Ray Davies confirms The Kinks have reformed and are recording a new album
The Kinks have (partially) buried the hatchet and are officially reforming 22 years on from their split.
In an interview with Channel 4 News, singer Ray Davies says he’s been working in the studio with his brother Dave Davies and the band's other surviving original member Mick Avory and the trio are “making a new Kinks album.”
Although the long-standing acrimony between siblings Ray and Dave appears to be over, Ray says: "The trouble is, the two remaining members – my brother Dave and Mick – never got along very well. But I've made that work in the studio and it's fired me up to make them play harder, and with fire.”
74-year-old Ray added that he hoped to “recapture those moments” on record.
Asked if The Kinks are reuniting, Ray said: "Officially we are... in the pub later on." He added: "I've got all these songs that I wrote for the band when we – not broke up – parted company, and I think it's kind of an appropriate time to do it."
Ray explained that he was partially inspirited to get back together with Dave and Mick by fellow septuagenarian rockers The Rolling Stones.
"It won't be well-organised like the Rolling Stones," Ray joked. "You must praise the Rolling Stones for being great at publicity and a great band great at organising their careers and Mick Jagger has done an incredible PR job and it’s kind of inspiring to see them doing it.
"But The Kinks will probably be playing the local bar."
Ray and Dave Davies were the sole constant members of The Kinks from their formation in Muswell Hill in 1964 to their split 32 years later.
Drummer Mick Avory was with the band for the first two decades of their career. Pete Quaife, who was also in the band’s original line-up, died from kidney failure in 2010.