Famous for their singles "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night", the Kinks are described by wikpedia as a Brit Pop/Rock band 3rd only to the Rolling Stones and the Beatles in the 60's, after which internal squabbles and other problems dispelled them from the limelight. Their restless exploration of different musical styles (http://www.reasontorock.com/artists/kinks.html) probably also contributed to a muted following, but their importance in music history cannot be denied.Consisting of brothers Ray and Dave Davies through the years, the original band also included bassist Peter Quaife and drummer Mick Avory. Their first single was "Long Tall Sally", a Little Richard Song. However, it was apparently their original music that helped them to reach popularity by topping the charts in both the US and the UK in the 1960's.
After the problems mostly engendered by and extensive touring schedule the Kink's previous edge began to quiet and change its flavor This perhaps helped encourage the lifting of the bands American banned status in the early 70's, due to various legal problems and made obvious by their famed onstage fights.
When their Album "Face to Face" came out it was considered a turning point, and really more of a hit in the UK with the single "Dead End Street"
Other albums followed as well as some band member changes, although the Davies brothers remained.
Unfortunately, after "word of mouth" was released in the early 80's, their popularity began to wane, not even boosted by their induction into the Rock n Roll hall of fame in 1990. Their last concert took place in 1996. Ray has since gone on to a solo career.
Among the bands crediting the Kinks for inspiration are Oasis, Blur, and even the Sex Pistols (http://www.punk77.co.uk/punkhistory/madeinengland.htm)
