The 1979 Supertramp lineup (l. to r.): John Helliwell, Bob Siebenberg, Dougie Thomson, Roger Hodgson, Rick Davies (A&M Records press photo; Greg Brodsky Archives)
Rick Davies, who founded the British rock band Supertramp with Roger Hodgson in 1969, died Sept. 6, 2025, at age 81, after a long illness, at his Long Island (N.Y.) home. The news was shared on Sept. 7 by a longtime executive with the group’s label, A&M Records, who has remained in contact with the group’s members. Davies, a keyboardist and one of the group’s primary vocalists, wrote such classic rock songs as “Bloody Well Right” and “Goodbye Stranger,” while singing lead on both. The latter was one of three top 10 singles from Supertramp’s Breakfast in America, which was 1979’s top-selling album in the U.S. It reached #1 on the Billboard chart, remaining there for six weeks that spring. It earned a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year, losing to Billy Joel’s 52nd Street.
The statement of Davies’ passing, attributed to the “Supertramp Partnership,” noted, “We had the privilege of knowing him and playing with him for over fifty years. We offer our sincere condolences to [his wife and the band’s longtime manager] Sue Davies.”
On Sept. 7, the band’s long dormant Facebook page formally announced his death, noting “his soulful vocals and unmistakable touch on the Wurlitzer became the heartbeat of the band’s sound.
Watch Supertramp, with Davies on lead vocals, perform “Bloody Well Right” in 1979
Davies and Hodgson, also a vocalist and keyboardist (and a guitarist), wrote or co-wrote the vast majority of Supertramp’s songs. In the late 1970s, they created a generous royalty sharing publishing agreement with other non-writing members of the band—bassist Dougie Thomson, saxophonist John Helliwell and drummer Bob Siebenberg. However, in the early ’80s, Davies and Hodgson had a rift due to a battle over the publishing agreement and “musical differences,” causing the latter to depart in 1983.
In 2024, Hodgson won a court ruling in Los Angeles that seemingly put an end to the 1977 songwriting agreement. However, as the website Noise 11 reported on Aug. 22, 2025, a court of appeals overturned that decision. Among Hodgson’s well known compositions for the group are “The Logical Song,” “Take the Long Way Home” and “Give a Little Bit.”
Richard Davies was born on July 22, 1944, to a working-class family in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, and developed what would become a lifelong passion for jazz, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. In his late teens, he formed his own band, Rick’s Blues, which included the future pop star Gilbert O’Sullivan. In 1969, Davies placed an ad in the British music weekly Melody Maker seeking musicians to join his new band. Hodgson was one of those to respond. By 1970, they had changed their name to Supertramp and signed with A&M.
Their breakthrough came with their third album, 1974’s Crime of the Century, which catapulted them to global success, breaking them into the U.K. top five and U.S. Billboard top 40 for the first time.
Despite its ultimate success, the album was not an instant hit upon its release. “Bloody Well Right” was the first single released in the U.S., reaching #35 on the Hot 100, but it wasn’t until the release of “Dreamer” in February 1975 that the track caught the imagination and momentum truly began to build. Its distinctive and unique charm resulted in radio play across the U.K., reaching #13. As a result, the album broke into the U.K. top five shortly before the band was to tour the U.S. This proved to be a pivotal time: “Bloody Well Right” became the “Dreamer” B-side and this laid the foundation for commercial success around the world.
Supertramp moved to Los Angeles and a pair of follow-up albums continued their momentum. In 1979, they were one of the biggest bands in the world, following the release and extensive tour for the album Breakfast In America. It spawned the hit singles “The Logical Song,” “Goodbye Stranger” and “Take the Long Way Home,” went on to win two Grammy Awards and earned platinum sales levels around the globe.
Watch Supertramp perform “Goodbye Stranger” on The Midnight Special in 1979
In 2015, Davies was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, causing the cancellation of a tour that he was planning to lead. There had been a flurry of posts on the band’s official Facebook page leading up to the tour. There had never been another since the Aug. 4, 2015, announcement of the tour’s cancellation, until Sept. 7, 2025, when the page formally revealed Davies’ passing.
Davies actually performed in 2018 with his “other” band, Ricky and the Rockets.
Watch a clip of their sound check
Davies’ bandmate, John Helliwell, wrote a lengthy tribute to his friend of 52 years. “[Rick] shaped my life in many ways, most notably musically. His talent for writing and playing was boundless – he was the finest musician I have known.
“He was also quirky, frustrating and funny: when I first met him he was wrapped in a space blanket, when we roomed together he used to really bug me by stealing my toothpaste and squeezing the tube from the wrong end, he had a quirky turn of phrase – e.g., ‘As crazy as a cross-eyed clockwork cuckoo on a cricket pitch.’
“When he played, it was always absolutely spot-on, from the heart, and with precise timing – no frills – he captured the very essence of the music that he usually had composed himself.
“I was proud to be the best man at his wedding to Sue. We were both jazz lovers – we played 50s and 60s hard-bop and soul artists such as Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Lou Donaldson when we were hanging out.
“I feel honoured to have known and played with him.”
Supertramp’s albums are available in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here. Their Live in Paris ‘79 album was reissued in 2025. The title, available on 3-LPs or 2-CDs is in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.
Longtime A&M Records labelmate Joan Armatrading posted a tribute. “It’s so sad to hear of the death of Rick Davies,” she wrote. “I did my first big support tour with Supertramp in 1975. All of the band: Rick, Roger, John, Bob, Dougie were so nice to me. Thanks to all of the band for giving me such great memories. RIP Rick.”
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3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThank You for informing of Rick Davies’ passing. What a fabulous talent and what an incredible unique band.
he was a great Singer for Supertramp very sad to learn Rick Davies pass away, pray for his band and family in these trying times, love all Supertramp songs
He carried on without Hodgson rather impressively with the “Brother Where You Bound” album, though took a rather unfortunate detour after that with “Free as a Bird”. His “Goodbye Stranger” will always be a song that sticks with me, as I lost one of my best friends when that hit, and he LOVED Supertramp and that song.