Dave Davies at the Clissold Arms where he and his brother Ray first played[MARK KEHOE]
It was his first time back since his world crashed there a decade ago. As he came out of the lift after an interview at the old Broadcasting House in June 2004, Davies collapsed.
The right side of his body was paralysed and after two months in hospital he had to learn how to walk, talk and play guitar again.
Not only did the Kinks’ guitarist, who practically invented hard rock with the distorted sound he created on You Really Got Me, recover but this week he will play his first London show in 13 years, at the Barbican.
Davies, at 67 two-and-a-half years younger than his revered brother Ray, is well aware that the stroke could have ended his career. “It was a big thing,” he says.
“You go into the depths, you get really low. But then you see people around you with horrible, debilitating illnesses and you think ‘Go on, what’s the matter with you?’
“I have so much sympathy for anyone who goes through that and I always look at people in wheelchairs in a totally different light ever since, because it’s a very difficult place to be, emotionally and spiritually.
"I learned so much. There’s only one way to go and that’s up. There’s no point waking up in the morning feeling sorry for yourself.”
By 2007, Dave made the poignantly titled Fractured Mindz album, followed up last year with defiantly rocking I Will Be Me, supported with substantial US touring.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO
 | You Really Got Me - The Story of the Kinks DVD - £9.99 |
 | Beat,Beat,Beat DVD - £4.99 |
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