Roger Hodgson headlining Bluesfest!

Australia! Here is the announcement you have been waiting for! Roger will be headlining Bluesfest Byron Bay with his band on March 31, 2013! See Roger at Australia's Premier Music Festival! This is definitely a show not to miss! Tickets are currently on sale through http://www.bluesfest.com.au/pages/?ParentPageID=9&PageID=220 Take a look at Roger performing his classics - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCk8brj9D-0. Have you seen Roger in concert this year? Tell us and promoters about it! Leave a comment directly on the video and "like" it while you're there! THE LEGENDARY VOICE OF SUPERTRAMP **BRINGING HIS FULL BAND TO AUSTRALIA FOR THE FIRST TIME** Roger Hodgson has been recognized as one of the most gifted composers, songwriters, and lyricists of our time. As the co-founder and legendary voice of Supertramp, he gave us the timeless classics such as “Give a little bit,” “The Logical Song,” “School,” “Dreamer,” “Take the Long Way Home,” “Breakfast In America,” “Child of Vision,” “Fool’s Overture,” and so many others that have become the soundtrack of our lives. Many people don’t realize that although Roger and Supertramp’s other co-founder shared writing credit, they actually wrote and composed separately with each singing their own respective songs. Hodgson co-founded Supertramp in 1969. During the 14 years that he led the band prior do his departure, Supertramp became a worldwide phenomenon with sales of over 60 million albums. Although Roger departed the band in 1983 and moved away from the Los Angeles music scene to Northern California to raise his children and be close to nature, he is still regarded by many as Supertramp’s spiritual and creative force. His songs have stood the test of time and are more relevant today, if not more so, than when they were released. Hodgson recently received the honour of two awards from ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) for “Give a Little Bit” and “Breakfast in America” being in the top played songs in their repertory. Hodgson is currently on his world tour and selling out shows around the globe, in addition to receiving fantastic reviews from media and fans alike. Don’t miss this one-off opportunity Find Roger Hodgson on Facebook

Supertramp's Roger Hodgson's songwriting Secret!

Roger Hodgson's songwriting secret: 'I wrote them when I was alone'

Roger Hodgson today and in his Supertramp days 

By Mark Voger/The Star-Ledger
on October 26, 2012 at 7:06 PM, updated October 26, 2012 at 7:24 PM

The song titles alone bring back memories: "Dreamer," "Take the Long Way Home," "Give a Little Bit", "Breakfast in America," "The Logical Song." But fan testimony — particularly on the subject of lyrics — has convinced singer-songwriter Roger Hodgson, formerly of '70s rockers Supertramp, that his is no nostalgia act.

"The songs I'm playing were written 30-plus years ago, but they don't sound old," Hodgson says. "They still sound fresh. They're still very relevant — some are more relevant today than when they were written. 'Give a Little Bit,' I think, has a message that is more needed today than when I wrote it. 'Please tell me who I am' — there are a lot of confused people in world. It's a tough time to be alive right now. How do you find true happiness?

"It never ceases to amaze me, really, what different songs have meant to people. I hear everything from 'They saved my life during my teen years' to 'We fell in love to the songs.' Or they used the songs at their weddings. The thing that amazes me is the depth of connection people have with these songs."

England native Hodgson, 62 — who has upcoming shows in Englewood and Morristown — chalks this up to the initial inspiration for his lyrics.

"These songs came from a pure place within me; they were not contrived," the musician says.
"They really come from my own life experiences so that, I think, other people related to them and were feeling the same things I was. I was just able to express them.

"I wrote them when I was alone. That's where I go to express what's inside of me."

Hodgson felt like a bit of a loner while growing up in Oxford.

"I was in English boarding school," he recalls. "At that time, it was a harsh school system to be thrust into. For a shy, sensitive boy, it was harsh schooling."

Salvation came in the form of music.

"I got my first guitar in my hands when I was 12, and it changed my life forever," Hodgson says with a laugh.

"I was 13 when (the Beatles' first single) 'Love Me Do' hit the radio. So it was interesting. Here I was, in this very, very conservative school system in the middle of nowhere with 600 boys. We were dying to grow our hair long like the Beatles, but we were stuck in this conservative school. The dichotomy of it was very interesting.

"But the Beatles changed my life. They broke down doors; they broke barriers. Every album was like a step forward in ideas and experimentation. They really showed the world what was possible."

Hodgson pursued music as a young adult. He was hardly a studio virgin when he joined Supertramp prior to recording the band's self-titled 1970 debut album.

Hodgson (center) with Supertramp.

"Actually," he says, "I had a record out before I met (Supertramp founder) Rick Davies, under the name Argosy. My first experience recording was with a gentleman named Reg Dwight, who later changed his name to Elton John. So I started off recording with Elton John and (drummer) Nigel Olsson and (guitarist) Caleb Quaye, who were the hottest session musicians in London at that time.


"Although I put out the record under the name Argosy, I really wanted to be in a band. I started looking around. I found the advertisement in (the music publication) Melody Maker. I went up to London and met Rick. I think I was one of 600 musicians who applied to that advertisement. Mainly because Rick had to take a break in the proceedings, we went to a pub. I think that probably cemented things between us. He liked my voice."


From album to album, Hodgson's songwriting contributions to Supertramp grew. Five Hodgson-penned songs became Top 20 hits; another co-written with Davies went to No. 15. But for Hodgson, the fan testimony is the ultimate indicator of success.


"For me, when I've gone through hard times, certain songs have helped me get through it," he says. "To think my songs have done this for other people — that gives me the most gratification."


ROGER HODGSON
Nov. 7: 8 p.m. at Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood. $49 to $109; call (201) 227-1030 or visit bergenpac.org.
Nov. 8: 8 p.m. at Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown. $57 to $97; call (973) 539-8008 or visit mayoarts.org.
More about Roger Hodgson at rogerhodgson.com.



For article online: The Star Ledger

Former Supertramp Takes the Long Way...

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012

Former Supertramp frontman takes long way to Gallo Center

By Lisa Millegan Renner
lrenner@modbee.com


Roger Hodgson said it can be frustrating to market his shows. People don't know that he's the singer and songwriter behind such Supertramp hits as "The Logical Song," "Dreamer," "Take the Long Way Home" and "Give a Little Bit."

The Great Britain native is hoping that by naming his tour after "Breakfast in America," Supertramp's mega-selling 1979 album, fans will catch on. He performs Saturday at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto as part of a 34-city U.S. tour.

"This is kind of like the best of Supertramp in a way," he said in a recent phone interview. "People are being knocked out with this show."

Hodgson, 62, will perform with a four-piece band of players in their 30s and 40s. "I wanted young, hungry, passionate musicians," he said. "The band is a great band. I'm singing the songs better than I've sung them. The vocal harmonies are going to knock people sideways, they're so beautiful."

Supertramp was co-founded England in 1970 by Hodgson and Rick Davies. The group's first big hit came in 1974 with Hodgson's "Dreamer." The two wrote separately, but like John Lennon and Paul McCartney, they maintained a joint writing credit during their collaboration.

During the next nine years, the group released four studio albums, achieving international success with "Breakfast in America," which sold 20 million albums. But in 1983, Hodgson decided to walk away from it all so he could live a simpler life with his family in accordance with his spiritual values.

"When we hit the mega-success of 'Breakfast in America,' that's when I felt disenchanted," he said. "I felt the pressure of the business more, I lost my bearings a little bit. I had two small babies and I thought, 'Hang on, things have got to change in my life. I need to stop and learn how to be a parent and be around my kids. I can't keep going.' "

Hodgson and his family settled in Nevada City, where he felt he could better concentrate on his spiritual growth. " 'God' is a misunderstood word now," he said. "I know from meditation and yoga and everything else that it's to be found within. For me, God is love. There's no separation. The connection to peace is to be found in the heart, and that's where the healing needs to happen."

He set up a home studio so he could continue with his music and put out occasional albums, though nothing approached his earlier success. He is excited to be out touring again and sharing the old hits he loves so much.
"These songs that I sing — 'Dreamer,' 'Logical Song,' 'Take the Long Way Home' – they're all my songs, and a lot were written before I co-founded Supertramp."

He's touched that people still enjoy the music. In 2005, he won an award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers because "Give a Little Bit" was one of the most played songs of that year. Just a few years later, he received the award again when Gym Class Heroes scored a hit with their updated twist on "Breakfast in America" called "Cupid's Chokehold."

"It's pretty amazing that the songs seem to be timeless," Hodgson said. "They don't feel like old songs, they feel relevant, very current. They feel close to my heart because that's where they came from. I never sat down to try to write a hit song. Music was where I went to express what was going on inside me — my deepest longing and pain. "
Hodgson continues to write new songs and has some 60 unrecorded tunes, but he doesn't perform too many on this tour. "Most people want to hear the songs they have all the memories connected with," he said. "I believe as an entertainer to give people what's going to give them the best experience."

He said he would be willing to reunite with Supertramp, which continues to tour under the leadership of Davies, who owns the trademark, but has been rebuffed. He said he last reached out a couple of years ago when the band celebrated its 40th anniversary.

"I put out the olive branch," Hodgson said. "I did send a message to Rick that the fans would love to see us together again — 'Let's give them this opportunity. I'll join you on stage for a few shows.' Unfortunately, he declined the offer. That was his choice."

It's just as well because Hodgson is happy doing his own touring. He has been performing a lot in Europe, Canada, South America and occasionally Australia, where he is more well-known, and he is glad to be finally making inroads in the United States.

"A lot of people now are saying, 'Wow, this band sounds even better than Supertramp,' " Hodgson said. "I don't like saying that, but I do know I have an incredible band with me. Some fans follow me around and go to 10, 12, 13 shows. It's very magical when that happens."

For the online article: The Modesto Bee!

Roger Hodgson with Barry Scott on the Lost 45s

 

Don’t miss a rare conversation with Roger and Barry Scott, this Sunday night from 7 to 10pm Eastern on 105.7 WROR/Boston and streaming on WROR.com.

Roger will chat about boarding school, his first guitar, early bands including Argosy which featured Reginald Kenneth Dwight (who became Elton John). We’ll play their rare single “Mr. Boyd.” Roger will also discuss the Supertramp hits including "Take the Long Way Home," "The Logical Song," "Breakfast in America," "Dreamer" and "It's Raining Again.” Plus, Roger will cover the American Hot 100 charted parody version of “The Logical Song” and his first solo hit "Had a Dream!"

Listen to Barry Scott’s interview on "The Lost 45s" in preparation for Roger’s November 4th concert appearance at Lynn Auditorium in Lynn, MA. Tickets: (781) 591-2971.

 

Roger Hodgson In the Eye of the Acoustic Storm

The Best Variety of Acoustic-Rock!

Join Roger Hodgson this weekend Oct 20th - 21st
on the nationally-syndicated radio program, The Acoustic Storm.

Host Jeff Parets will feature excerpts from The Acoustic Storm's exclusive interview with Roger in "The Eye of The Storm". You'll hear four songs from Roger and Supertramp during the show, as The Acoustic Storm celebrates its 14th anniversary.


Acoustic Storm website:
http://www.acousticstorm.com


Acoustic Storm Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Acoustic-Storm/113990891969646?ref=ts

2012 Breakfast in America USA and Canada!

USA and Canada! There are 14 magnificent tour dates remaining for this year! Do not miss out on seeing Roger with his tight, fantastic band or with a beautiful symphony orchestra in Orillia. Get your tickets today! All tour details, including ticket links, are at https://www.facebook.com/rogerhodgsonofficial/events

10/26 Rancho Mirage, CA
10/27 Modesto, CA
10/29 Friant, CA
11/1 Glenside, PA
11/2 Westbury, NY
11/3 Ridgefield, CT
11/4 Lynn, MA
11/7 Englewood, NJ
11/8 Morristown, NJ
11/9 Shippensburg, PA
11/13 Carmel, IN
11/16 Orillia, ON, Canada
11/17 Orillia, ON, Canada
11/18 Windsor, ON, Canada

Take a look at this video of Roger performing fan favorite "In Jeopardy" with his band. This performance is from the sold out opening weekend in February on Roger's Breakfast in America Tour. Have you seen Roger in concert this year? Share your experiences directly on the video for all viewers to see. Be sure to "like" the video too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTVkSYSo4b0

Paris, France ~ Second show added! Roger's May 19, 2013 show at Olympia with his band! Tickets go on sale Tuesday, October 16, at 10:00AM and will be available through Olympia, Live Nation, and FNAC.   Do not wait to get your tickets, as they are sure to go fast. Roger's October 5 at Olympia sold out months in advance and there are a few seats remaining for the May 18 Olympia show in 2013. See Roger on his return to Paris and this time with his band! Enjoy this beautiful video below of Roger performing "Don't Leave Me Now," Live in Paris with his band. Share your experiences of seeing Roger Live in Paris! Be sure to leave your comment directly on the video and "like" it while you're there! Live in Paris - Supertramp co-founder Roger Hodgson - Singer/Songwriter of Don't Leave Me Now Also enjoy this beautiful video montage below of Roger performing Live in Paris during his sold out show at Olympia on October 5! Share your experiences of seeing Roger Live in Paris! Be sure to leave your comment directly on the video and "like" it while you're there. Live in Paris Roger Hodgson (Co-founder Supertramp) Montage Olympia Show 2012 For complete information on all concerts go to: Roger's Tour Page

Australia! Fantastic news!

Here are the details for two more cities on Roger's spring 2013 six-city tour of Australia! Mark your calendars and join Roger on his return to Down Under - this time with his full band!

Melbourne 28 March at Palais Theatre

Sydney 3 April at State Theatre

Pre-sale for Melbourne and Sydney begins at 10:00AM local time on Tuesday, 16 October and concludes at 9:00AM on Thursday, 18 October.

Pre-sale password is BLUESFEST

General sale begins 18 October at 10:00AM.

Pre-sale and general sale link for Melbourne and Sydney is http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/.

We will soon announce the details for the sixth city so keep checking back! 

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Reminder that pre-sale for Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth is underway and concludes at 5:00PM on 17 October with general sale beginning 18 October.

Brisbane 30 March at The Tivoli Brisbane - all ticket holders must be at least 18 years of age.

Adelaide 5 April at Thebarton Theatre

Perth 7 April at Riverside Theatre

Pre-sale and general sale link for Adelaide is http://www.venuetix.com.au/.

Pre-sale and general sale link for Brisbane and Perth is http://www.ticketek.com.au/.

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Enjoy this video of Roger performing his classic, "Child of Vision," with his band. Is this one of your favorites? Tell us about it! Leave a comment directly on the video and give it a "thumbs up!"