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Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 March, 2004, 15:48 GMT
Kinks leader Ray Davies gets CBE
Ray Davies
Ray Davies and daughter Eva outside the Palace
The Kinks singer Ray Davies received his CBE medal from the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

Davies wrote classic 1960s songs such as Waterloo Sunset, You Really Got Me and Lola - and was a major influence on Britpop bands such as Blur and Oasis.

The frontman, 59, was honoured for services to the music industry.

In January, he was shot in the leg by a mugger while on holiday in New Orleans. He used a walking stick at the palace but vowed to return to performing.


"I will get better and I'll be back jumping around onstage," said Davies, while admitting that "there is a lot of doubt whether I can perform in the near future".

Ray Davies
Davies wrote 1960s classics such as Waterloo Sunset

The London-born musician, who founded The Kinks with his brother Dave in the early 1960s, was shot while chasing after two men who had stolen his female companion's purse.

"I have been asking myself why," he said. "One never knows how to react. Other people have said they would do the same."

Davies dedicated his CBE to his fans. "I'm kind of reluctant to collect rewards," he said. "I usually back out of ceremonies. I'm kind of a shy person."

Kinks singer Ray Davies wounded
06 Jan 04  |  Entertainment
Kinks singer's song craft honoured
31 Dec 03  |  Entertainment

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