The Kinks‘ Dave Davies has said he is “highly insulted” by Moby’s criticism of the band’s classic song ‘Lola’.
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The DJ and musician was recently interviewed by the Guardian, where he was asked to name a song he can no longer listen to.
“’Lola’ by the Kinks came up on a Spotify playlist, and I thought the lyrics were gross and transphobic,” he responded. “I like their early music, but I was really taken aback at how unevolved the lyrics are.”
The cult classic 1970 track famously features lyrics about a man meeting a trans woman at a Soho bar. Kinks singer Ray Davies, who wrote the song, has explained that it was inspired by various interactions with drag queens.
Now, his bandmate and brother, Dave, has hit back at Moby’s comments.
Taking to X yesterday (March 22), he wrote: “I am highly insulted that Moby would accuse my brother of being ‘unevolved’ or transphobic in any way.” His post was accompanied by letter from transgender punk singer Jayne County, which praised ‘Lola’ as “a song that breaks down barriers and brings a used to be, hush, hush subject to the forefront.”
“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 we’re singing about! Lola will always be one of those songs that for me ‘broke the ice’ so to speak!” County wrote.
“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… Being Trans myself this will always be a very special song to me.”
to @thelittleidiot Moby’s criticism of our song LOLA these are the words sent to me and Ray from our dear friend trans icon @jaynecounty27 #JayneCounty. I am highly insulted that MOBY would accuse my brother of being ‘unevolved’ or transphobic in any way. https://t.co/hBFmLPdMKH pic.twitter.com/qYcxoMc03d
— Dave Davies (@davedavieskinks) March 22, 2026
I don’t wanna show the guy up, but Moby should be careful what he says. 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 trans phobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?— Dave Davies (@davedavieskinks) March 23, 2026
“Moby should be careful what he says,” Dave continued in another post. ”[Famous drag troupe] 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?,” he continued. “We’re not transphobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?”
At the time of writing, Moby had not responded to Davies’ reaction.
In other news, the electronic music star is set to play just one London gig this summer, as well as a huge headline show at Brighton Beach. He also announced his 23rd studio album, ‘Future Quiet’, which is set to arrive on February 20 via BMG. Pre-order it here.
