Ready for Classic Rock

Roger Hodgson, the voice and main composer from Supertramp, arrived in Sandnes on Tuesday evening

by Lars Petter Einarsson

After a 24-hour long journey, it was a jetlagged, but smiling, cheerful and gracious superstar who took the time to talk with Rogaland's Newspaper outside the Hotel Recidence in the evening sun.

 
-- "It's good to be here," Hodgson says to Rogaland's Newspaper.

 
Wearing dark blue Adidas jogging pants and a comfortable jacket, you wouldn't recognise him as the superstar he is. But Hodgson is known for anything other than whim and extravagance. The Englishman lives a secluded and quiet life in California, but has in the recent years been touring again.
 

Hodgson came with his crew, because of the strike, by boat from Haugesund and were transported by the organisers by car from the harbour.  He has been to Norway several times earlier.

 
-- Yes, and last year, I did a show in Steinkjer," says Hodgson.

 
And it was after the concert, the agreement with the Classic Rock in Sandnes was made.  Sven Arnth Helland and Trond Nerdal had taken the trip north, and simply knocked on the door to Hodgson's hotel room.  And they'll also come to hear songs like "Give a little bit", "The logical song", "Breakfast in America" and "It's raining again" on Ruten on Thursday.

-- "I am looking forward to it.  Let's hope for many people and good weather," says Hodgson and squints against the evening sun.

 
Supertramp was formed in 1969.  The band began its career in progrock, but didn't have much success the first few years.  In 1974, they released "Crime Of The Century," and this album is referred to by many as the ultimate progrock album.  The band has sold about 80 million records, and reached their peak in 1979 with the album "Breakfast In America."

Roger Hodgson left the band in 1983, and the band was thereafter lead by the other songwriter in the group, Rick Davies.  Hodgson started a solo career, in the beginning without much success, but has the recent years been touring, performing songs from his solo projects and, of course, with the part of the Supertramp material he has composed.  Therefore, it's almost like listening to Supertramp when Hodgson begins his "Take the long way home" show.

He plays either the guitar or keyboard, and has only a saxophone player with him on stage.  If he follows his setlist, the second and the last song he plays is "Give a Little Bit," characterized as the ultimate pop song.