WCSX Classic Cuts: A Rock and Roll Fantasy
WCSX Classic Cuts The Kinks: A Rock and Roll Fantasy The Hook: The death of Elvis Presley altered the ending of The Kinks’ “A Rock and Roll Fantasy” — and…
LONDON – NOVEMBER 16: (L-R) The Kinks band members Ray Davies, Mick Avory, Dave Davies and Peter Quaife pose backstage with the award for their induction into the UK Music Hall Of Fame 2005, the culmination of the two-week Channel 4 series looking at 1950’s-1990’s popular music, at Alexandra Palace on November 16, 2005 in London, England. Acts are selected by a panel of over 60 artists, journalists, broadcasters and executives, with artists including Alanis Morissette, The Pretenders and Slash paying tribute to their fellow musical artists at the event. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
Credit: MJ Kim / GettyimagesWCSX Classic Cuts
The Kinks: A Rock and Roll Fantasy
The Hook: The death of Elvis Presley altered the ending of The Kinks' "A Rock and Roll Fantasy" -- and helped keep them going, at least for a couple of decades longer.
Album: Misfits
Year: 1978
Writer: Ray Davies
Stats: Peaked at number-30 on the Billboard Hot 100
Background: The Kinks definitely had their ups and downs long before they finally broke up in 1996. Ray Davies explains that his song "A Rock and Roll Fantasy" was about one of those down times and reveals what saved the band for what turned out to be almost another two decades.
Ray Davies on the meaning of “A Rock and Roll Fantasy” and how Elvis Presley’s death ties in with the song. OC:…keep going. :19
“I started writing that song about my brother and I breaking up the band – and it’s evident in the lyric. And the next day the television comes on and Elvis Presley’s died. It was like having a film or a story with no ending and that provided the ending and the impetus for us to keep going.”
