The Kinks Are Getting Back Together, Releasing New Album

Ray Davies being interviewed by Channel 4 News. Image: Screenshot via YouTube / Channel 4 News

If you’re a fan of The Kinks, then there’s some good news. The band, formed by brothers Ray and Dave Davies back in 1963, are reforming. Not only that, but they’re working on some new music too, which will be their first new material in 25 years.

The band, famous for classic songs like “You Really Got Me”, “Waterloo Sunset” and “Lola”, haven’t released any new songs since their last studio album released in 1993, which was called Phobia. Their last performance was a few years later in 1996, after which they disbanded. But now, not only is there going to be a new album, but possibly some tour dates too.

Photographer Barrie Wentzell recalls, "Usually Ray Davies' favorite place to meet for interviews and photo shoots,was Kenwood House, top of Hampstead Heath, where I shot some pictures used on the back cover of ’Village Green Preservation Society’. This time we met in his manager's office in Mayfair, the original Kinks had gone and the new band was emerging and future photo shoots were done in the ’Pub’." © Barrie Wentzell

In an interview with Channel 4 News (see below), Ray Davies jokingly pretended to phone Mick Avory (The Kinks’ drummer) and say, “Mick, I’ll see you at the pub later.” Then remarked, “[We’re] making a new Kinks album, inspired by The Rolling Stones.” When Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked “Are you really?” Davies responded, “We’ve been talking about it, because I’ve got all these songs. I wrote them when the band, not broke up, but parted company and I think it’s kind of an appropriate time to do it.”

He was then asked whether The Kinks are getting back together, and Davies replied, “Officially we are, yes.” So there you have it, straight from the Davies' mouth. The band will feature all the remaining members of The Kinks, which is Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory (other original member Peter Quaife died in 2010). They’ve all been working together in the studio, which has helped heal some animosity between Dave and Mick, who didn’t always see eye-to-eye.

"The trouble is, the two remaining members—my brother Dave and Mick—never got along very well." Davies notes. “But I've made that work in the studio and it's fired me up to make them play harder, and with fire.” With the idea to "recapture those moments."

Glastonbury Festival June 2013, Mick Jagger headlining with the Rolling Stones on the Pyramid Stage. This was their debt performance at the festival and they played 20 songs during their two hour set. © Jill Furmanovsky

When asked about a possible tour, which seems to have been partly inspired by The Rolling Stones highly praised European tour, Davies said, “It won't be well-organised like the Rolling Stones. 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."

Sounds perfect. For Kinks fans, who since the band “parted ways” in the 90s have only had The Kinks musical, Sunny Afternoon, as an approximate experience for live Kinks shows, it's certainly welcome news.

You can check out the full Ray Davies interview with Channel 4 News, below. And find out the latest updates from The Kinks at their website here.

Rockarchive is delighted to be able to offer The Kinks and The Rolling Stones images as limited edition photographic prints which you can buy here and here.