it go?

“I think the first gig I ever did was me and Ray playing in the pub opposite where we lived – Fortis Green, Muswell Hill – in the Clissold Arms. Ray and I were doing just guitar duo stuff like a bit of Ventures and a bit of Chet Atkins, just instrumental stuff, really. It was fun, but it was just a small pub stage. It was pleasant, people watching out of curiosity more than anything. I can’t remember what year it was. I was really young – 13, 14. I’d been playing since I was about 10 and our brother in-law Mike Picker was a really good guitarist and he introduced us to a lot of musicians, like Big Bill Broonzy and Django Reinhardt.”

Describe your current stage rig…