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
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.
Related: Musician and celebrity deaths of 2025
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