THE Kinks are widely regarded as one of the most influential British bands of all time.

Dave Davies’ distorted driving guitar riff on debut single You Really Got Me in 1964 is often seen as the moment heavy rock was born, but they later changed to more melodic musings, such as Sunny Afternoon, Dead End Street and Waterloo Sunset.

The band’s popularity in the UK waned in the 1970s, but they found new commercial success in the US.

They briefly returned to the UK top 20 in 1983 with Come Dancing and amazingly continued performing together until 1996, when the Davies brothers went their separate ways with solo careers.

The Kast Off Kinks formed to keep the music playing on and was originally the Lola line-up apart from Ray and Dave Davies.

It currently features Mick Avory who drummed on all the hits from 1964-84, bassist John Dalton, who was with the band in 1966 and from 1969-76, 1979-96 keyboard-player Ian Gibbons, who still plays with Ray Davies, and Dave Clarke on guitar and vocals, who was formerly with the Beach Boys.

Almost every other ex-Kink has guested with the band, including Ray Davies.

The Kast Off Kinks will be making Bonfire Night go with a bang at Clacton's Princes Theatre this Saturday at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £20 (£18 concessions) from the box office on 01255 686633.