Kinks Guitarist Dave Davies Defends 'Lola' After Moby Labels Song Transphobic
Kinks co-founder and guitarist Dave Davies has issued a strong response to electronic musician Moby after the American artist criticized the band's 1970 hit single Lola, calling it "gross and transphobic." The controversy erupted when Moby made the comments in an interview with The Guardian's Saturday magazine, prompting Davies to defend the song's legacy and intent on social media platform X.
Moby's Criticism Sparks Backlash
In The Guardian's Honest Playlist feature, Moby revealed that he was "really taken aback" by the lyrics of Lola when it appeared on a Spotify playlist. He stated, "I like their early music, but I was really taken aback at how unevolved the lyrics are." The song, which details a young man's encounter in a nightclub with a figure who "walked like a woman but talked like a man," concludes with the famous lines: "Girls will be boys and boys will be girls / It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world / Except for Lola."
Moby's remarks quickly drew attention, leading to a direct response from Dave Davies, who expressed his offense at the accusation. Davies posted on X, "I am highly insulted that Moby would accuse my brother" – referring to Kinks songwriter Ray Davies – "of being 'unevolved' or transphobic in any way." In a follow-up post, he added, "I don't wanna show the guy up, but Moby should be careful what he says."
Historical Context and Support
Davies provided historical context to counter Moby's claims, referencing the 1970s San Francisco psychedelic hippy theatre group the Cockettes, which included transgender members and performed in drag. He noted that their members and friends "used to follow us around on tour" and that the Kinks appreciated them. Davies questioned Moby's criticism, asking, "Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song? We're not transphobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?"
To further bolster his defense, Davies shared a letter from trans punk icon Jayne County, who wrote to him and his brother Ray to express her delight over Lola. County described being "thrilled and amazed" that the Kinks would write such a song, suggesting it "broke the ice" by bringing a previously hush-hush subject to the forefront. She praised the song for breaking down barriers and making it sound "perfectly natural" to sing about a "girl" named Lola.
In her letter, County speculated that the character Lola might have been inspired by Marlene Dietrich's role in the 1930 film The Blue Angel, and she highlighted how the song propelled the Kinks into "the modern world" – a world inclusive of bisexual, gay, and trans people, not just heterosexuals.
Broader LGBTQ+ Themes in Kinks' Work
This is not the first time the Kinks have explored LGBTQ+ themes in their music. In 1965, their song See My Friends centered on a man uncertain of his sexual orientation. Additionally, Dave Davies wrote in his 1996 autobiography Kink about having affairs with musician Long John Baldry and producer Michael Aldred, further underscoring the band's engagement with diverse sexual identities.
The debate over Lola highlights ongoing discussions about art, interpretation, and historical context in music. While Moby's comments reflect a contemporary critique of older works, Davies' response emphasizes the song's progressive intent for its time and its appreciation within LGBTQ+ communities.
