This Day in Music – You really shot me!

On this day in 2004, Kinks singer Ray Davies was shot in the leg while on holiday in New Orleans. The 59-year-old singer-songwriter was shot when running after two men who stole his girlfriend’s purse at gunpoint. Davies was admitted to the Medical Centre of Louisiana but his injuries were not considered serious. New Orleans police said one person had been arrested, and police were still searching for the second. Police chief Eddie Compass said: “I’m sorry for what happened but Mr Davies showed poor judgment in running after the individuals.”
The headlines were brilliant – “You Really Shot Me” said one newspaper. Later in the year all charges were dropped against the man accused of shooting Davies because the star failed to appear in court for a second time. Davies said he was given only a few days’ notice of the case, which has been closed by prosecutors. The singer stated, “I am very disappointed with the way this case has been handled, I intend to pursue it further.”
The case was also dismissed from court in 2005 because Davies was not in court, but prosecutors reserved the right to resume the trial.
Davies was lucky, and to give chase after being shot in the leg, he must be mad!
“Happiness Is A Warm Gun” sang John Lennon, but of course he was being ironic. (He got the line from the front of a gun magazine that producer George Martin showed him).
Shooting incidents are a plenty, as we know.
One of the most tragic was in 2004, when former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell was one of five people killed after a man stormed the stage during a Damageplan show at the Alrosa Villa Club in Columbus. Nathan Gale, aged 25, began firing at the band and crowd, was then shot and killed by a police officer who arrived shortly after the first shots were fired.
Gale shot Abbott four times in the head using a 9mm handgun, the fourth shot killed him instantly. Gale continued shooting, killing three others and wounding a further seven. Gale fired a total of fifteen shots, stopping to reload once and remaining silent throughout the shooting.
Not so long ago, Wyclef Jean, the American singer and music producer, was shot in Haiti while campaigning for a presidential candidate Michel Martelly. The 41-year-old former member of The Fugees was taken to hospital in Port-au-Prince and was treated for a bullet wound to his right hand.
In 2005 singer, songwriter Marc Cohn survived being shot in the head during an attempted car jacking as he left a concert in Denver, Colorado. Cohn was struck in the temple by the bullet but it did not penetrate his skull. Police said a man tried to commandeer Cohn’s tour van as it left after a show, the attacker was fleeing police after trying to pay a hotel bill with a stolen credit card.
In the same year Rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight was admitted to hospital after being shot in the leg at a party hosted by hip hop star Kanye West. The party was held at a club in Miami, Florida, to celebrate this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.
I could go on, just a few weeks back we covered shooting accidents – and we’ve yet to discuss Phil Spector!
Happiness is not a warm gun.