June 2010
Dear Friends & Fans,
I just want to send a note to you all thanking you for all the support I’ve felt from you – in emails, guestbook postings, appreciation at the shows…it’s really because of you that I’m able to do what I love to do – share my music with the world. Your connection to what I’ve expressed through my music touches me deeply and that it has brought people together in so many different ways inspires me to keep performing and writing and exploring the depths of what music can do.
A challenge for all of us in these crazy times is hanging on to our integrity as we go through the rollercoaster of life and as an artist I have always strived to be authentic and original. My songs come from a deep and very personal place inside me and they carry my beliefs and my dreams and my philosophy of life. Many of you may not know this but the other members of Supertramp never held the same spiritual or philosophical beliefs that I have and that are in my songs. What I wrote about didn’t represent the rest of the band or their beliefs. So for Rick to claim credit for songs he didn’t write or believe in, is an integrity issue. And it’s hard for me to keep thinking of them as Supertramp songs when the band didn’t compose them or write the music for them. Which is why the advertising of the Supertramp tour with my voice and my songs has been very difficult for me. For the fans’ sake, I am happy that my old friend and partner Rick is going on tour again but I am not in agreement with how he is choosing to market his Supertramp tour by capitalizing on my art to sell tickets, and especially now since both of us are touring at the same time.
So many of you have told me over the last few years how previous Supertramp tours used my voice and my songs to sell tickets and how the public thought I was going to be present at the concerts and they ended up feeling tricked or disappointed. So I cannot in all conscience stay silent. I need to speak up for artistic and marketing integrity.
Unfortunately, some statements I have made already have been misquoted or sensationalized or taken out of context. All those sensationalized headlines came from what we posted on my website. I hope everyone knows this is something that happens in the media. For me, it’s not about banning or vetoing what Supertramp is doing - it’s about integrity, ethics and speaking up for what I believe is right.
Those of you that know me know that I am a peaceful man, and I feel even though one is peaceful, sometimes one needs to speak up when it is the right thing to do. I have offered to join Rick and Supertramp for a few special reunion shows when I don’t have any of my own shows booked. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you view it, they chose to go out to tour at the same time I already had my 2010 tour booked. Yet there are windows of time that I would be able to join them.
I know how many of you would like to see this and that is why I have offered. Personally, it is not something I want or need to do – I am very happy touring the way I am now. Yet I feel in my heart it’s the right thing to do. So, I’ll keep holding out an olive branch to Rick in case he should change his mind.
I so appreciate all of you that have been asking to help, supporting me on the tour, sending in ads, articles, and radio spots, getting the word out on Facebook, taking part in fan forums and communicating over the internet, participating in our international community. Your belief and support touches me deeply. I hope I can play for you again sometime in the near future. God bless.
Love,
Roger
We’re sending Roger’s letter out simultaneously with our latest article, in response to the many questions we have received. Many of you have written and asked to participate in the tour with us, so we are responding here with some specific ways that would be very helpful. One of the things that made South American tour so successful was through all fans participating in blogging, posting, sending out tweets, and sending us timely reports on what was being seen in the press and media. In this way fans can keep the excitement building for the rest of the tour, and you are not only supporting Roger, but helping the public and other fans to be informed also. We are so thankful for everyone who continues to help us in this way.
So, please continue sending us updates on how the Supertramp tour is being advertised around the world - email us what you see and hear with radio, articles, billboards, and ticket sites, and record it or take a picture if you can! The radio spots and TV ads we have received have been very helpful and enable us to correct misinformation. Also, please post, blog, tweet and comment on Facebook, MySpace and You Tube to clarify any misinformation where needed or share your experiences where needed. Also it’s always wonderful to post your experiences of Roger’s concerts and what his music means to you.
We are looking forward to seeing you in the days ahead, in person and online, as we continue Roger’s 2010 World Tour.
Love to all,
Linda & Shakti
P.S. We are also sending you an attachment with this letter (see below) that has more specifics on how you can help, with examples and links. We know many fans have even more ideas, these are just the ones that have come to us so far. Those of you have that blogs, please post the article we are sending on your internet site.
Dear Friends,
We are very grateful for all your support and help, it’s so appreciated in trying to clear up the confusion with the way the Supertramp shows are being advertised. We really want the public to know the difference between what they are going to see in a Supertramp show, and what they are going to see at a Roger Hodgson show. Here are a few examples of how fans have helped us and how things have been changed:
 In Portugal one fan sent us an email with this MP3 of a radio ad announcing 2 Supertramp shows with all four songs being Roger's voice. He called both the radio station and the local promoter asking them to change the spot to use Rick's songs.
Another fan told us he had gone down to a radio station and heard that the Supertramp promoter had “unofficially” told the DJ’s to play Dreamer and Logical Song, sung by Roger, for the Supertramp tour announcements.
A French Fan emailed emailed us that on a French Radio station, Supertramp’s tour was launched and the background music was “Breakfast in America” and “Logical Song” being sung by Roger.
One fan posting on Facebook said "I went to buy tickets for the UK show and it shows a picture of Supertramp with Roger and Dougie. Now they are calling it a greatest hits tour. Who’s Greatest hits?"
A fan sent us a picture of Roger with the band thirty years ago with an announcement of the Supertramp tour. We let the news agency know and the picture was changed.
Another fan sent us a Supertramp tour announcement with a current picture of Roger solo at the piano with the caption “Roger Hodgson, leader of Supertramp” so we were also able to send a correction for that.
Please use any of the examples above as suggestions of what you can do, or you may have your own ideas. Please continue to email us descriptions when you hear something on the radio or see ads, and let us know where you saw the ad or radio spot. If possible, make a recording or take a picture and send it to us.
And we encourage you to join our community on line and post, blog, tweet and comment on the facebook wall. Describing a concert is a great thing to share also and give links in your posts including Roger’s website. You’re welcome to post the latest article, and if you have your own blog or website, please pass it on. Below we have given a list of links where you can meet up with other Roger Hodgson fans and share your comments.
We so appreciate hearing how either Roger Hodgson shows or the Supertramp tour is being advertised around the world. Please continue to share your love of Roger’s concerts and what his music means to you, with us and with our community!
Warm regards,
Linda Tyler
Harmonic Management
harmonicmanagement@earthlink.net
Articles that can be posted to:
Topix Article Roger Hodgson Brings Hugely Successful 2010 World Tour to Europe
Cross Harp Chronicles Wordpress.com - Roger Hodgson, Ex-Supertramp, Brings 2010 World Tour to North America, Then on to Europe for Summer Shows
BNet - Roger Hodgson, Ex-Supertramp, Brings 2010 World Tour to North America, Then on to Europe for Summer Shows
Eitb.com News Supertramp perform at BEC! Barakaldo on September 17
ROGER HODGSON - Worldtour 2010: Shows in Deutschland-Österreich-Schweiz
Music-liveandmore.com “SUPERTRAMP” ROGER HODGSON on tour in Germany
TheReader.es Article Supertramp live in Spain this September
The Barcelona Reporter Supertramp Barcelona on the 18 Sept 2010 back together to celebrate 40 years
French Blog Article Supertramp vs. Roger Hodgson
Topix Forum Roger Hodgson Separates The Supertramp Songs
Videos that can be posted to:
Its Raining Again Cofounder Supertramp
Its Raining Again from the 1982 Famous Last Words Album. This song hit the charts peak positions in Switzerland, Germany, US, Dutch, Austrian and ...dailymotion.com
School singer songwriter (Ex Supertramp)
Roger Hodgson is recognized as one of the most gifted composers, songwriters and lyricists of our time! As the legendary voice, writer and ...dailymotion.com
Give a Little Bit Orchestra Show (Cofounder Supertramp)
Give a Little Bit by composer, singer Roger Hodgson. Here are some great links to stay connected to the latest happening on Roger's world tour ...youtube.com
Lord is it Mine w Orchestra (Supertramp)
I have heard Roger say in concert this is one of his favorite songs. Roger is playing to audiences all over the world on his 2010 World tour - his ...youtube.com
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