Rick Davies, the co-founder and lead singer of the legendary British rock band Supertramp, died on Saturday, September 5, 2025, at his Long Island, New York home. He was 81. The news, confirmed by the band in a heartfelt statement shared across their official website and social media accounts, marks the end of an era for progressive rock and pop fans worldwide.
Davies had been battling multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, for over a decade, according to Billboard and Newsweek. Despite his illness, he remained a resilient and passionate musician, performing with local friends as Ricky and the Rockets after health challenges forced him to step back from touring with Supertramp.
Born in Swindon, England, on July 22, 1944, Davies’s love for music ignited as a child. His parents gave him a record player, and he quickly became obsessed with jazz drummer Gene Krupa’s album “Drummin’ Man.” This early fascination grew into a lifelong passion for jazz, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll, as highlighted in the band’s tribute. According to CNN, Davies’s musical journey began in earnest with high school and college bands, including Rick’s Blues—where he played alongside future pop singer Gilbert O’Sullivan—and the Lonely Ones.
In 1969, seeking new collaborators, Davies placed an ad in Melody Maker magazine. The response led to the formation of Supertramp, with vocalist Roger Hodgson, guitarist Richard Palmer, and drummer Keith Baker joining the lineup. The band’s name was inspired by Welsh author William Henry Davies’s book, The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp.
Supertramp’s self-titled debut album arrived in 1970, followed by Indelibly Stamped in 1971. While these early records didn’t make a major commercial splash, the group’s fortunes changed with the release of Crime of the Century in 1974. The album reached No. 38 on the Billboard 200, and Davies’s “Bloody Well Right” climbed to No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a sign of things to come.
The band’s 1975 album, Crisis? What Crisis?, was less successful, but Supertramp rebounded in 1977 with Even in the Quietest Moments…. That album hit No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit “Give a Little Bit,” sung by Hodgson, which reached No. 15 on the pop singles chart. The group’s signature sound—an infectious blend of progressive rock, pop, and Davies’s soulful vocals and distinctive Wurlitzer piano—was now fully formed.
Then came the breakthrough. In 1979, Supertramp released Breakfast in America, their Grammy-nominated sixth album. According to The Guardian and BBC, it topped charts in both the United States and Canada, won two Grammy Awards, and went on to sell over 18 million copies worldwide. The album spawned a string of radio staples, including “The Logical Song” (No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Take the Long Way Home” (No. 10), and the Davies-penned “Goodbye Stranger” (No. 15). The band’s unique approach—sharing lead vocals and songwriting duties between Davies and Hodgson—helped create an instantly recognizable sound that resonated with millions.
As the 1980s dawned, creative tensions between Davies and Hodgson began to surface. After releasing the live album Paris in 1980 and the studio album …Famous Last Words… in 1982, Hodgson departed to pursue a solo career. Davies, now the group’s unquestioned leader, steered Supertramp through a period of experimentation. The 1985 album Brother Where You Bound featured the charting single “Cannonball” and a 16-minute title track with a guest guitar solo from Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. Two years later, Free as a Bird saw the band dabble in new wave and dance-influenced sounds, though it failed to chart as highly as their earlier work.
Despite lineup changes and evolving musical trends, Davies’s commitment to Supertramp never wavered. He led the band through two more albums—Some Things Never Change (1997) and Slow Motion (2002)—and a series of tours, with the final performance taking place in Madrid in 2012, as reported by NBC News. A planned European tour in 2015 was canceled after Davies’s cancer diagnosis.
Throughout his career, Davies was celebrated not just for his musicianship but for his character. The band’s statement, echoed by outlets such as Billboard and Newsweek, described him as “known for his warmth, resilience, and devotion to his wife Sue, with whom he shared over five decades.” Off the road, he found joy performing with hometown friends, maintaining his love of music even as his health declined.
Tributes poured in from across the music world following news of Davies’s passing. Composer Bear McCreary 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.” SiriusXM host Eric Alper praised Davies’s “soulful voice and touch on the Wurlitzer,” while Montreal’s The Terry and Ted Podcast highlighted Supertramp’s special connection with their city’s music scene. BBC Wales presenter Sue Charles remembered Davies for classics like “Breakfast in America” and “Dreamer,” and radio DJ Laura Steele quoted “Goodbye Stranger,” thanking Davies for the great tunes.
Despite his passing, Davies’s legacy endures. As the band’s tribute put it, “Rick’s music and legacy continue to inspire many and bears testament to the fact that great songs never die, they live on.” Supertramp’s catalog—anchored by Davies’s songwriting, vocals, and keyboard prowess—remains as vital today as it was during the band’s heyday. For fans old and new, the music is a lasting reminder of a singular talent who left an indelible mark on rock history.
Though funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced, the outpouring of admiration and gratitude from fans and fellow musicians alike is a testament to Rick Davies’s enduring influence. His songs, his sound, and his spirit will continue to echo through speakers and headphones, ensuring that the heartbeat of Supertramp lives on.
