Death Of A Clown

What is it with Americas obsession with scary clowns? Since I think I am going to post a bit more about this subject, let's start off with a song and a story.
The song is Death Of A Clown by the Kinks. It was recorded in 1967 and is poignant and notable because it was one of the only Kink hits written and sung by Dave Davies, the lead guitarist of the band and brother of Ray. Dave is recovering from a kidney transplant these days and that sort of has put the kibbosh on any talk of a Kinks reunion.
Dave might not have even been around to write and sing this song if events in Illinois in 1965 had taken an uglier turn. In a story told by his brother, Ray in a 2006 interview with MOJO Magazine, Ray tells of the bands first ill fated American Tour. Thay ran into a lot of trouble with the Musicians Union and were subsequently banned from playing in the USA until 1968.
The first tour in 65 was a mess with the band mis labled in NYC as The Kings. Their manager was arrested in Philadelphia over a tax problem...
On June 23, they played a sparsely attended convert in Springfield, Illinois. After the concert, the promoter offered to let them stay at his home. He was a fat greasy little man and he got the band in his suburban home and got them drunk.
Dave, according to drummer Peter Quaife, seemed to be the center of the greasy little promoters attention. Soon, Dave was pretty drunk and something just didn't seem rigfht to the rest. They got their equipment together and got out of there.
A few years later, they heard the name of the promoter in the news. He was John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer and the house they had been in was a graveyard already.
Gacy wanted the ultimate autograph...Dave Davies hanging on the wall!
Gacy had lived a total double life and was well known as Pogo The Clown. a popular entertainer at childrens parties.