Legendary Kinks guitarist turns tables on Moby for calling classic tune ‘unevolved’

Lola’s stirring controversy once again.

Famed musician and producer Moby has stirred up a storm with his recent critique of the Kinks, branding their iconic song “Lola” as “unevolved” in a newly published interview on Sunday. His remarks have ignited a heated exchange with the legendary rock band.

Moby, in a discussion with The Guardian, expressed his disdain: “Lola by the Kinks came up on a Spotify playlist, and I thought the lyrics were gross and transphobic. I like their early music, but I was really taken aback at how unevolved the lyrics are.”

This comment did not sit well with Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, brother to frontman and songwriter Ray Davies. He responded sharply, even referencing a well-known transgender punk rocker.

In a pointed post on X, Davies wrote, “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.”

Jayne County, a punk icon who was a fixture at CBGB’s during the 1970s punk scene under the name Wayne County, was among the first transgender figures in the music industry to publicly come out.

Moby, whose real name is Richard Hall, has used the handle thelittleidiot on X but has not been active on the platform in recent years.

Released in 1970, “Lola” tells the story of a young man who falls for a drag queen at a Soho nightclub, a bold narrative during a time of social uncertainty around gender identity.

The lyrics state, “Girls will be boys and boys will be girls, it’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for Lola. I’d never ever kissed a woman before but Lola smiled and took me by the hand and said, ‘Dear boy, I’m gonna make you a man.’”

The song achieved No. 1 on the UK charts and climbed into the top 10 in the US, maintaining its status as one of the Kinks’ most celebrated tracks.

Ray Davis, in a 2020 interview with the New York Times, shared, “I did a bit of research with drag queens. I admire anyone who can get up and be what they want to be.”

Moby did not elaborate further on his views to The Guardian, nor did he specify why he found the song “gross.”

At 60, Moby has established himself as a prominent musician, songwriter, DJ, and music producer, gaining fame in the 1990s. He is also a dedicated animal-rights activist and a committed vegan.