Kinks brothers hint at reunion and new music amid London heritage exhibition

Ray and Dave Davies have opened the door to a potential Kinks reunion, more than a decade after their last on-stage performance together. The brothers are currently collaborating on a new London exhibition, a project that has reportedly improved their historically fractious relationship.

"The Kinks: Brothers" exhibition has opened at the Gibson Garage in London and runs until September 6. The collection is anchored by a 1968 passport booth photograph of the pair taken in East Finchley, North London. Heritage music exhibitions like this represent a steady revenue stream in the UK cultural economy, leveraging established brand recognition to drive audience engagement and ticket sales.

The project involves English painter Christian Furr, known for his portraits of musical acts such as the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, Kate Bush and Jimi Hendrix. Dave Davies noted that the collaboration has helped thaw past tensions between the siblings. “It’s miraculous, really, how we've become so bonded,” he stated, adding that while their relationship has fluctuated, “there’s always been telepathy, since childhood.”

Speculation about a possible return grew after Ray joined his brother onstage for the first time since 1996 at London's Islington Assembly Hall in late 2015 to perform "You Really Got Me". When asked directly about a full band reunion now, Dave Davies replied, “I don’t know, but never say never." Such statements invariably spark speculation in the music business, where legacy act reunions generate substantial touring revenue and renew catalog streaming interest.

Unfinished catalog and commercial potential

The potential for new material also remains active within the band's estate. In late 2023, Ray Davies disclosed that he possesses a significant archive of unfinished Kinks songs. These recordings already feature contributions from Dave and former drummer Mick Avory.

"There are about two or three songs I want to finish," Ray Davies said at the time. "And when they’re finished, I’ll put the whole thing together." The completion and commercial release of these tracks would further monetize the band’s intellectual property, adding to a legacy catalog that has sustained decades of commercial viability in the global music market.