X-Ray: The Unauthorized AutobiographyThe shocking and edgy memoirs of Ray Davies, a dedicated enemy of fashion and the lead singer of The Kinks, is the must-read rock book of the year. Subversively brilliant, this one-of-a-kind rock autobiography, ingeniously styled as a biography, is written by a nameless, faceless writer hired by an Orwellian entity called "the Corporation" to capture the essence of Ray Davies, lead singer and song writer of The Kinks and one of the greatest rock and rollers of all time. "R.D". tells the story of his life - or does he? Tales of London and the rock scene of the swinging Sixties evolve in a labrynthine and thoroughly engrossing fashion as the Kinks frontman reveals his life and times to the young writer, often seemingly passing his stories directly into the writer's consciousness. Carnaby street, "Top of the Pops", The Cavern Club, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Who and other fixtures of the times fade in and out of this compelling narrative. Part autobiography, part social history, part psychological thriller, this elusive and daring book exposes rock stardom as the heaven, hell, and purgatory it is. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
album America Anita arrived Arthur asked audience Avory band Barry Fantoni Beatles Billy Fury Brian called club concert dark Dave Dave's Davies decided dream eyes face fans feel felt front girl going guitar hair head heard inside Julie Finkle Kassner Kinks Klein knew Larry Larry Page live London looked manager Mick Mick Avory Muswell Hill Muswell Hillbillies never night Number Perhaps Pete Pete Quaife piano played Pye Records Quaife Rasa Rasa's Raymond Douglas Ready Steady Go realized record Robert and Grenville Robert Wace Rolling Stones seemed Shel Shel Talmy shouted singer singing smiled song sound stage started stayed Street studio suddenly talking television tell thing thought told took tour tried turned voice Wace waiting walked wanted watched Waterloo Sunset