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Aw, dang. Rick Davies, co-founder, co-lead vocalist, co-songwriter, and only continuous member of Supertramp, has passed away. Crime of the Century from 1974 and Breakfast in America from 1979 remain absolute bangers to this day.
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Supertramp - Breakfast in America
An absolute hero of mine, arguably the first proper band that I ever got into.
Supertramp's music was omnipresent when I was a kid, but it wasn't until my Dad bought the compilation album 'The Autobiography of Supertramp' when I was 11 that I really discovered the band. Supertramp were indeed my first real 'favourite' band, and something like 5 out of the first 10 CDs I ever bought were Supertramp albums, including my first purchase, 'Crime of the Century'. I remember hearing 'Bloody Well Right' for the first time and thinking it was heavy metal
'Crime...' blew me away though, and after a childhood of listening to stuff like Madonna and the Pet Shop Boys, songs like 'Asylum', 'Rudy' and the title track were on another planet.
In high school, I girl I fancied since primary that I'd never spoken to found out that I liked Supertramp (don't remember at all how), and she made me a copy of 'Crisis? What Crisis?' I remember it being the worst recording ever, as it was a tape recording of her sister's vinyl copy, but I still love that album to this day - not least because of Davies' tracks.
Supertramp also helped get a school bully off my back. I had bought their very first album on CD, and included the epic '
Try Again' on a rock mixtape. The school bully (Dale) grabbed my headphones and said something like 'what crap are you listening to?', and it was the jam section of 'Try Again' - he was mighty impressed, and it turned out we were both into 70's classic rock, esp. Dire Straits and Pink Floyd. We were (kind of) friends after that.
I guess Rick Davies' signature track would have to be 'From Now On' from Even in the Quietest Moments - however, 'Gone Hollywood' is a personal favourite of mine, and really sets the stage for arguably their crowning glory. It's a pity I'm still stuck in hospital right now, otherwise I'd be banging out some tunes right now - but for the moment, my iPad and headphones will suffice.
RIP Rick Davies
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Edit: I took my copy of 'Breakfast...' up the One World Trade Centre in New York 10 years ago this week.
It was crazy, as while I was taking this picture, several different people came up to me to tell me about their experiences with Supertramp music.
