Thank You for the Days: Fans of the Kinks Share 60 Years of Stories

The Kinks burst onto the British music scene in 1964, propelled by the historic guitar riff of ’You Really Got Me’ -- a progenitor of both heavy metal and punk rock. Sixty years later, the band’s impressive songbook is among the most literate, empathetic, humorous, and melodic in the rock canon. In Thank You for the Days, fans from around the world share how The Kinks have inspired and shaped their lives. Here are their stories, from unforgettable concerts and offstage encounters to enduring friendships forged through a shared love of the music. Among the contributors are songwriters Ron Sexsmith and Wesley Stace (a.k.a. John Wesley Harding) as well as Crouch End Festival Chorus musical director David Temple and other collaborators who have worked with The Kinks behind the scenes. Band members Ray Davies, Dave Davies, and Mick Avory even offer up some words of gratitude to the fans for their loyalty over the years. Whether you’re a ’dedicated follower, ’ a casual fan or simply a lover of rock history, you’ll find something in Thank You for the Days that will inspire you, make you laugh, or tug at your heart -- much like The Kinks’ music does.

Chris Kocher is a writer, editor and all-around gentleman and scholar from Binghamton, New York -- the hometown of Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling and the ’Milkshake Capital of the World’ (at least according to Ray Davies). His entertainment articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the U.S.A. Since 2011, he has hosted The Signal, a music and entertainment radio show on WHRW FM. He has been a Kinks fan for almost 30 years, which still doesn’t seem long enough. Find him on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @RealChrisKocher.