What George Harrison was to the Beatles and John Entwistle was to the Who, Dave Davies was to the Kinks -- a powerfully effective instrumentalist and a talented songwriter who often played second fiddle to another tunesmith whose work more readily connected with the band's audience. Although he took a largely subordinate role to his brother Ray Davies in the Kinks, Dave's fierce guitar work and hoarse but effective background (and occasional lead) vocals were key elements of the band's appeal. Dave also occasionally wrote songs for the Kinks that showed him to be a writer of considerable skill and wit, if not always up to the same level as Ray.
