Watch Kinks’ Ray Davies Humbly Discuss Knighthood
Ray Davies was knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, where the Kinks frontman thanked fans and met with members of the press. Davies previously received the CBE – Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – by Queen Elizabeth in 2004.
“I think these things always kind of difficult for me take,” he told Belfast Telegraph of the honor in a video interview. “I’m quite a loner person, so to be accepted to any part of society is good… I don’t know what I have to do for it, just keep on working, do good work.”
Ever since he and his brother Dave (they’ve had a storied fractious relationship over the years) reunited for a live performance at the Islington Assembly Hall in North London in December 2015, Kinks fans have been talking about a possible reunion. In an interview with ITV News, Ray revealed that he’s working on a new album, but played coy about whether Dave would be involved. “It depends on the deal offered,” he said.
On Thursday, Sir Ray Davies focused on relishing his celebratory moment. “Very kind, nervous people, great music, great hosts, great show, great theater,” he said of the investiture ceremony. “And it’s quite moving actually, seeing all the different (people). Not just people like me, people who come from all different sectors.”
Davies will return with his first solo album in nearly a decade, Americana. The album, out April 21st, is based on his 2013 memoir Americana: The Kinks, the Riff, the Road: The Story. The legendary rocker meanwhile has been keeping busy with various projects including collaborative album See My Friends.