Rick Davies, co-founder, keyboardist and vocalist of art rock legends Supertramp, has died at the age of 81.
The band confirmed the news on social media. Their statement reads:
“Rick Davies, founder, lead singer and songwriter of Supertramp, died on Saturday, September 6, at the age of 81, after a more than 10-year battle with multiple myeloma (a rare form of blood cancer – editor’s note).”
“Born in 1944 in Swindon, England, Rick fell in love with music in childhood, listening to Gene Krupa’s Drummin’ Man, which grew into a lifelong passion for jazz, blues and rock’n’roll. Teaming up with Roger Hodgson, he became a key co-writer of Supertramp’s iconic songs, leaving an indelible mark on the history of rock music. His soulful vocals and masterful command of the Wurlitzer were the heartbeat of the band’s sound.
Off stage, Rick was known for his warmth, perseverance and devotion to his wife Sue, with whom he spent more than five decades. After serious health problems that kept him from continuing to tour with Supertramp, he passed the time playing with friends from his hometown, including Ricky and the Rockets.
“Rick’s music and legacy continue to inspire many, and that’s proof that great songs are eternal, that they live on, that they never die!”
Davies and Hodgson founded Supertramp in London in 1970. They were joined by bassist Dougie Thomson, drummer Bob Siebenberg and saxophonist John Helliwell. The band broke through with their third album, “Crime of the Century” from 1974, which featured Bloody Well Right, written by Davies. It was the first song of theirs to crack the US Top 40.
Davies kept on writing and created some of Supertramp’s best-loved tracks, including Goodbye Stranger, Ain’t Nobody But Me, From Now On, Brother Where You Bound and Rudy, although his contributions were often overshadowed by those of his fellow co-founder Hodgson, who left the band after the 1983 world tour.
Davies carried the band on, and Supertramp went on to release four more albums. “Brother Where You Bound” (1985) and “Free as a Bird” (1987) were followed by “Some Things Never Change” (1997), and the band’s final album, “Slow Motion”, came out in 2002.
Throughout the band’s run, though, the feud between Hodgson and Davies hung over everything. They agreed that Davies would keep the band name and Hodgson would retain the authorship rights to the songs he wrote for Supertramp, yet in the last decade Davies’ Supertramp played shows that included Hodgson’s songs too.
Rick and Roger did meet up and try to settle their differences before Supertramp hit the road in 2010. The talks ended without success, and Roger Hodgson didn’t want to work with Supertramp.
