’60s Pop And Rock Band Reunite Since Split In The Mid-90s

The Kinks split in 1997 after more than three decades together due to tensions among the bandmates. The group consisting of Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Pete Quaife, and Mick Avory came together in the early ’60s and were easily one of the most influential bands of their time.

Thankfully, they are set to bury the 20-year rift and mark their reunion with a new Kinks album. “The trouble is, the two remaining members, my brother Dave and Mick, never got along very well,” the band’s frontman, Ray, recently revealed. “But I’ve made that work in the studio, and it’s fired me up to make them play harder and with fire.”

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Ray was inspired to reunite the group after witnessing The Rolling Stones’ UK tour, which he praised for being well-organized. “The Kinks will probably be playing the local bar,” he said. Ray’s brother Dave also confirmed the news in a recent chat, with high hopes for their return. “We spoke about it only last week. We’re going to meet up again this week and see where the journey might take us,” he shared.

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Dave built anticipation for new music and “stuff we’ve had in demo form or things we didn’t use,” in his interview with New Cue. “We’ve had loads of stuff in the can for ages, so who knows? There’s quite a few songs we’ve either revamped or done slightly differently so we’ll see,” the lead guitarist assured.

Brotherly feud

The Davies brothers had a tumultuous relationship as siblings and music partners. Dave previously confessed to physical altercations between them just before some stage performances. “I am a very emotional person and Ray is more reticent about his feelings, but he was working it all out all the time. keep your guard up, a carefully placed right jab,” he recalled. “I wish it had been more flower loveliness.”

A few years back, Dave called his brother a vampire and a control freak while claiming, “Ray sucks me dry of ideas, emotions and creativity.” Aside from Ray, other band members had fallouts with Dave, including Mick, who went physical with him on the Capitol Theater stage in 1965. “It really had a tremendous emotional effect on me,” Ray recalled. “We were just kids, don’t forget— Dave and Mick were just 17 and 19 back then and forever having a go.”