Moby has sparked backlash from The Kinks’ camp after criticising the lyrics of the band’s classic track Lola, calling them “gross and transphobic” in a new interview.
The electronic musician told The Guardian that hearing the 1970 hit on a Spotify playlist left him “taken aback” by what he viewed as outdated themes, prompting a swift response from guitarist Dave Davies, who rejected the accusation and defended his brother Sir Ray Davies’ intentions behind the song.
Moby recently told the Guardian: “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.”
Songwriter Sir Ray took inspiration from his conversations with drag queens for the lyrics about an encounter between a man and a transgender woman at a Soho bar.
After seeing Moby’s comments, his brother hit back.
Taking to X on Sunday (22.03.26), he fumed: “I am highly insulted that Moby would accuse my brother of being ‘unevolved’ or transphobic in any way.”
His post was accompanied by a lengthy letter by trans musician Jayne County, who hailed Lola as “a song that breaks down barriers and brings a used to be, hush, hush subject to the forefront.”
Jayne penned: “When I heard the song I was both thrilled and amazed that The Kinks would be singing a song about a trans person and wondered if anyone else had picked up on it! Who was cool or hip enough to realize what The Kinks we’re singing about! Lola will always be one of those songs that for me ‘broke the ice’ so to speak!
“I don’t think the radio stations picked up on the subject matter but a lot of the fans did and that’s what really matters… Being Trans myself this will always be a very special song to me.”
In a separate post, Dave continued his rant: “Moby should be careful what he says.
”[Famous drag troupe] The Cockettes and their friends used to follow us around on tour. We appreciated them.”
He added: “Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song
“We’re not transphobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?”
At the time of writing, Moby hasn’t responded to Dave.