As the guitarist and occasional lead singer in the Kinks, Dave Davies played a pivotal role in pushing rock & roll into the modern era, creating the power chord with "You Really Got Me." Davies functioned as the exuberant counterpoint to his wry brother Ray, especially during the late 1960s, when the group specialized in social commentary and satirical vignettes. At this point, Dave also found his voice as a songwriter, a growth showcased on the shambling folk-rock of "Death of a Clown," a Kinks song released as a solo single by Dave in 1967. Davies' solo career began in earnest with the release of AFL1-3603 in 1980, the first of three hard-rocking AOR albums that ran parallel to the Kinks' success on MTV. Once he and Ray parted ways for good in the mid-'90s, Dave dedicated himself to his solo career.