Today, I want to pay tribute to Rick (Richard) Davies of Supertramp, who has sadly passed away at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. Alongside Roger Hodgson, Rick was one half of one of the most distinctive and successful songwriting partnerships of the 1970s and early 1980s. Together, they created a sound that was instantly recognisable – a fusion of rock, pop, prog, and jazz influences, full of wit, emotion, and depth.
Rick was the steady anchor of the band: his soulful vocals, his grounded songwriting, and his keyboard playing were vital to Supertramp’s identity.
While Hodgson often provided the more ethereal, high-pitched melodies, Rick brought grit, swing, and a sense of lived-in realism. Tracks like Bloody Well Right, Goodbye Stranger, and From Now On are quintessential Rick Davies moments – sardonic, groovy, and brilliantly performed.
For me personally, my entry point into the band was Crisis? What Crisis? – an album that remains my favourite to this day. But like so many others of my generation, it was Crime of the Century (1974) that first made me sit up and listen. I vividly remember staying up late, trying to catch performances on The Old Grey Whistle Test, discovering bands that weren’t on Top of the Pops. I was 15 at the time, meant to be revising for exams, but music was calling louder. Seeing Supertramp perform Dreamer and Bloody Well Right on TV was a revelation.
Crime of the Century was everywhere in the school corridors. Some kids carried Black Sabbath records, others Led Zeppelin, but so many were clutching that striking black-and-white cover. For me, songs like The Meaning and Two of Us remain deeply personal touchstones, still giving me goosebumps today.
Of course, the album most people know is Breakfast in America (1979). It sold over 20 million copies worldwide, hit No. 1 in both the UK and the US, and produced timeless singles like The Logical Song, Take the Long Way Home, Goodbye Stranger, and the title track. At their peak, Supertramp filled stadiums, sold millions of albums, and became one of the defining rock bands of the late 1970s. In total, the band has sold an estimated 60 million albums worldwide, and their music continues to resonate across generations.
Behind those numbers, though, are the memories. Music is like a diary – it takes us back to exact moments in our lives. I can picture the record shop in Sheldon where I bought my original copy of Crisis? What Crisis? in 1975. I can still feel the thrill of hearing Dreamer for the first time on television. And I know many of you will have your own stories – of hearing The Logical Song on the radio, of seeing the band live, or of being transported by Even in the Quietest Moments.
Rick Davies’ contribution to all of this cannot be overstated. His voice, his musicianship, and his presence made Supertramp what they were. Even when creative tensions with Roger Hodgson eventually split the partnership, the songs they wrote together remain timeless.
To Rick’s family, to the wider Supertramp family, and to fans around the world – thank you for the music, Rick. It has meant so much, and it always will.
Today, I invite you to play some Supertramp. Pick a track – maybe Dreamer, maybe The Meaning, or maybe just put on Crime of the Century or Breakfast in America – and immerse yourself fully. Don’t scroll your phone, don’t multitask. Just listen, remember, and celebrate the man and the music.
Because as I always say: music is the healer and the doctor.
Rest in peace, Rick.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
