The Supertramp Time Line by
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Revised 3/21/97
1944
July 22 Richard Davies born at Eastcott Hill in Swindon, Wiltshire England, to Dick and Betty Davies.
1945
February 15 John Anthony Helliwell born in Todmorden, England.
1947
September Richard Palmer born.
1948
November 27 Dave Winthrop born.
1949
October 31 Robert Layne Siebenberg born in Glendale, California.
1950
March 21 Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.
1951
March 24 Dougie Thomson born in Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland.
1956
Rick becomes member of the British Railways Staff Association. Brass & Silver Jubilee Band as a drummer.
1959
Rick joins "Vince & the Vigilantes" featuring Ginger Frantic.
1960
John joins the Todmorden Symphony Orchestra on clarinet John forms TGS5 (Todmorden Grammar School Five).
1962
Roger starts playing guitar, given to him by his mother, Gill. Rick forms "Rick's Blues" while at Swindon Art School. Raymond (Gilbert) O'Sullivan is member and drummer.
1963
Roger sent to The Stowe Boarding School, Buckingham. John moves to Birmingham to work for ICL, Britain's largest computer firm. Roger gives his first concert in Oxford, of all original songs.
1964
John joins "The Dicemen".
1965
May John joins "Jugs o' Henry". Rick disbands "Rick's Blues" and takes on job as welder at Square D.
1966
Bob joins The Expressions.
January John joins the Alan Bown Set.
THE ALAN BOWN SET MK I
Jeff Bannister - keyboards, vocals Stan Haldane - Bass, vocals John Helliwell - Sax Vic Sweeney - Drums September Rick joins The Lonely Ones.
THE LONELY ONES
John "Andy" Andrews - bass/vocals Trevor Williams - guitar/vocals Keith Bailey - drums Rick Davies - keyboards/vocals
1967
April 23 The album "Outward-Alan Bown" completed for MGM records.
May 1 The Lonely Ones head for Rome for two week engagement. May 15 The Lonely Ones head for Geneva, Switzerland.
July The Lonely Ones change name to The Joint.
September Bob joins the Ilford Subway. Scott Gorman(Thin Lizzy).
October Alan Bown release "Toyland" on MGM The Joint play the Etonnoir in Geneva.
December The Ilford Subway play in Mammoth, CA. The Joint records the soundtrack for "What's Happening" in Munich including the "Russian National Anthem".
1968
February Alan Bown release "Storybook" on MGM. March The Joint records music for the films "Jet Generation" & "Lieber und so Weiter" Roger graduates from boarding school. May 30 Roger's group, People Like Us, record demo, "Duck Pond"/"Send Me No Flowers".
PEOPLE LIKE US
Roger Hodgson - guitar/vocals George Bowser - Bass Chris Tookey - piano Mark Henshall - drums
June Steve Brass joins the Joint. July Stanley August Miesegaes "SAM" meets the Joint in Geneva. He becomes financial backer and manager who has strong commitment to the music of Rick Davies. July 5 Alan Bown release "We Can Help You" on Music Factory label. October John named Player of The Month by BEAT INSTRUMENTAL MAGAZINE. Alan Bown "Second Album" (SLM-1049) released .
ALAN BOWN MK II
Jeff Bannister - Keys, vocals Stan Haldane - Bass, vocals John Helliwell - Sax Jess Rodin - vocals
1969
Roger records "Mr. Boyd"/"Imagine" on Congress Records (C-6013) US. Elton John and Nigel Olsson playing on the "Mr. Boyd" session. He is backed by studio musicians whom the record label names "Argosy"
ARGOSY
Roger Hodgson - vocals Caleb Quaye - guitar Nigel Olsson - drums Reg Dwight - piano January The Joint record a 5 song demo in Munich. February The Joint signed to the Robert Stigwood Organization. May 13 The Joint appear on Swiss TV in Geneva. June The Marquee Club, London. Dougie graduates from grammar school. August Sam rents Rick a place called Botolph's Bridge House to start a new group. Rick places ad in MELODY MAKER, offering "GENUINE OPPORTUNITY". Roger's mother takes him to his first audition at The Cabin in Shepherd's Bush, where he plays acoustic guitar and sings "Dear Mr. Fantasy".
During a break, with hundreds of other musicians at the audition, Roger finds himself having a beer with Rick where they share their musical dreams. A friendship is struck, and soon Rick and Roger have started a group with the odd name of DADDY.
November Bob forms Redeye.
REDEYE
Bob Siebenberg - drums Scott Gorman - guitar Derek Beauchemin - keyboards Rick Hart - bass Alan Bown Set release "The Alan Bown" (Deram 18032).
Alan Bown release "Gypsy Girl" on Deram records.
1970
January Documentary Film "Daddy-Portrait 1970" shot in Munich. Group is renamed Supertramp by Richard Palmer after a 1910 book entitled, "Autobiography Of A Supertramp" by R.E. Davies. June Signed to A&M records and record first album at Morgan Sound Studios. July Work on "Purgatory" soundtrack in Munich.
Bob fronts a new band "Benbecula" with Scott Gorman & Derek Beauchemin. Sam buys out Roger's recording contract with Blue Mountain Music for $500. July 14 "Supertramp" (AMSL-981) released in UK w/ reception at The Revolution Club, London. July 27 Plays on second day of UK's Isle of Wight Festival, East Afton Farm, Godshill.
Bands that played that day: -Groundhogs -Andy Roberts & Everyone -Black Widow -Howl -Terry Reid -Supertramp
"Supertramp" (SP-4274) released in Canada. "Supertramp" (27 041 XOT) released in West Germany.
November 20 The album "The Alan Bown - Listen" is released by Island records (ILPS-9131). December Robert Palmer quits after gig at The Zoom Club, Frankfurt, West Germany.
1971
January Robert Millar suffers a nervous breakdown and quits after a disasterous tour of Norway. February Kevin Currie ( John Walker, Billie Davis, Orange Bicycle), joins the band. February 28 Stowe, England w/ Genesis. March Bob marries Vicki Gorman, sister of Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorman. Recording starts at Olympic Studios on what will be "Indelibly Stamped".
April Frank Farrell (Ray King Soul Band, Joe Jammer, Johnny Johnson & the Bandwagon) joins band.
Roger switches to guitar.
Recording of "Indelibly Stamped" continues.
SUPERTRAMP MARK II
Rick Davies - keyboards Roger Hodgson - guitar Kevin Currie - drums Frank Farrell - bass David Winthrop - sax April 30 Bob and Vicki arrive in London. May Rick & Roger approached about joining the group Free. Marian Hollier, from Bristol, is paid 45 pounds for having her tattooed breasts photographed on the cover of the new album. Recording of "Indelibly Stamped" completed after 100 hours of recording. June Indelibly Stamped (AMLH-64306) [UK] released. July Bob joins Bees Make Honey.
BEES MAKE HONEY
Ruan O'Locklainn - piano, guitar, sax Barry Richardson - bass/vocals Mick Molloy - guitars/vocals Deke O'Brien - guitars/vocals Bob Cee - drums "The Alan Bown, Stretching Out" (ILPS-9163) is released by Island Records.
ALAN BOWN MKIII
Jeff Bannister - Keyboards, vocals Tony Catchpole - Guitar Mel Collins - Percussion, production Andy Brown - Bass, vocals John Helliwell - Sax Gordon Neville - Vocals Vic Sweeney - Drums September Dougie joins Alan Bown replacing Andy Brown. September 14 UK tour begins in Bristol with Ten Years After and Keith Christmas. September 15 Liverpool - cancelled due to gear not arriving. October "Forever/Your Poppa Don't Mind" released in UK. October 4 UK tour ends in Birmingham. "Forever/Your Poppa Don't Mind" (A&M 1305) released in US as a radio promo only. Fall "Bees Make Honey" album released in UK (EMC-3013).
1972
July Roger takes LSD for the first time. Bees Make Honey release "1971/72" (UK only). October 6 Sam officially breaks with group, forgives all debts, lets them keep their instruments and wishes them well. Fall Tour of Scandinavia.
1973
Roger & Rick play on Chick (Ten Years After) Churchill's album, "You And Me" (CHR-1051) (U.S.). Soundtrack of "Extremes" (SML-1095)(U.K.) released with two songs from the first Supertramp album. Not on the album, but in the movie, the only live recordings of Supertramp Mark II.
January Roger, Frank & Kevin back Chuck Berry in London. February Frank Ferrell leaves band. New band auditions held at the Pied Bull Pub in Islington. Dougie tries out and leaves feeling very sorry for the band. June Dougie is asked into the band and also takes over as business manager. August Bob Siebenberg joins the band, but spells his name, Bob C. Benberg. September John Helliwell auditions for the group. He is never formally asked to join. October A&M Records believes group wants out of their recording contract, but Roger, Rick and Dougie ask for one more album. November A&M moves the group to a farm in Southcombe, Somerset, to begin writing what turns out to be "Crime Of The Century".
SUPERTRAMP MARK III
Rick Davies - vocals, keyboards, harmonica Roger Hodgson - vocals, guitar, pianos Bob C. Benberg - drums, percussion John Anthony Helliwell - saxophones, clarinet, vocals Dougie Thomson - bass
1974
February Band leaves Southcombe to move to London to begin recording. First sessions at Trident Studios with Ken Scott producing. March "Land Ho"/"Summer Romance" released in U.K. June Recording completed at Ramport Studios. Mixing begins at Scorpio Studios. September "Crime Of The Century" released in U.K. (AMLS-68258). October "Crime Of The Century" released in US (SP-3647). December Concert - Preston. "Dreamer" release in UK. "Crime Of The Century" reaches #4 on U.K. album charts. December 7 "Crime Of The Century" enter Billboard LP charts in US.
1975
- UK tour starts -
January 23-City Hall, Sheffield, S. Yorks
24- Leeds Town Hall 26- Birmingham Town Hall 27- De Montfort Hall, Leichester 29- Manchester Free Trade Hall 30- Newcastle City Hall
February 1- Edinburgh Usher Hall
2- Galsgow, Scotland - King’s Theater 6- Oxford New Theater 7- Brighton Dome 8- Guildford Civic Hall 9- Bristol - Colston Hall 10- Plymouth Guild Hall
- END OF TOUR -
March 3 "Dreamer" makes U.K. #13. April Charles Helliwell born. April 4 American Tour begins - Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 1st stop of 25 date tour. April 11 Beacon Theater, New York City - Chris DeBurgh opening. April 12 "Bloody Well Right"/"Dreamer" (A&M-1660) enters US Billboard Top 100 @ #85. April 19
"Bloody Well Right " @ #74 "Bloody Well Right" enters Cashbox Top 100 (US), where it stays for 7 weeks, peaking @ #53. April 25 Santa Monica Civic Center. April 26 "Bloody Well Right" @ #63 . Tour continues through Texas, to the East Coast, north to Montreal.. May 3 "Bloody Well Right" @ #53. May 5 "Crime Of The Century" makes US Top-40 album chart. May 10 "Bloody Well Right" @ #43. May 17 "Bloody Well Right" enters Billboard's Top-40 singles chart @ #37. May 24 "Bloody Well Right" @ #35. "Crime Of The Century" peaks on the US charts @ #38. May 31 "Bloody Well Right" @ #47. June 7 "Bloody Well Right" @ #61. June 14 "Bloody Well Right" @ #92. Summer Recording "Crisis" at the A&M studios in Los Angeles. August 23 Plays 2nd day of the 15th National Jazz, Blues & Rock Festival near Reading, Berkshire. October Ramport Studios & Scorpio Studios in England to finish album tentative title for album is "Second Offense". "Lady"/"You Started Laughing (When I Held You In My Arms)" (A&M 1793) released in US. November "Crisis? What Crisis?" released in US (SP-4311). "Lady/You Started Laughing" released in UK. November 13 Beginning of 30 date UK tour. Colston Hall, Bristol w/ Joan Armatrading. November 22 Feature article in "Melody Maker" (UK) by Brian Harrigan. November 24- Birmingham 25- Manchester 29- Sheffield
December
8- Liverpool 12- Plymouth 15- Southampton 20- Kursaal, Southend, Essex.
- END OF TOUR -
December 6 "Crisis? What Crisis?" reaches UK #20. December 13 "Crisis" debuts on US Billboard Album Chart.
1976
Bob guests on Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver" (WB-2868). January 31 "Crisis? What Crisis?" makes US #44. February First world tour begins. Performance at The Royal Albert Hall, London. May 3 Featured on "Earth News" radio show. June "Sister Moonshine/Ain't Nobody But Me" released in UK. "Sister Moonshine"/"Ain't Nobody But Me" (A&M 1814) released in US. August 23 Reading Festival. November 13 Second world tour begins, Briston, England. November 21 Radio Glasgow interview: playing of "Goldrush". November 14- Lancaster 15- Leeds University 16- London, Croydon Fairfield Hall 17- Brighton Dome 19- Bournemouth, Winter Garden 20- Portmouth 22- Newcastle City Hall 24- Glasgow, Scotland. The Apollo Theater 25- Dundee, Caird Hall 28- Cardiff in Wales, Capitol Theater 29- Birmingham Odeon 30- Manchester, Palace Theater December
1- Leicester, DeMontfort Hall 2- Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Victoria Hall 4- Sheffield City Hall 5- Coventry theater 6- Hammersmith Odeon 7- Hammersmith Odeon 9- Hull, ABC Movie theater 11- Preston 12- Liverpool, Empire Theater 13- Ipswich, The Gaumont 14- Great Yarmouth ABC theater 16- Plymouth 18- Swansea, Brangwyn Hall 19- Southampton Gaumont 20- Southend, the Korsaal
Move to Caribou Studios, Colorado to record "Even In The Quietest Moments"
