Unmissable, a battling 1960's star

When it comes to startling originality in the context of pop music, The Kinks' Ray Davies is difficult to beat

When it comes to startling originality in the context of pop music, The Kinks' Ray Davies is difficult to beat. Alongside Lennon & McCartney, Jagger & Richards and The Who's Pete Townshend, Davies is up there with the best of the 1960s British pop luminaries. Throughout the past 30 years, he has remained a steadfast and introspective person, battling with marital problems, creative enervation and a marked decrease in public interest. His observational lyrics might celebrate the mundane, but they are invested with humour, pathos and thought-provoking humanity. His classic pop songs include See My Friend, Lola, Waterloo Sunset, Sunny Afternoon and Days. Ray Davies plays a solo gig, where he sings his songs and reads from his autobiography, X-Ray, at Dublin's HQ Hall of Fame tomorrow. And yes, it really is unmissable.

Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in popular culture