Rick Davies, co-founder, songwriter, and longtime member of the British rock band Supertramp, has died at the age of 81 following a lengthy battle with cancer, the band announced in a statement.
Davies, born in Swindon, England in 1944, co-founded Supertramp in 1969 with Roger Hodgson. Together, the pair established a partnership that defined the band’s sound, blending progressive rock with pop sensibilities. While Hodgson’s high-pitched vocals carried many of Supertramp’s most recognizable hits, including “The Logical Song,” Davies’ deeper, more understated voice powered tracks such as “Goodbye Stranger” and “Bloody Well Right.”
Supertramp achieved global success with their 1979 album Breakfast in America, which unexpectedly topped charts and cemented their reputation as a leading rock act. Following Hodgson’s departure in 1983 over creative and financial disputes, Davies carried the group forward. Their disagreements extended to royalties and continued into legal battles, with proceedings reportedly active as recently as last month.
“The Supertramp Partnership is very sad to announce the death of the Supertramp founder, Rick Davies after a long illness,” the group said in its statement. “Rick passed away at his home on Long Island on September 5th. We had the privilege of knowing him, and playing with him for over fifty years. We offer our sincere condolences to Sue Davies.”
Davies’ musical journey began as a drummer before shifting to keyboards. His first band, Rick’s Blues, included future singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan, who later credited Davies as an important mentor. After playing with several groups, Davies placed an advertisement in 1969 seeking musicians, which led to Hodgson’s involvement. The group, briefly called Daddy, adopted the name Supertramp in January 1970, launching a career that would span decades.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ