
On Monday, Billboard ran an interview I conducted with John Carpenter about Lost Themes, the director’s first standalone album after crafting film soundtracks for 45 years.
In the course of the interview, Carpenter explained that Lost Themes came together through collaborative improvisation sessions with Cody Carpenter, his son, and Daniel Davies, his godson and the son of Kinks guitarist Dave Davies. Carpenter referred to him as “my godson, the kid that I raised, Daniel Davies.”
John Carpenter Talks Debut Album ‘Lost Themes’ & Why Music Is Easier Than Directing
On Tuesday (Jan. 27), Dave Davies reached out to me and requested I run a statement he composed in response to Carpenter’s comment. Below is Davies’ full letter:
“To clarify, John Carpenter helped to raise my son Daniel Davies during a difficult period in Daniel’s adolescence. John and I were close friends who lived near each other in Hollywood. I have enjoyed my own music collaborations with John on In the Mouth of Madness and Village of the Damned [both 1995]. After my bust up with Daniel’s mother I moved out and as we were close friends and as I had made him Daniel’s godfather, it was decided that my adolescent son would move in with John while things were sorted out. Even though Daniel chose to live with John Carpenter I always provided child support to Daniel’s mother. My son was also very close friends with Cody, John’s son.
“I feel as though it is an exaggeration for John Carpenter to say he raised my son when really he just stepped in to help during a difficult period. He did not know my son during Daniel’s early childhood years and I don’t want to come off in the press as someone who neglected a son of mine.
“Whereas Daniel and John happily maintain a healthy bond, Daniel and I have always had a strong father and son relationship and bond as well. John has been a good friend of mine but I would regret if people came away from your article with a misunderstanding of my character and of past events.”
Dave Davies’ most recent album, 2014’s Rippin’ Up Time, is out now.