EXCERPTS OF ROGER HODGSON & SUPERTRAMP NEWS:
ROGER’S SONGS You know, they are great songs. They have stood the test of time not just for the audience but for me as well. Also, they have been the soundtrack to a lot of people’s lives. One of the reasons Hodgson performs his solo tour is because of the close connection he can have with his audience. Part of it he believes is the heartfelt feeling he can put into his deliveries. “It is something incredibly special with the show.” As a writer of very moving and searching songs, Hodgson admits he is a spiritual person. “Yes that is my compass and foundation. It keeps me grounded and keeps my heart intact. Whatever is happening around me, my spiritual place is where I go. Musician Believes In Sharing His Gift By Steve Scott, 03-20-10 ****** · Most of my songs came from a deep personal inside me. My songs are really songs of longing to find God, to know God, and to find true love. These are not just hit songs I contrived and wrote - these are personal pieces of my heart and soul that I put into song. · I was a singer song-writer within a band and the things that I wrote about often didn’t even resonate with the band, even through the band did a good job of performing the songs. The subject matter came from my heart and emotions and often the band didn’t even relate to what I was writing about. That is another reason it feels so wrong, the band is capitalizing on songs that came from a very personal place in my heart and being. · Rick and the band didn’t believe in my philosophy in life, they have a very different philosophy than me - I express what life and love means to me, what God means to me, and I write about the human condition. This I what express in my song writing. Supertramp doesn’t believe in these things the way I do. ROGER & RICK - THE SONGWRITERS AND THEIR AGREEMENT Roger again emphasized that he is happy for Rick to be playing live again but the pair had an agreement that Rick would get the name Supertramp and Roger would get his songs. “I feel good about Rick going out,” he said. “What I don’t feel good about is about him breaking an agreement that we had. To tell you the truth Paul, I would never have handed over Supertramp, I am not that much of a fool, to just hand over something I had put 14 years of my life into to Rick for nothing. I really was the driving force in that band for 14 years. I remember very clearly the only thing I cared about when I gave Rick the name was that I would leave with my songs and my voice in tact. That would be my security. For him, his security would be the name, obviously”. Unfortunately for Roger, that agreement was never in writing. “That was where I did not have a good attorney. No, it was not in writing,” he admits. “It was a handshake where we looked each other in the eye. I had been with Rick for 14 years. I thought that I could trust him. The first tour he did, the ‘Brother Where You Bound’ tour, he didn’t play my songs. He honored the agreement. Then 5 or 7 years later that is when he started to, for whatever reason, play my songs. I felt very betrayed. That is part of the reason Dougie Thompson left the band. He felt it was really wrong”. EXCLUSIVE: Roger Hodgson Explains His Reaction To Supertramp Tour by Paul Cashmere - April 25 2010 ******
Roger Hodgson has taken a further step in the Rick Davies feud by posting a list of the songs separating the ones he wrote for Supertramp and the ones Rick Davies wrote. Hodgson’s concern is that Rick Davies has resurrected Supertramp and gone back on an agreement that he would not perform Roger’s songs in the set. However, the marketing for the Supertramp tour promotes a set list rich in Hodgson tunes. Supertramp performing Roger Hodgson songs without the Hodgson voice will clearly not be genuine to the fans. Roger Hodgson left Supertramp 27 years ago and as part of his departure, Rick Davies agreed that the continuation of Supertramp would become a vehicle for Rick’s songs and Roger would do his own songs in his solo shows. Roger Hodgson Separates The Supertramp Songs by Paul Cashmere - May 12 2010 ****** · The unknown story is that while Rick & Roger shared the writer’s credit, they actually wrote & composed separately, a fact that their publishing company & contracts state clearly, with Roger was given legal approval rights for his songs and Rick for his. In addition, Rick Davies agreed not to play Roger’s songs at Supertramp concerts when the two songwriters ended their partnership 27 years ago. Rick kept this agreement on the very first post-Hodgson Supertramp tour, but has since not honored it, which is something we are working on. Click to see the complete list of songs written by Roger Hodgson and songs written by Rick Davies. · When they parted ways, Roger and Rick Davies agreed that Rick would keep the name Supertramp, and Roger would keep the approval rights to the songs he wrote. In this way, their different styles as songwriters and artists would be delineated: Supertramp would become a vehicle for Rick’s music, and Roger Hodgson would become a distinct solo artist defined by his own voice and musical expression. Every band makes different business arrangements as partnerships are dissolved and assets divided. For the 14 years Roger spent helping to build the name Supertramp, what he wanted most was to leave the partnership with his own songs. ARTISTIC INTEGRITY · I feel that I need to speak up, not only for myself but for every artist that’s had someone claim credit for their creation. Anyone who knows me knows I am a very easy going guy, but I feel that I need to be a voice for artistic integrity, for the rights of songwriters & creators, for integrity in the music business, for honesty in advertising and for all my fans and the public who I don’t want to see misinformed. · Staying true to one’s heart is sometimes difficult to do in the music business. I always strived to be true to myself. I’ve always written all my own songs. I’m a lyricist, I compose all my own music, I perform and play all my own musical instruments. I believe in my songs and I sing them from a place deep inside me and that is what fans experience at my shows. Roger has never performed any of Rick’s songs. In fact at the recent Melbourne show he even made a point of telling the audience that he would only be singing his own songs “so don’t request Bloody Well Right”. “I wouldn’t dream of playing Rick’s songs,” he says. “Even if I only had a couple of hits, it would be totally wrong. It would make me into a cover band. It just wouldn’t be right”. EXCLUSIVE: Roger Hodgson Explains His Reaction To Supertramp Tour by Paul Cashmere - April 25 2010
A FEW SPECIAL REUNION SHOWS Hodgson is calling on Davies to reconsider the tour. “Roger thought he could join Supertramp for a few special concerts when he doesn’t have any scheduled shows, as a way to really give to the fans what they have been wanting for so long – to have him rejoin Supertramp,” the statement reads. “So, we suggested this to Rick and Sue Davies’ agent, but he told us adamantly that would “never happen,” that Rick and Sue didn’t want that and would refuse any such collaboration. He also said that Supertramp would have nothing to gain from Roger performing with them and that the only person that would benefit would be Roger. Of course, we disagree. We think both Supertramp and Roger would benefit, and of course who we would want to benefit the most would be the fans. In fact, the main reason Roger would want to do it is because he knows how much the fans would love to see him and Supertramp back together again. He wishes that Rick and Sue for the fans' sake would be cooperative for even a few special concerts”. Source: Supertramp To Tour Without Asking Roger Hodgson Along by Paul Cashmere - April 20 2010 ****** “When I heard he was touring and I knew that even if he did ask me there was no way I could be on this tour because I have my own toured planned and I can’t go cancelling shows that are already on sale. I thought because so many fans were asking me “why aren’t you with Supertramp” for their sake I did reach out to Rick’s agent to say “the fans would love it if Roger joined Rick on stage, maybe in a few cities”. That would just make fans who wanted to see it for decades really happy. Unfortunately the reaction really stunned me because he said “that’s never going to happen. That would not benefit Supertramp, that would only benefit Roger Hodgson”. Basically, I was only doing it because the fans would love to see it and make it as last chance for the two of us to do something like this and make the fans happy. It is sad that two people can’t get it together. Music is supposed to bring people together”. Source: EXCLUSIVE: Roger Hodgson Explains His Reaction To Supertramp Tour by Paul Cashmere - April 25 2010 ****** · Last summer Rick and I talked about working together again, but it was never about a 40th anniversary tour - a true reunion with the complete band. And there were no talks that included the classic line up. As soon as I heard the Rick announce his 40th anniversary tour with the rest of the band, I wrote to him and asked if it was true, and I never received a reply, and still haven’t to this day. Rick & Sue might want to give the impression they really tried so all the requests for me will die down, since it seems impossible. But it is possible. I want the fans to know it is because of them I have offered, and the offer is still on the table. I enjoy the way I’m performing my music now more than ever, yet I know how much the fans have been wanting to see me on stage with Supertramp again. This will probably be the last chance it could happen, and I just feel the fans deserve it. · A lot of you have been writing and asking – why doesn’t Roger rejoin Supertramp for the tour or at least for a few shows? We had that same idea. Roger thought he could join Supertramp for a few special concerts when he doesn’t have any scheduled shows, as a way to really give to the fans what they have been wanting for so long – to have him rejoin Supertramp. So, we suggested this to Rick and Sue Davies’ agent, but he told us adamantly that would “never happen,” that Rick and Sue didn’t want that and would refuse any such collaboration. He also said that Supertramp would have nothing to gain from Roger performing with them and that the only person that would benefit would be Roger. Of course, we disagree. We think both Supertramp and Roger would benefit, and of course who we would want to benefit the most would be the fans. In fact, the main reason Roger would want to do it is because he knows how much the fans would love to see him and Supertramp back together again. He wishes that Rick and Sue for the fans' sake would be cooperative for even a few special concerts. SIMULTANEOUS ROGER HODGSON & SUPERTRAMP TOURS · Since both Roger Hodgson and Supertramp are touring this year we want to help dispel any confusion and avoid misleading the public. Some people do not know that it is Roger’s distinctive voice they hear on most of the classic hits such as ‘The Logical Song’, ‘Breakfast in America’, ‘Dreamer’, ‘It’s Raining Again’ and ‘Give a Little Bit’. To hear those songs sung by their original singer song-writer they would need to come to a Roger Hodgson concert, not a Supertramp show. Quite a few fans have told us they heard it announced on the radio that Roger will be a part of the Supertramp tour, which is not true. · For those who are familiar with the different sounds of Supertramp, Rick and Roger are two very different artists – two songwriters with two very distinctive styles of music. And the silver lining in all of this is this year you’ll have the opportunity to see both! If you want to hear the legendary voice and classical pop rock of songs like The Logical Song, Dreamer or Give a Little Bit you can come see Roger at one of his shows. And if you want the legendary voice and more jazzy blues sound of Rick’s songs like Bloody Well Right, Goodbye Stranger or Rudy you can have that, too. SUPERTRAMP TOUR ADVERTISING Roger’s main problem with the Rick Davies’ Supertramp tour is that Supertramp are advertising the tour using his songs and he says that he had an agreement with Rick that Supertramp would not perform those songs. In fact, Roger doesn't have an issue with Rick performing as Supertramp. He just has an issue with his songs being played. “To tell the truth if Rick was going out as Supertramp and just doing his music I’d be incredibly happy. I am a big fan of Rick’s… but it is the way it has come down and the way he is advertising the tour that is not right”. EXCLUSIVE: Roger Hodgson Explains His Reaction To Supertramp Tour by Paul Cashmere - April 25 2010 “I stayed silent the last few times. Not silent to Rick. I definitely told Rick how I felt about it but I stayed silent to the public. Because of that I have had 6 or 7 or 8 years touring really trying to reclaim my songs as Roger Hodgson songs which really is what they are. That is why I am out on a world tour and now we will be playing in the same countries as they are and I can’t stay silent on this one. For Supertramp or Rick to advertise this tour as a Greatest Hits tour and advertise it with my songs … I’ve seen ads mentioning ‘Dreamer’, ‘Give A Little Bit’ Logical Song’, ‘Breakfast In America’ … it is outrageous”. EXCLUSIVE: Roger Hodgson Explains His Reaction To Supertramp Tour by Paul Cashmere - April 25 2010 · Many fans have written to Roger over the years saying that when Supertramp toured in the past some radio stations would play his songs to promote Supertramp's concerts. Since everyone recognizes Roger’s trademark voice but most don’t know its Roger singing, fans went to the concerts thinking they would be hearing Roger's voice, and were disappointed to find Roger was not there. We are trying to support both artists and the public to delineate between Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson’s songs and distinctive voices, especially since the Supertramp tour is being billed as an “anniversary tour”, and the public might mistakenly think that Roger will be rejoining them. ROGER’S SHOWS I think a lot of the magic and spirit that people think they would see at a Supertramp reunion they are actually getting at my shows now. I feel the reunion I am having is with my audience and it feels really good”. Roger Hodgson has just completed the most amazing solo tour of Australia with a set of nearly completely Supertramp. He performed the songs he wrote and sung. Supertramp without his voice is just not Supertramp. Supertramp To Tour Without Asking Roger Hodgson Along by Paul Cashmere - April 20 2010 ****** I love the connection that I have with audiences in smaller venues like that. That is part of the magic of the show because I love people and I love having fun with them as well as playing my songs”. EXCLUSIVE: Roger Hodgson Explains His Reaction To Supertramp Tour by Paul Cashmere - April 25 2010 ****** If you were ever a fan of Supertramp then attending a Roger Hodgson concert these days is as good as it gets and it gets good. Hodgson was a founding member of the band but left in 1983. As the principal songwriter of Supertramp and lead singer of the songs he wrote Hodgson solo sounds exactly like Supertramp which is a good thing. Roger’s solo career was infrequent so his choice of songs to perform live falls almost entirely on his Supertramp career. The one new and unreleased song he did perform in this set was ‘The Awakening’. Roger Hodgson is also a funny, likeable guy often recounting the stories behind the songs before he sang them. Just don’t ask him to sing songs he didn’t write. “I’m telling you now I didn’t write ‘Bloody Well Right’ so don’t yell out for it,” he told the crowd early in the show. It was hardly needed. The Roger Hodgson setlist reads like a history of music at a point of time starting with the ‘Breakfast In America’ track ‘Take The Song Way Home’ and ending with the pop hit ‘It’s Raining Again’. Roger Hodgson At The Palais April 6, 2010 by Paul Cashmere - April 7 2010 ****** There was no lack of heart in Roger Hodgson’s performance. Here was a musician and a songwriter performing his songs for no other reason than there was nothing else he would rather be doing. He came across as a humble man and one who was genuinely appreciative of the fact that people had come out to see him after an absence of 34 years. After selling 60 million albums around the world you could have expected him to exude a little more of a sense of entitlement to the adulation he received but he really seemed thankful and well adjusted to the combination of great talent and good fortune that bought him to this point in his life. His performance was exemplary. Vocally he seems actually stronger and more assured than when he was a younger man making multi million selling albums. His guitar playing and keyboard work was superb and he was extremely well complemented by young Canadian multi instrumentalist Aaron MacDonald who managed to bring a lot of the memorable instrumental moments from the records to life in the concert environment. The greatest complement you could pay would be to say that you didn’t miss the full band arrangements at all – and I can say that with assurance. That has a lot to do with the quality of the songs of course. These are undeniably great compositions and that stand the dual tests of time and stripped back performance with flag flying. The hits were there of course – Take A Long Way Home, Give A Little Bit, Dreamer, The Logical Song, Its Raining Again and Breakfast In America were all wonderful but some of the lesser known songs like Along Came Mary, Lovers In The Wind and an unrecorded song that might have been called The Awakening were equally as good. In fact the latter, with its interesting look at the tendency to “re-write your story” once you reach a certain place in your life was a highlight. Roger Hodgson is one of the contemporary pop worlds great talents and its well worth making the effort to see his show, pay homage and be thoroughly entertained by a quality individual. Roger Hodgson & 10CC – The Palais Theatre April 7, 2010 by Andrew Watt ****** · And of course, at Roger’s shows, you can hear his songs being sung from the original composer’s heart and soul and that is what helps create the atmosphere of magic and brings these songs alive. · As an artist what really touches me is the appreciation and love so many fans have for my music. That combined with how much I enjoy singing and serenading them is what creates magic. I am very grateful. I wouldn’t be here performing concerts if it wasn’t for the fans.” |