Kinks' Dave Davies On Van Halen Cover
He doesn\'t like their version of You Really Got Me very much
The Kinks’ Dave Davies has given a rare interview to Classic Rock Magazine, and in the interview he has laid into Van Halen’s famous cover of ‘You Really Got Me.’
In the interview with CRM’s Rob Hughes he said:
"Van Halen’s version was very Middle America. It was like, ‘Hey man, look at me with my tight trousers! Here’s our version of You Really Got Me!’
"There’s the thing: good art isn’t always about having the comfiest technique. I shouldn’t encourage him, but I’m sure Eddie Van Halen played better when he was drunk. But it must be a good record if people like it.
"We got pissed off though, when we played America. The Kinks had an album out called Low Budget 1979 and we ended up touring and playing stadiums. Some kid came up to me after one of the gigs and said: ‘I like your cover of Van Halen’s You Really Got Me.’ You have to smile sometimes.”
Van Halen’s version of the Kinks classic appeared on their 1978 debut album.