Adventures with Supertramp
From A Fan To A Performer
I continue reminiscing over my youthful days around music and touring.
Following my first ever concert, the revelation that was Genesis, I first encountered Supertramp, still aged 14, also in 1977.
The band were presenting a live simulcast from Queen Mary College, London for the ground-breaking BBC’s Sight & Sound In Concert show and touring in support of their ‘Even In The Quietest Moments’ album. I was immediately captivated and enchanted by their music.
Two years later in 1979, I was by now making small ripples as a drummer while penning (as a hobby) a short-lived Genesis ‘Fanzine’. I had by then introduced my dear cousin Richard to many bands, so in that November, he and I took our seats at Wembley Arena, London to see Supertramp as ‘Breakfast In America’ took the world by storm.
That night, Richard decided he too would pick up his pen and started writing a Supertramp Fanzine. With his wonderful infectious enthusiasm, it quickly gained traction and within a few years, it had the band’s blessing.
It would also feature other artists over seen by Mismanagement and A&M. These included a young Chris De Burgh and Ali Thomson (Dougie of Supertramp’s brother.)
Richard & I would often speak to the band and manager Dave Margereson (who were by now all based in the Los Angeles area) and by late June 1983, Supertramp returned to London’s Earl’s Court for 3 shows during their ‘Famous Last Words’ tour which had been announced as their final one with Roger Hodgson.
Looking forward to finally meeting with the band, with passes in hand it turned out to be a strange / strained affair. Backstage was a makeshift café scene with their trademark parasols, deck chairs and all surrounded by their individual artist trailers.
The first night, only two band members made themselves available to the friends who had gathered post show, Dougie Thomson and the ever charming and humorous, John Helliwell.
Band relationships were clearly fractured, with three managers juggling their personal demands, yet they were still breaking ground with one of the first tours using 3 leap-frogged stages.
Although still pursuing my own drumming ambitions, I again found myself talking tour logistics with Dave Margereson, promoter / producer Andrew Miller (who I would go on to meet often while working with other artists), the band’s tour manager (another Richard!), as well as A&M staff and the band’s crew.
Richard and I spent a wonderful few days around the band and their team, but when the tour finally ended at Irvine Meadows on September 25th, Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies went their separate ways, very sadly - forever.
Now I fast forward to 2000. By then, I was twelve years into a travel career and MD of my own specialist music travel agency, Tour Travel International with clients such as George Michael, Geri Halliwell, James Brown, Deacon Blue, and Zucchero, among others.
It was in that tour travel capacity, on August 10th, I found myself with Roger Hodgson at The Talk Of London. Roger was making a rare and secret live appearance at the small London club ahead of a performance with Fairport Convention at that year's Cropredy Festival - All in promotion of his new album ‘Open The Door’.
It transpired pre-show that Roger wanted someone to keep rhythm on a track and before I knew it, after 25 years away from a drum kit, I found myself suddenly performing on stage next to him on an unrehearsed and unreleased song entitled ‘Lone Child’.
There wasn’t time for any nerves, and sadly it was all over too quickly, but it was a very special moment. I was also truly humbled by both Roger’s and the audience’s kind appreciation afterwards. A music journalist later wrote “The song led to a guy being invited to play Roger's new toy - a Japanese electronic 'Wave Drum'. A round of applause to the gentleman who mastered the intriguing instrument first time!”
Post show, Roger strongly encouraged me to return to playing the drums and gave me a wonderful memento to remember the occasion, however, due to my travel company commitments, it would take another 9 years before I would pick up the sticks once again.
If you have read this far, thank you. Tragically, we lost my dear cousin and best friend Richard in 1997, so sadly he never knew of this wonderful moment with Roger, whom he so admired.
The music industry also sadly lost Andrew Miller far too young back in 2012, and now, just in the last few weeks, we have also lost both Supertramp’s founder and co-songwriter, Rick Davies along with their former manager, the effervescent Dave Margereson.
R.I.P Gentlemen, I have nothing but happy memories of all the times we all had together.
Thank you once again for being here and please consider sharing ‘Road Works’ with the music lovers in your life via the first button below.
GC
www.musictourservices.co.uk
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