Friday is Rock'n'Roll London Day! Join the Rock'n'Roll London walk this (and every Friday) afternoon at 2:00p.m meeting at Tottenham Court Road Station
Adam writes…
On this day in Rock'n'Roll London History… Ray Davies made a 6,000 mile round-trip to re-record ONE WORD in the lyric for the Kinks' single Lola so that the song was suitable for broadcast on the BBC.
Being a public service broadcaster, the BBC took umbrage with the lines…
"I met her in a club down in old Soho/ Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola"
No advertising on the BBC, you see, dear me no.
Davies was compelled to fly from New York to replace the word Coca with the word Cherry, and then turn around and fly back again.
The story of The Kinks is a wild and wonderful soap opera if there ever was one, and this episode is is absolutely representative of the band for which nothing was ever straightforward.
Here they are performing Lola in 1973 - with the offending word removed, of course…
If you'd like to book a private Kinks-themed tour of North London & beyond, get in touch with London Walks at [email protected]
The Rock'n'Roll London walk is ONLY London Walk with its own dedicated comic book! Written by Rock'n'Roll London guide (and Daily Constitutional editor Adam) you can buy a print or digital copy at the London Bookstore online: londonbookstore.myshopify.com
With the launch of The Rolling Stones Walk on the 5th May 2016 and the return of the Rock'n'Roll London Pub walk on Wednesday nights from the 4th May 2016 the London Walks summer programme 2016 will feature no less than FIVE regular musical-themed walking tours! For the full schedule see walks.com.A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
