Rick Davies, Supertramp’s vocalist and co-founder, dies at 81

Rick Davies, co-founder and lead vocalist of the band Supertramp, passed away at the age of 81 on Friday (5) in Long Island, USA, after a long battle with cancer. The band confirmed the news in an official statement to the press. ‘The Supertramp Partnership deeply regrets to announce the death of Supertramp’s founder, Rick Davies, after a long illness. Rick passed away at his home in Long Island on September 5. We had the privilege of knowing him and playing with him for over fifty years. Our sincere condolences go out to Sue Davies,’ the statement read. A reference in progressive rock, Supertramp blended pop and art-rock elements to stand out in the music scene of the 1970s and 1980s. Composer of classics like ‘Goodbye Stranger’ and ‘Bloody Well Right,’ Davies was known for his deep voice, less distinctive than his former partner Roger Hodgson, composer, and singer of the band’s biggest hit, ‘The Logical Song.’ Davies took over the band after Hodgson’s departure in 1983. Born in Swindon, England, in 1944, he became obsessed with music at an early age. Besides being the lead vocalist, Davies also played keyboards in Supertramp and even drums in his youth. After performing in several bands when he was young, Davies decided to form his own group in 1969. That’s when he met Hodgson. Together, in January 1970, after briefly performing under the name Daddy, they launched Supertramp. Throughout the 1970s, they released successful albums like ‘Crime of the Century,’ ‘In the Quietest Moments,’ and ‘Breakfast in America.’ Davies continued to perform until 2022, albeit sometimes under the name Ricky and the Rockets. Supertramp’s last album was ‘Slow Motion’ in 2002. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015.