With the recent 50th anniversary release of The Kinks' highly acclaimed album Village Green Preservation Society, the band was honored with a Gold Disc award for UK sales. With much ceremony Gold Discs were presented to Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory - the three surviving original members of the band. But one award was conspicuously absent: a Gold Disc for bassist Peter Quaife, founding member of The Kinks and equal contributor to the Village Green album. This petition seeks to address this oversight by presenting the Gold Disc that Pete earned and deserves to his life partner and next of kin, Elisabeth Bilbo.

The legendary band was founded in 1963 by Pete and brothers Ray and Dave Davies. From 1963 until 1969 Pete was a core member of The Kinks, providing the driving bassline and backing vocals on many hit singles, concert tours, and seven LPs. Of Pete and his contributions, Dave Davies said "Everything we did together just jelled, like magic. His playing was very intuitive. He was adept at changing styles, and always knew what the song needed. ... Pete was crucial to the DNA of The Kinks, and things were never the same after he left. We were great friends who really respected each other’s lives, and I’ll honor his memory as long as I live." The Village Green LP was Pete's last album with the band, and he told Jukebox magazine in 2006 "Making that album was the high point of my career. It is something of which I am very proud... It is probably the only album made by The Kinks in which we all contributed something."

Peter met Elisabeth Bilbo in her native Denmark in summer of 1971. Seeing the charming but rail-thin musician working in studio, she started bringing him home cooked meals and a romance quickly blossomed. Pete and Elisabeth were together until 1978, and soon after they separated Pete moved to Canada. After a missed attempt to reconnect in 1985, a very ill Pete returned to Denmark in 2003. He soon moved in with Elisabeth - the two living off her salary - and with a love rekindled Pete and Elisabeth remained inseparable until his death from renal failure in 2010. The two were engaged to be married, with a wedding planned for just days after his untimely death.

While sadly Peter Quaife is no longer here to participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of Village Green Preservation Society, clearly he earned, deserves and should share in the honor represented by the Gold Disc award. And the love that Pete and Elisabeth shared was a true partnership over many years, with Elisabeth as Pete's steadfast support through both health and his long sickness.  

With this petition we ask The Kinks and BMG (label for the 50th anniversary edition of Village Green Preservation Society) to correct this unfortunate oversight by awarding a posthumous Gold Disc Award to Peter Quaife, and presenting it to his life partner, fiancee and next of kin Elisabeth Bilbo.

GOD SAVE THE VILLAGE GREEN!
GOD SAVE PETER QUAIFE!
GOD SAVE THE KINKS!