Dougie Thomson

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Dougie Thomson
Dougie Thomson.JPG
Thomson in 1980
Background information
Birth nameDouglas Campbell Thomson
Born (1951-03-24) 24 March 1951 (age 73)
Glasgow, Scotland
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar

Douglas 'Dougie' Campbell Thomson (born 24 March 1951) is a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow and raised in the Rutherglen area of the city. He was the bass guitarist of progressive rock band Supertramp during much of the Seventies and Eighties. [1]

Contents

Career

Thomson's musical career began in August 1969, when he joined a local Glaswegian band "The Beings". In September 1971 he joined The Alan Bown Set where he briefly worked with future Supertramp colleague, John Helliwell. In February 1972, Thomson auditioned for Supertramp, and ended up playing several gigs as a temporary stand-in.

In 1973, Thomson permanently joined Supertramp and helped in the business management with Dave Margereson; he also persuaded John Helliwell to join the band.

Thomson played with Supertramp on all of their most famous albums: Crime of the Century , Crisis? What Crisis? , Even in the Quietest Moments... , Breakfast in America , Paris , ...Famous Last Words... , Brother Where You Bound and Free as a Bird .

On the back cover of Breakfast in America was a photograph showing Thomson reading the Glasgow Herald.

Thomson was a member of Supertramp until the band went on hiatus in 1988; He didn’t return to the band once the hiatus ended. Dougie Thomson played a Music Man StingRay, a Rickenbacker 4001 and a Fender Jazz Bass during his time with Supertramp.

He has since become a publisher in the music business, creating Trinity Publishing, and worked with a Chicago, Illinois management company.

Thomson has four children, Laura, James, Kyle and Emma. Kyle Thomson played one game of football for Scottish football club Greenock Morton in 2018.

Thomson is the older brother of Ali Thomson.

Related Research Articles

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Supertramp were a British rock band that formed in London in 1970. They experienced their greatest global success in 1979 with their sixth album Breakfast in America. Marked by the individual songwriting of founders Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, the group were distinguished for blending progressive rock and pop styles as well as for a sound that relied heavily on Wurlitzer electric piano. The group's lineup changed numerous times throughout their career, with Davies being the only constant member throughout its history. The classic lineup, which lasted ten years from 1973 to 1983, comprised Davies, Hodgson, Dougie Thomson (bass), Bob Siebenberg (drums) and John Helliwell (saxophone).

<i>Crisis? What Crisis?</i> 1975 studio album by Supertramp

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<i>...Famous Last Words...</i> 1982 studio album by Supertramp

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take the Long Way Home (Supertramp song)</span> 1979 single by Supertramp

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<i>The Very Best of Supertramp</i> 1990 greatest hits album by Supertramp

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Beggin' You</span> 1987 single by Supertramp

"I'm Beggin' You" is a 1987 single by British progressive rock band Supertramp and one of two entries into the dance charts by Supertramp. "I'm Beggin' You" reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play for one week, early in 1988. Unlike previous entries the single did not enter the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babaji (song)</span> 1977 single by Supertramp

"Babaji" is a song by English rock band Supertramp, written by Roger Hodgson and also credited to other band member Rick Davies. First released on their 1977 album Even in the Quietest Moments..., it was subsequently released in Europe and in Australia as the follow-up single to "Give a Little Bit".

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition, (Billboard Books, 2010), 636.