Davies wonders where clothes went after New Orleans shooting

Ray Davies, former frontman for the Kinks, remembers being shot in January 2004 while chasing a would-be robber in New Orleans.

"It was classic movie material," Davies said by phone from North London, during a teleconference with American music critics. "I chased him across the street. His getaway car pulled up about 20 yards away. He took classic shot, you know, stance, you see. And two hands on the gun, crouched slightly, got his aim together and shot. And I ducked."

Davies was hit in the leg. "I saw the flash come out, and it was just like a movie, and it really did hurt. I don't remember much after that. Anyone who has been shot will know it's just the absolute coldness that goes through your body. And I was just shot, felt the pain. I just looked. It looked like a dot in my leg, but actually my leg was smashed.

"Something that worries me (is) where are my pants that I was wearing? I had a new pair of brown cords, and I really liked those so much, and the jacket and shirt I was wearing. Everything that I was wearing has disappeared. I remember they were cutting at my trousers to get my pants off and get to the wound. I said, 'Hey, these are new pants.' And they looked at me and said, 'Sir, we don't give a (bleep)."

At that time, Davies had been working on his solo album "Other People's Lives." And while he was in the hospital, he decided to write some of his thoughts about the songs. "I was recovering about 2 1/2, three months. I started writing a journal book about (the songs) because I didn't I could go back and finish (the album). All the songs were written before I got shot, but they sound like they could be predicting that something bad was going to happen."

A condensed version of his writings found their way into the recently released CD's liner notes: "I'm happy I was able to release the album. I stand by it and am proud of it."

The album features 13 tracks, some recorded as early as 2002 and 2003. Despite the time between recording and releasing the album, Davies said he didn't want to go back and redo any of the songs before it hit the stores. "I didn't have time. When you think that (the album) was recorded somewhere in 2003, I had a year and a bit out because I was recovering from the gunshot injury, and time had flown by. I don't think I'd re-record any of the tracks (but) there's always a temptation to go back and re-record things, but it's got to end sometime. There comes a point when you say, 'Stop.' But I do stand by the original versions."