The Kinks’ Dave Davies “Highly Insulted” by Moby Saying “Lola” Is “Gross and Transphobic”

The Kinks‘ Dave Davies isn’t taking kindly to Moby saying that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band’s hit “Lola” is “transphobic” and “gross.” The guitarist has defended the song and his brother Ray Davies’ lyrics in a new social media post.

In a “playlist” feature published in The Guardian over the weekend, Moby listed a number of songs that impacted his life, under various topics: “The first song I fell in love with” (The Clash’s version of “I Fought the Law”), “The best song to play at a party (Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealing”), and others.

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One of the topics was, “The song I can no longer listen to,” for which Moby chose “Lola,” saying, “‘Lola’ by the Kinks came up on a Spotify playlist, and I thought the lyrics were gross and transphobic. I like their early music, but I was really taken aback at how unevolved the lyrics are.”

That didn’t sit well with Dave Davies, who shared a letter from openly transgender singer Jayne County praising the song “Lola,” while writing the following: “Regarding Moby’s criticism of our song ‘Lola’ in a recent Guardian interview these are the words sent to me and Ray from our dear friend trans icon Jayne County. I am highly insulted that Moby would accuse my brother of being ‘unevolved’ or transphobic in any way.”

The letter from Jayne County reads in part:

“When I heard the song I was both thrilled and amazed that the Kinks would be singing a song about a trans person and wondered if anyone else had picked up on it!

Who was cool or hip enough to realize what The Kinks were singing about! Lola will always be one of those songs that for me ‘broke the ice’ so to speak. I don’t think the radio stations picked up on the subject matter but a lot of the fans did and that’s what really matters!”

‘Lola’ will always be a very special song to me! With this song, the Kinks projected themselves into the modern world. The REAL world! A world full of all kinds of people! Bisexual, Gay, Trans, not just a world full of straight heterosexuals!

‘Lola’ broke down the doors of narrow mindedness and I will always be grateful and happy that The Kinks gave me this incredible song with such a great story. Being Trans myself this will always be a very special song for me.”

Dave followed up his original post by writing, “I don’t wanna show the guy up, but Moby should be careful what he says. [Drag performers] the Cockettes and their friends used to follow us around on tour. We appreciated them. Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song? We’re not transphobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?”

See a music video for “Lola” and Dave Davies’ response to Moby’s criticism of the song below.