John Helliwell: "Roger Hodgson Was Always Trying to Leave"

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[@rite-note1702]

When I was a teenager I was wandering around a Towers Dept store and I hear this sax wailing off in the distance. It sounded amazing. I had to find what that song was. I tracked the source to the electronics department and found a record playing through one of their sound systems. The record was Crime of the Century by Supertramp, to be honest I had never heard of them. Since no one was around I flipped the record over when it was finished and listened to the other side. I was blown away (pun intended) and when I was finished listening I immediately went over to the record department and bought the LP. To this day it remains one of my all time favourite albums. All because I heard this amazing sax sound echoing through the department store. Thank you John Helliwell.

[@elmolewis9123]

I saw Roger a few years ago doing his solo tour. Such an amazing, talented musician. And for me, he was the heart of ST.

[@casario2808]

He was the heart, Rick the soul, and the rhythm section the pulse. John's role was pivotal too....the personality? Roger's melodic ear and creativity was incredible, but the way the others would come together around those songs was what made them great too. It really was a magical coming together of 5 great musicians and its too bad they couldnt carry on longer but fully grateful for what they did.

[@4wheel4real]

We need a Roger Hodgson interview! The most incredible concert I've ever been to is Roger Hodgson's solo show.

[@AliasMark69]

I have been fortunate enough to have seen Supertramp “The Tramp” Live 4 times. Their live shows are a spectacle and brilliant. Each member is a musical genius. Rick Davies is my favorite keyboards player and John Helliwell is favorite Sax player. He is a blast to watch live. The bass and drummer are awesome and Roger’s guitars are superb. The only live show I put above Supertramp is Pink Floyd, who I have seen 4 times.

[@GuitarAnthony]

Hodgson was invited by Chris Squire to join Yes as lead singer. He finally appeared on the Yes album Talk on the song 'Walls' on background vocals.

[@johnbeagley1195]

Yes, thats true except it was Trevor Rabin that asked him to join Yes. Roger declined - and offered another singer friend of his Stewart Meredith AKA Robin Schell who sings in the band Life in Digital now. Check them out. Kind of 80s Yes/Rush/ Supertramp crossover!

[@deckofcards87]

I agree with everyone here that Roger is the heart of ST, but I also think he's generally better *with* Rick. There's an energy there between them that was distinct and unique.

[@technoforever888]

Love your interviews! Blessings to Mr. Helliwell in his future!!!

[@kevinsandlin843]

Drummer for Supertramp lives about an hour away from me. Know people that know him. From what I have heard he is very humble and does not have or live the rock star life. I hope to meet him someday.

[@nickarvis2986]

Very underrated drummer

[@SWH2012]

You mean Bob Siebenberg, right?

[@veltonmeade1057]

He is an incredibly gifted drummer that was perfect for their receipe of writing. As with Ringo Starr and The Beatles, had any other drummer joined the group, the group would have failed.

[@pierremajor8712]

When I first started playing drums, I loved listening to the Paris album. Bob has his own style and technic, I couldn’t get enough. I was at the Forum in Montreal for the Brother where you bound tour in Oct 1985, we had seats in the reds stage left. The Forum had just opened to let the fans in. I notice Bob standing left to the stage, and like an idiot I started yelling his name and waving, he acknowledged me with à raised thumbs up and I returned his greeting. Great moment for me, and I agree he seems to be humble and private. Thanks Bob!

[@LoyalOpposition]

Thanks for the upload!

[@aliciagabriel8408]

When 2 musical geniuses meet in the same band, egos explode..

[@markbirchette8740]

My favorite Supertramp song is It's Raining Again...

[@philmore4362]

For me: Take the long way home...

[@richardwestmoreland4796]

I live in Vancouver British Columbia. The song It's Raining Again would probably become a leading contender if they ever held a contest to determine the official anthem for our beautiful city.

[@redsquirrel1086]

Roger Hodgson was the focal point of Supertamp. I saw the band post Hodgson and they were nothing special. Sometime later I saw Hodgson with his own band and he was superb.

[@musikfan7072]

No. I felt it really the other way round. Supertramp still gives sophisticated music though they are not catchy as they where in earlier times. I saw both live. RH gives low-production shows. It‘s a shame.

[@tonycasamento7694]

I called Rockline way back in the early 90's and asked them to do another album. I heard talk aboput Roger leaving the band, and the voice of what sounds like this guy in this video. To get Roger to do another album, I declaim it's raining again

[@Chris1966-]

Thank you for this interview. You state the band broke up in 2015! When did they announce that? Re Roger, he left the band in 1983. Nearly 40 years later and just 3 studio albums , what a disappointment. Is this a record for releasing the least songs in that time period. Good luck to John H for still producing music for the fans 😊

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Helliwell is as integral as anyone in Supertramp. Great musician and personality live.

[@polyrhythmia]

The sax made the Supertramp sound. Forget the cowbell, we need more sax.

[@drywallerdave01]

great band that was huge in Canada, btw Edmonton's mall is bigger

[@seankm6nfo990]

Supertramp was Rick and Roger. Just like you can't have the Eagles without Glen. Or the Beatles without John. Together they magic. Thanks.

[@gomiwomi]

No.

[@craigfazekas3923]

Bobsie. Benberg. 🚬😎👍

[@bensettimo6398]

Awesome band

[@frodofraggins]

There's a lot of missing info with regard to the Hodgson/Supertramp split. Mainly because they don't seem to want to address it head on. I'm not sure why Hodgson couldn't do what Phil Collins did with Genesis and present the band with his demos and let them choose which to take for the band. Leaving the rest for Roger to use on solo albums. My only guess is that he wasn't really a fan of Rick's songs and didn't really want his sharing albums with them. that or he wanted more of the pie for himself.

[@Peakabike]

When he left the plan was to collaborate again in the future, and they did get together in 92 Roger had two conditions : - separate credits - Sue Davis NOT managing the band That was always refused by Rick unfortunately. Not sure the others had a say in the matter... On the other hand Roger was probably difficult to deal with..."always very confused" is how Rick described him and he had joined that New Age community in Nevada City where the guru had picked a wife for him.

[@greengrass1072]

That’s the story I always heard, especially with Sue Davies managing the band. I always heard that was the main catalyst why he left, but the songwriting credit makes so much sense too. Those songs after all are, “his babies.”

[@DemskePaul2017]

This is the nearest you will get to an answer (I think) - it is from an interview with Metheny and Mays in Rolling Stone magazine: The numbers themselves have become a mythological force of their own. Metheny said: “I’ve got letters over the years that range from the hilarious to the just sobering interpretations that people have for what those numbers mean. The voice you hear is that of Lyall Mays - not Metheny. Mays explains what happened: “The end section was all written, designed to be realised with multiple essence of synths,” Mays said, “all just playing parts from the score, and to organise the whole thing, I had laid down the count, the second count, so that I could follow the score and then I heard my own voice say 3 or whatever, I knew that was 3 seconds, 10, 15, whatever. I just laid down a second count, prior to recording any of the over dubs and I was just reading the score, playing the synth parts, being conducted by my track of second indicators. “And purely by accident in the mix, Manfred (Eicher) un-muted the track that had my original second count and the sound of my voice saying these numbers, mixed with all that was so bizarre and so perfect that it was one of those happy accidents. That was not a button he meant to press. That was not a design deliberate effect. It just happened and I’m so glad he did it.

[@kai326]

It’s a shame Roger and Rick can’t put their bullshit aside and reconcile. They’re old men, and life’s already too short, and there’s dozens of fans that want them back together

[@SWH2012]

Amen! Too much ego bullshit in the music business!

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

so, because of some fans, two guys that are no longer friends or close in any way, should go through that amount of bullshit that they had in the past again? pal, play their records and be happy with that

[@stormbringercoming8105]

At this point, it’s probably not ego. There’s probably nothing really there creatively to bring them back together. They’re in their 70’s now. They probably just don’t give a shit. If they would reunite, it’d be just for the fans. In those cases, it’s never as good as we’d like it to be.

[@veltonmeade1057]

I agree a 110%. I studied music and when you go to school, you are a part of a bigger group such as a 65 piece concert band or orchestra and you learn how to be a member, and others are depending on you too. I call these rock musicians "basement players". The only thing that they have ever known is playing by themselves in their mommy's basement, thinking they are rockgods and they were never responsible for anyone else but their own ego. If and when they are lucky enough to get into a great band (aka Supertramp), they become selfish a-holes. I have seen it many times in other rock, blues, jazz, country bands.

[@terrymckenzie8786]

Roger Hogson seemed to come to Vancouver 2 or 3 times a year to the Casinos. Always sold out. For years.

[@Skorpio420]

I watched a video of Supertramp live from 1983, and you tell the band had this look of being tired/worn out.

[@ViorelCotofan]

Yes John,but only because of Rick and you!

[@leeverrill]

Please do a interview with bob seidenberg of super tramp..PLEASE.

[@garyinkin4834]

I'm pretty sure his name is 'Bob C Benberg' . . . . and what a fantastic player he is!

[@veltonmeade1057]

@@garyinkin4834 His actual name is Bob Siebenberg.

[@marcp.3690]

Brother where you bound was excellent. No mistaking Dave Gilmour's guitar on it.

[@newforestpixie5297]

i was 14 in 1978 & like many nippers of that age being seduced by angry young art school musicians plus the Stranglers & Sham 69 but a guy at school was flogging his older brothers’ LPs & handing me his cassettes to record punk singles over but one was an incredible home recording of Crime of & as soon as i heard School i was hooked. i love most of their work from Surely to Crazy . i like Slow Down but the 1980s stuff was a tad generic for my tastes. Thanks for this to you both. 😁👍❤️🐀🐢

[@russbroda7207]

Great new malls in Calgary !

[@kellymccartney659]

love supertramp anyway

[@pamr4040]

♥

[@216trixie]

Hi.

[@ThePsho]

Without knowing John was previously a computer programmer, I'm sure my guess would have been computer programmer.

[@WilliamJones-sf5pt]

If one writes songs, one writes a lot of songs and throws most of them away. Twenty songs can come out of just out of the revising, rewriting, and rearrangement of one song.

[@veltonmeade1057]

Roger Hodgson reminds me of Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. Maybe it is in the name?

[@littlewing6231]

Love Rick a tad more.

[@maryloushea8186]

Is he WH Grandpa?

[@robertoc2485]

The interviewer talks too much

[@Retroearthling]

roger the heart of Supertramp? He didn't even write any songs. NOPE