Supertramp vocalist Rick Davies has died aged 81.
The Give A Little Bit singer, who was a co-founder and only consistent member of the band after their formation in 1970, died on Friday a decade after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.
In a statement, his bandmates said: ‘The Supertramp Partnership is very sad to announce the death of the Supertramp founder, Rick Davies after a long illness.
‘Rick passed away at his home on Long Island on September 5th. We had the privilege of knowing him, and playing with him for over fifty years.
‘We offer our sincere condolences to Sue Davis.’
Davies co-founded the Logical Song band in 1970 with Roger Hodgson, and they performed with Dougie Thomson, Bob Siebenberg and John Helliwell from 1973 to 1983.
Their band’s biggest hits included the likes of Give A Little Bit, Breakfast In America and Take The Long Way Home, while they earned four Grammy nominations.
After Hodgson left to go solo after 1982’s Famous Last Words album, the group stayed together, with the remaining members staying together.
In 2002 they released their final record Slow Motion, while Davis’ cancer diagnosis forced plans for a 2015 European tour to be cancelled.
He said at the time: ‘I’m sorry to disappoint everyone who has overwhelmingly supported the upcoming tour.
‘Unfortunately my current health issues have derailed me and right now I need to focus all of my energy on getting well.’
Three years later, he and current Supertramp members at the time performed some songs as a sound check in a bar under the name Ricky and the Rockets.
He suggested it was unlikely they would ever perform again as Supertramp, and four years later they performed again as Ricky and the Rockets in New York.
Composer Bear McCreary is among those to pay tribute to Davies after his death.
He wrote on X: ‘Tearfully celebrating the life and music of Supertramp’s Rick Davies.
‘A generational talent, he wrote “Bloody Well Right,” one of the most iconic songs of the decade. Sending condolences and gratitude to his family. #RIP.’
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