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"I think it would be nice to do something all together," says original drummer Mick Avory, who left the band in 1984. "The chances are diminishing as we talk. Hopefully me, Dave and Ray can meet before it happens."

He said: "We got together in August and the first few days were beautiful. We went up the pub and had a few Guinnesses, and we were talking about all kinds of s***, the old days and what-ifs.

"I said to Ray I thought that it'd be a great shame if we don't try and do something. I don't think our love has diminished. I think the stage-play has played itself out a bit, the pretence and the acting. I think it's time reality took over, and started directing the last years of... whatever it is. It's like Cain and Abel."

But Dave Davies also said he did not want the group to re-form for the wrong reasons: "I don't want to see the legacy of The Kinks soured by two miserable old men doing it for the money."

The Kinks's last album was in 1993 and their final public performance was in 1996. Original bass player Pete Quaife died in 2010.

The Kinks are best known for hits Waterloo Sunset, Sunny Afternoon, You Really Got Me and Lola. A musical featuring several of The Kinks's songs, called Sunny Afternoon, is due to open in the West End in April.