Mick Avory Net Worth

What is Mick Avory's Net Worth?

Mick Avory is an English musician who has a net worth of $3 million.

Mick Avory is best known as the longtime drummer for The Kinks, one of the most influential British rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s. Although Ray Davies and Dave Davies were the band's central creative forces, Avory was a crucial part of The Kinks' classic sound, providing the steady, unfussy drumming behind songs such as "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night," "Tired of Waiting for You," "A Well Respected Man," "Sunny Afternoon," "Waterloo Sunset," "Lola," and "Come Dancing." He joined The Kinks shortly after their formation and remained with the group from 1964 to 1984, making him the band's longest-serving member outside of the Davies brothers. Avory's style was not flashy, but it was essential: economical, reliable, and perfectly suited to Ray Davies' sharp portraits of English life, class, nostalgia, and social absurdity.

Early Life

Michael Charles Avory was born on February 15, 1944, in East Molesey, Surrey, England. He grew up during the rise of skiffle, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues in Britain. Like many young musicians of his generation, Avory was drawn to American rock, blues, and jazz, and he began playing drums as a teenager.

Before joining The Kinks, Avory played in a number of early bands and was briefly connected to the developing London rhythm and blues scene. He has sometimes been linked to the earliest days of The Rolling Stones, though Charlie Watts became that band's definitive drummer. Avory's path ultimately led him to a different group of future British Invasion stars, The Kinks.

The Kinks

Avory joined The Kinks in 1964, shortly after the group had formed around brothers Ray and Dave Davies. The classic lineup featured Ray Davies on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Dave Davies on lead guitar, Pete Quaife on bass, and Avory on drums. The band's early sound was raw, loud, and aggressive, driven by Dave Davies' distorted guitar and Ray Davies' increasingly distinctive songwriting.

The Kinks broke through in 1964 with "You Really Got Me," one of the foundational records of hard rock and garage rock. They quickly followed with "All Day and All of the Night," "Tired of Waiting for You," and other hits that helped define the British Invasion. Avory's drumming gave the band power without overwhelming the songs. He was not a theatrical drummer in the style of Keith Moon, nor was he a heavy-handed player. His strength was in serving the arrangement and giving The Kinks a firm rhythmic center.

As the band evolved, Avory evolved with it. The Kinks moved from explosive early rock songs into more observational, melodic, and distinctly English material. Albums such as "Face to Face," "Something Else by The Kinks," "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society," "Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)," "Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One," and "Muswell Hillbillies" showed the band's widening range. Avory's playing adapted to music that could be satirical, nostalgic, theatrical, or quietly melancholy.

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Drumming Style

Avory's contribution to The Kinks was often subtle, which is part of why it worked so well. He was a disciplined drummer who understood that Ray Davies' songs needed space. His parts rarely called attention to themselves, but they gave the records their shape. On harder songs, he could push the band forward with crisp, direct energy. On more delicate or character-driven songs, he played with restraint.

That quality made him an important contrast to the volatility of The Kinks themselves. The band was famous for internal tension, especially between Ray and Dave Davies. Avory, too, had a complicated relationship with Dave Davies, and their clashes became part of Kinks lore. One notorious 1965 onstage incident reportedly involved Avory striking Dave with a cymbal stand after a fight during a performance. Despite those conflicts, Avory remained in the band for two decades.

Later Years With The Kinks

During the 1970s and early 1980s, The Kinks experienced several different phases. They moved through concept albums, theatrical rock, arena rock, and a later commercial revival in the United States. Avory remained behind the kit through albums such as "Preservation Act 1," "Soap Opera," "Schoolboys in Disgrace," "Sleepwalker," "Misfits," "Low Budget," "Give the People What They Want," and "State of Confusion."

The band enjoyed a major late-career hit in 1982 with "Come Dancing," which became one of their biggest American singles. Avory was still part of the group during that period, but tensions within the band continued. He left The Kinks in 1984 after years of friction, particularly with Dave Davies. Bob Henrit later took over as the band's drummer.

Even after leaving the touring lineup, Avory remained connected to The Kinks' world. He worked at Konk, the band's London recording studio, and maintained a relationship with Ray Davies. His long tenure meant that he had played on most of the band's most important and beloved recordings.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

In 1990, The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The inducted classic lineup included Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Pete Quaife, and Mick Avory. The honor recognized the band's enormous influence on rock music, from punk and hard rock to Britpop and alternative rock.

The Kinks' catalog went on to influence artists including The Jam, The Pretenders, Van Halen, Blur, Oasis, Green Day, and many others. Avory's role in that legacy is sometimes understated, but his playing was part of the band's identity during its defining years.

Later Career

After his time with The Kinks, Avory continued performing. He became involved with The Kast Off Kinks, a group made up of former Kinks members who performed the band's music live. The project allowed fans to hear Kinks songs played by musicians with direct ties to the original records and tours.

Avory also participated in various interviews, archival projects, and Kinks-related events. While rumors of a full Kinks reunion have surfaced many times, the band's complicated personal history has made a lasting reunion difficult. Avory's continued connection to the music, however, has kept him visible to fans of the band.

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