People: Ray Davies indicates Kinks could reunite
One of the most enduring sibling rivalries of the last half century is showing signs of a detente: The Kinks’ Ray Davies has confirmed conversations with his younger brother Dave that could reunite the band after decades of fraternal distance.
Creators of such stone-cold rock classics as “All Day and All of the Night,” “You Really Got Me” and “Lola,” the brothers Davies have been on-and-off for decades and have quashed reunion rumors in recent years.
The brothers, who formed the band in 1963, have clashed for decades. Dave, who suffered a stroke in 2004 but has since recovered, once said: “I think Ray has been happy for only three years in his life. And those were the three years before I was born.”
But Ray recently confirmed to the Sunday Times of London that relations were warming and that he and his brother even survived being in the same room together. He said tentative conversations had begun.
The last time the Davies brothers performed together was in 1996, after they embarked on a large-scale tour. That stint, though, isn’t a model for future gigs, Ray said. “We both agree we don’t want to do old stuff or tour with past hits. It’s got to be something new.”
Recently, though, Ray said a reunion of the two with Kinks drummer Mick Avory still required some healing. “My brother still has an issue with the drummer. If they resolve their issues, I might be there.”
Walters returning for TV interview
Barbara Walters’ time away from television isn’t lasting long.
The TV news icon said Tuesday that she will interview the father of Elliot Rodger, the California man who shot and killed six people and injured 13 others before turning the gun on himself last month. The interview with Peter Rodger will air as a prime-time special on ABC News in the next few weeks.
It was only last month that ABC honored Walters with a prime-time special and going-away party on “The View” when she stepped away from regular appearances on the daytime talk show she invented. She stressed at the time that she wouldn’t be retiring, and would still be available for special projects at ABC News.
That came quickly, when Peter Rodger specifically requested to be interviewed by Walters, ABC News President James Goldston said on Tuesday. He called Walters while she was vacationing in Berlin, and she agreed to do it.
“She always said she’d be back for special projects,” Goldston said. “I don’t think we anticipated one so soon.”
The birthday bunch
Actor Gene Wilder is 81. Singer Joey Dee is 74. Actress Adrienne Barbeau is 69. Rock musician Frank Beard (ZZ Top) is 65. Rock singer Donnie Van Zant is 62. Actor Hugh Laurie is 55. TV personality Mehmet Oz, M.D. (“Dr. Oz”) is 54. Actor Peter Dinklage is 45. Actor Shia LaBeouf is 28.