Ray Davies On Kinks Reunion: ‘Really, There’s Not A Chance’

Having carved out a considerable legacy with the Kinks, Ray Davies is well aware that it’s the songs from that body of work that the concert goers are paying to see. He also says that we shouldn’t hold our breath for a reunion of the British legends, which, sadly, jives with what his brother Dave said recently as well.

Ray has released two albums of his own original material since 2006, but feels he was recently presented with the proper angles at which to revisit Kinks material, first with 2009’s ‘The Kinks Choral Collection’ and later, this year’s ‘See My Friends.' The latter is a collection of Kinks classics redrawn as collaborations with artists like Metallica, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi (among many others).

In a new interview with Cleveland Scene, Davies says that “these things didn't happen by design. It seems like they did, but they happened quite casually. They weren't deliberate." On ‘See My Friends,’ Davies found that it was important to make the recording experience a true collaboration.

"The secret to this kind of album is to let it be a collaboration album — let the artists have their way. It's important to keep that."

Davies is currently writing songs for his next solo album. He’s even working with former Kinks drummer Mick Avory on some of the material. As always, Davies is crystal clear and brutally honesty when talking about his former bandmate. “He's not the greatest drummer in the world, but when he's right, he's perfect for my kind of narrative.”

For those who have been holding out hope for a Kinks reunion, the union of Avory and Davies might be as close as we’ll get. Davies once again puts the ball back in the court of his brother Dave, "I don't know what he's holding out for. Life's too short. I'd love to work with them again, but really, there's not a chance."