MICK AVORY

Before Mick Avory settled in with The Kinks for nearly twenty years, he rehearsed with The Rolling Stones. However, the Stones were looking for a permanent drummer and Mick worked during the day; Mick wasn’t interested in joining a band at the time and he preferred to freelance. In hindsight, Mick says, "Well, it probably wouldn't have worked out anyhow. 'Cause I was REALLY into jazz at the time and… didn't know what rock and roll was then."

Nonetheless, in 1964 Mick joined The Kinks with David and Ray Davies and Peter Quaife, although he doesn’t appear on many recordings that year because their producer frequently hired session drummers. Mick’s first album with The Kinks was Kinda Kinks. The Kinks' music defied convention at the time and they were pioneers of style. They were exceedingly popular in the U.K. during the 1960s and as their popularity waned there, it grew in the U.S. with A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy. Through the tumultuous dynamics among band members were often tumultuous and Mick was known as the quiet and easy-going member who was usually able to avoid conflict. Nevertheless, Mick and Dave Davies occasionally fought, even onstage.

In 1984 Mick left the band because he was tired of touring and he and Dave weren't getting along. However, he accepted a position with the Kinks studio company, Konks, where he worked for years. In 1987 Mick performed one track with The Kinks on Think Visual, but he never rejoined the band.

After The Kinks ceased performing in the mid-1990s, Mick began playing in The Kast Off Kinks with Jon Dalton, Dave Clarke, and John Gosling. The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

In 2004 Mick joined the beat supergroup The Class of 64, who toured and recorded an album of their former bands’ most popular songs. After three years, Mick left The Class of 64 and joined some former Class members in The Legends of the Sixties.