If you pick up Kink expecting a sanitized-for-your-protection autobiography, you're in for a bit of a shock.

Unlike his brother's "Unauthorized Autobiography", Dave makes no attempt to gloss over, sugar coat or deceive. In fact, there are passages where his honesty is almost too painful and raw to read with any level of detachment. I had to put the book down at some points because my heart hurt too much to read on.

Kink starts out with the humble beginnings of Dave and his family, including some rather telling stories of early signs of the animosity that would become such a focus of media attention between Dave and Ray Davies later on in their lives.

This book deals honestly with such societal taboos as bisexuality, drug use, depression, bankruptcy, the occult and all sorts of other subjects that most authors would shy away from. Dave doesn't apologize for anything, nor does he attempt to portray himself as person above reproach. He tells it like it is, you either accept him for himself or you can sod off !

On some levels this autobiography could seem like the typical drugs, sex and rock n' roll tale. But Dave Davies isn't 'like everybody else' ! Somewhere in the early 1980s Dave had a spiritual awakening, that he attributes to "Intelligences" and others have branded a result of heavy drug usage or drinking. It takes a brave person to open themselves up to the general public about UFOs and non-corporeal entities that speak to rock guitarists in strange hotel rooms. But this is typical of Dave's unflinching writing style in Kink. Whatever it was, it was the turning point in his life. He cleaned up his act, and became a much more aware and happy person.

And that can't be all bad.

-Leslie M. Ohanian

Kink is now available in paperback.