Dave Davies has addressed long-standing rumors about Jimmy Page’s involvement in recording The Kinks’ classic hit “You Really Got Me.” He set the record straight in a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar.
The Kinks guitarist was responding to claims made by producer Eddie Kramer regarding Page’s alleged guitar work on the iconic track.
Davies gave a definitive response when asked directly about Kramer’s claim that Jimmy Page actually recorded guitars on “You Really Got Me.”
“No, it’s not true,” Davies said.
Davies went on to explain Page’s actual presence during the recording sessions. He clarified the nature of their interaction.
“He [Page] was there at the sessions, because I thought they worried that we couldn’t play!” Davies continued. “There’s no animosity, and Jimmy was a nice guy, we got on well with him. I hardly said anything to him.”
This statement puts to rest decades of speculation about one of rock’s most influential recordings. It highlights the true story behind the track’s creation.
The origins of “You Really Got Me” reveal a fascinating tale of innovation born from frustration. Thalia Capos reported that Dave Davies created the distinctive distorted guitar sound by slashing the speaker cone of his amplifier in frustration. This resulted in the revolutionary raw tone that helped define rock distortion. This accidental discovery would become one of the most influential sounds in rock history.
The recording sessions took place at IBC Studios in London in 1964. Eddie Trunk noted that producer Shel Talmy oversaw the sessions that would create one of rock’s most influential tracks. The studio environment was where Davies’ innovative guitar technique would be captured and preserved for posterity.
Davies has been consistent in his clarifications about Page’s involvement with The Kinks’ music. Vintage Guitar documented that Davies has acknowledged that Jimmy Page did contribute to some Kinks’ tracks by playing 12-string guitar and rhythm parts. However, he emphatically denied Page’s involvement in the lead guitar solo for “You Really Got Me.”
“He did not play lead on any Kinks hits,” Davies has stated. This reinforces his ownership of the iconic riff and solo that defined the track’s signature sound and cemented his place in rock history.
