European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 20, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Kick Davies is super temp s Singer keyboardist and main songwriter. Super tramp is a Rock band for grown ups Story and photos by Anita coach staff writer Rick  Singer keyboardist and chief songwriter of super tramp says there Are two sides to the million Selling band. There s the Light commercial Side which has yielded such successful pop albums As breakfast in America and famous last words. Then there s the serious Side with sophisticated compositions and weighty lyrics. Albums like crime of the Century and even in the quietest moments have established super tramp As a thinking fan s band. On the current european tour super tramp once again presents its serious Side. Emphasizing songs from their latest release brother where you bound Davies saxophonist John Holli will bassist Dougie Thomson and drummer Bob Siebenberg backed by four additional musicians stage a two hour Multi Media spectacular that combines music video clips and computer operated spotlights. Highlight of the show is a performance of the album s title track an intricate 17-Minutc opus dealing with communism and the Fate of Mankind. The video film opens with a montage of War scenes culminating in a communist takeover. It Lohn Helliwell plays saxophone for super tramp. Then traces the development of weapons from the simple wedge and Spear of primitive Man to modern Day bombs and missiles. It s kind of an abstract song says Davies. There s a character who has a real problem with communist propaganda in America. He takes it All very seriously especially at this time when they re trying to get America and Russia on friendlier terms. This Guy still wants to be aggressive. Hopefully people will realize the importance of better communications As far As that scene is  though the album spawned the upbeat single Cannonball which saw moderate Chart action last summer it was not As successful As super tramp s less serious releases a fact that does t bother Davies. We knew it was t a particularly commercial album but we had to go with it he says. We Felt we had to get Back to the heavier Side of the band and not just keep trying to make breakfast in America All the  it is super tramp s first album since the departure of guitarist and co writer Roger Hodgson who with Davies formed the band in England in 1969. When Hodgson left for a Solo career three years ago super tramp s future was Uncertain. We had to look at things realistically and decide whether we could still make Good music and be Strong enough to attract Good audiences says Davies. We decided it was very much Worth continuing that we could still build and play with other musicians and keep the super tramp flavor  Hodgson s departure in fact had a positive effect on the band says Davies. Problems had begun to crop up that were influencing the ban members writing abilities. At the end we were very very uptight he says. We could t create. It was like we were cancelling each other  despite super tramp s worldwide megastar status the individual ban members have remained relatively Anonymous which suits the musicians who Are in their 30s and 40s, just Fine. Says Davies we re not trying to be teeny toppers or idols. We re a bit too old for that. We re just out there making some Good music we  Check the on stage pages for super tramp s remaining tour in Germany and the . 20 stripes Magazine february 20,1986