It's been a couple of weeks that I've regularly
been talking with Tim about Supertramp. Tim knows so many things that I
came up with the idea of offering him the chance to inform you, the fans,
on every little details that were produced during the life of all Supertramp
members.
I have the pleasure to present to you the result
of a first collaboration with me on my Homepage.
The Supertramp Time Line by Tim
Tjernlund
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"
Time Line Part 2
Get back home