Neville Marten/Jeffrey Hudson: The Kinks - Well Respected Men

That quintessential English pop group The Kinks leapt to 60s stardom with a string of superbly crafted songs reflecting the feelings of a generation. Fronted by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, the band’s music was at once raw and gentle, sexual and political, witty and sarcastic, joyous and depressing. Sixties swinging London was a goldmine for songsmith Ray who milked every image from Carnabecian frivolity to the dingy streets of a dowdy postwar town.

The brothers’ often tempestuous relationship was and still is fundamental to the character of the group, although sibling rivalry has often threatened to split the band for good. But The Kinks continued to record, Ray maintained his creative brilliance and an older, wiser group filled theatres into the 1990s. With dedicated followers including The Jam in the 70s, Van Halen in the 80s and Blur today, the music of The Kinks remains as relevant in the 90s as ever.