John Gosling, who played keyboard and piano in the Kinks for the better part of the 1970s, has died. The band revealed the news on their official social media accounts, writing: “We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of John Gosling. We are sending our condolences to John’s wife and family.” Gosling was 75.
“Condolences to his wife Theresa and family. Rest in peace dearest John,” the Kinks frontman Ray Davies wrote in the statement. Guitarist Dave Davies added: “I’m dismayed deeply upset by John Gosling’s passing. He has been a friend and important contributor to the Kinks music during his time with us. Deepest sympathies to his wife and family. I will hold deep affection and love for him in my heart always. Great musician and a great man.”
Former drummer Mick Avory also paid tribute to Gosling, writing: “Today we lost a dear friend and colleague, he was a great musician and had a fantastic sense of humour, which made him popular member of the band, he leaves us with some happy memories. God Bless him.” Find the band’s full post here.
Gosling joined the Kinks in 1970, following the band’s success amid the British Invasion of the 1960s. During his audition for the group, the Kinks were readying their next album, Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. Gosling wound up recording on demos of “Powerman,” “This Time Tomorrow,” and “Lola” during the tryout. In 2009, Gosling recalled that fateful day in an interview, saying that the Kinks were “such an easy-going bunch of blokes! Dave handed me a beer from a crate in the middle of the room when I walked in and there was no starry behaviour.”
Widely considered their comeback single, “Lola” became a top 10 hit in the States and the United Kingdom, and it is still one of the Kinks’ most recognizable tracks to-date. Gosling played in the band until his departure 1978; during that time, he played keys and accordion on the Kinks’ country-rock experiment Muswell Hillbillies, and recorded on Percy, Everybody’s in Show-Biz—Everybody’s a Star, Preservation Act 1, Preservation Act 2, Soap Opera, and more.
In 1994, Gosling founded a group called the Kast Off Kinks alongside former members Avory, Jim Rodford, and John Dalton. Gosling played with the band until he retired in 2008.
