Dave Davies finds Van Halen's interpretation of his career-defining Kinks track amusing and impressively performed, revealing his growing acceptance of the cover version.
The Kinks' 1964 release, "You Really Got Me," remains a timeless classic in rock music history, with its raw distortion and power chords paving the way for hard rock and heavy metal[1]. Released on August 4, 1964, the song catapulted The Kinks to success, providing a much-needed boost to their career amid earlier struggles with album sales and popularity[5].
At the heart of the song's revolutionary sound is Dave Davies, The Kinks' guitarist and the man behind the iconic riff. Davies has since clarified the origin of the distinctive crunchy guitar tone, debunking myths around its creation and highlighting the organic nature of the sound[4][5].
Van Halen's cover of "You Really Got Me" further cemented the song's legacy across rock generations. Dave Davies has shared his thoughts on the band's rendition, acknowledging the impact and energy they brought to the cover while subtly noting differences from the original's raw edge[5].
Davies has also expressed appreciation for Van Halen's cover of another Kinks song, "Where Have All the Good Times Gone," describing it as "really good." The Van Halen version of this heavy song has been well-received, bringing the Kinks' music to new audiences[6].
Interestingly, Dave Davies never had the opportunity to meet Eddie Van Halen, the mastermind behind the successful cover versions[7]. However, Davies found Van Halen's version of "You Really Got Me" quite funny-sounding and very good[8].
In the coming weeks, Davies will share more insights about the creation of "You Really Got Me" and his thoughts on the Van Halen covers in an upcoming interview on our website[9].
- The Kinks' original "You Really Got Me" (1964) revolutionized rock with its groundbreaking distorted riff, playing a pivotal role in the band's breakthrough[1][5].
- Dave Davies created the iconic riff, later clarifying that the tone was achieved through simple but effective guitar and amp distortion techniques, dispelling myths about its creation[4][5].
- Van Halen's cover of "You Really Got Me" is well-regarded and brought the song to new audiences, with Dave Davies appreciating their version though noting it differs from the original's rawness[5].
- The Van Halen band also covered "Where Have All the Good Times Gone," another Kinks song, which is described as a heavy song[6].
- It was long rumored that Jimmy Page played the song's guitar solo, but this claim was later debunked by Jimmy Page himself[3].
- Dave Davies recalls You Really Got Me as one of those moments when he thought, "Hey, we've got something here."
- Dave Davies never got to meet Eddie Van Halen.
- Dave Davies' upcoming interview will be published on our website in the coming weeks[9].
- Dave Davies, the mastermind behind the iconic riff on "You Really Got Me," played the song on his stratocaster guitar, creating a sound that revolutionized rock music.
- The amp used for the guitar distortion technique was crucial in achieving the crunchy, raw guitar tone, helping to establish the sound of "You Really Got Me."
- Despite the differences in Van Halen's cover of "You Really Got Me," Dave Davies appreciates their fresh take on the song, acknowledging their impact and energy while expressing fondness for the cover.
