Destroyer (The Kinks song)

"Destroyer"
Single by The Kinks
from the album Give the People What They Want
B-side	"Back to Front"
Released	September 28, 1981 (US)
Format	7" single
Recorded	May 1979 - June 1981
Genre	Rock
Length	3:47
Label	Arista AS 0619
Writer(s)	Ray Davies
Producer	Ray Davies
The Kinks singles chronology
"You Really Got Me (live)" (US, 1980) "Destroyer" (US, 1981) "Better Things" (US, 1981)

"Destroyer" is a song by British rock band The Kinks, written by Ray Davies. It was released as a track on the group's nineteenth album, Give the People What They Want, in August 1981, and was the album's lead single in the US. It was not released as a single in the UK.

Style and lyrics

This song borrows the main riff from The Kinks' song "All Day and All of the Night". The lyrics are based on The Kinks' song "Lola" which is about a transvestite. In this song, the guy becomes paranoid after taking Lola back to his place.

Release and reception

The track was chosen as the lead single from the album in the US ("Better Things" was the lead single in the UK), although it was released after the album in September. The single reached #3 on the Billboard Rock Top Tracks chart and #85 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In the UK, the track was only available when the album was released there in January 1982.