Though Kinks frontman Ray Davies once said, "There's nothing kinky about us," the group rose to fame during the early '60s. The Kinks-built around the explosive relationship between vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Ray Davies and his guitar playing Dave Davies-were formed in North London in 1963 and would enjoy a prolific, versatile 30-plus year career.

The Kinks were rounded out by drummer Mick Avory and bassist Peter Qauife and completed their self-titled debut LP in 1964. The American version of the disc was called You Really Got Me, and was driven by the monstrous single of the same name, which features the punchy, distorted power chords that would characterize the hard rock of the next decade. The album was the first of a successful string of albums for the group. They scored two more Top 10 albums in the UK, 1965's Kinda Kinks and The Kink Kontroversy, as well as numerous Top 50 albums stateside.

The Kinks would release over 20 more albums before they called it quits, enduring almost that many line-up changes. Controversy and the brothers Davies always went hand-in-hand, and by the time the '70s rolled around, the brothers were growing apart and began perusing solo careers in addition to their Kinks involvement. This distraction created a rift with other band members. With a constant, rotating cast of stand-ins, the band carried on, appearing at rock concerts, touring, and recording through the end of the 1980s. The Kinks' final album, 1993's Phobia was an inauspicious swan song for a prolific, influential band. Their influence is evident in groups such as the Ramones, Oasis, Pulp, and the Pretenders (who covered a few Kinks songs).

These days, the brothers Davies continue to be active. In 2004, Dave Davies suffered a stroke in an elevator in England. Davies was rushed to the hospital and survived, though he faced a lengthy recovery period. Davies returned to the stage in 2010, fully recovered from the stroke. His brother Ray has been the more active one, releasing a number of solo albums, including 2006's return to form, Other People's Lives. He continues to play concerts, make appearances, and work on new material, though he is well into his 60s.