Ray Davies says alcohol was his demon as recently as 10 years ago. "Not many people know this, but I was living alone in 2000 and 2001. I was living in an isolated place and drinking heavily. I watched the same film over and over again for three weeks. It comforted me, because I knew every line..."

"Alcohol did get the better of me. I was having sleep problems. But drink doesn't cure sleep."

Davies is in London this weekend to perform at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games on Sunday. He'll sing The Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset." Davies says, "I don’t get why it’s considered my best work. I still want to rewrite the words ‘And I don’t need no friends.’ It sounds like a Marlon Brando line.” Davies once told us that he wished Frank Sinatra had recorded the song.

Davies says, "To tell the truth I couldn’t wait to get away from London and all that pre-Olympic euphoria. But when I landed [back here after my tour] I couldn’t wait to get back. You miss a good cup of tea, all the simple things.”