Ray Davies Says a Kinks Reunion Will Take a Miracle
Newly knighted Kinks frontman Ray Davies said he’s writing music in the style of the band, but he believes the long-speculated reunion with brother Dave will take place only if a “miracle” occurs.
Davies was raised to the status of Knight of the British Empire by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in London last week. The royal honor – his second since 2004 – was awarded in recognition of his contribution to music.
Speaking after the ceremony, Davies revealed that he was working on music partly inspired by his fractious relationship with Dave. “I want to model the songs as if the Kinks had been here," Ray told the Belfast Telegraph: "It’s definitely a mindset to get into. I’m working on it.”
But, he added, “a reunion is unlikely at this stage – unless a miracle is going to happen. Everybody is on their own journey now.”
It’s not clear whether this project will be an album to follow the upcoming release of his solo album Americana or if it's the stage musical production he’s alluded to on a number of occasions.
Davies described his knighthood as a “moving” honor, noting, “These things are always difficult for me to take. I’m quite a loner person. To be accepted in any part of society is good. When we had our first hit ‘You Really Got Me,’ I just wanted to make enough money to live in Spain for the rest of my life and paint pictures. One thing led to another and I’ve ended up here.”
The Davies brothers last shared a stage at Dave’s solo show in London in 2015. The prospect of a Kinks reunion has ebbed and flowed for years since their last appearance in 1996. But an original-lineup gathering became impossible after the death of bassist Pete Quaife in 2010.
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