March 29, 2007 15:23

The Kinks fight to preserve site of first gig

Ray Davies urges new owner to keep pub

The Kinks have pleaded with the new owners of a the site of their very first gig - a pub in London - not to demolish it.

The Clissold Arms, the pub where the band played their first show in 1963, is set to be removed to make way for an upscale eaterie.

As previously reported the band expressed their outrage that the pub was planning to auction off the collection on band memorabilia the pub had amassed, the so called 'Kinks Corner'.

Ray Davies said: “I would urge whoever has bought the pub to retain some reference to The Kinks so fans all over the world can retain it as a sense of place.”

Brother and band member Dave Davies said: “Why on earth can’t they have their posh gastro grub and still keep a part of it for tourists, Kinks fans and the curious?

“I’m sure if this had been The Cavern and The Beatles' history that was being disturbed and got rid of, it would have been brought to the attention of the House Of Commons, the Lords and The Queen herself.”

New owner Caroline Jones told Earvolution: “The new pub will be quite different and it won’t be the kind of place you would expect to see (memorabilia).”