John Helliwell

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John Helliwell
Supertramp - 2024101215503 2024-04-10 Rock Meets Classic - Sven - 1D X MK II - 1751 - B70I7621.jpg
Helliwell in 2024
Background information
Born (1945-02-15) 15 February 1945 (age 79)
Todmorden, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Genres Rock, pop, jazz, blues
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Saxophone
  • clarinet
  • vocals
  • keyboards
Website johnhelliwell.com

John Anthony Helliwell (born 15 February 1945) [1] [2] is an English musician, best known as the saxophonist, secondary keyboardist, and backing vocalist for the rock band Supertramp. [3] He also served as an MC during the band's concerts, talking and making jokes to the audience between songs.

Contents

Early life

Helliwell was born in Todmorden in 1945. [4] He sang in choir and at age nine played piano, but this only lased for one year. After hearing Monty Sunshine play Petite Fleur with Chris Barber's Jazz Band, John was inspired, and saved up for two years to buy a clarinet for 15 pounds when he was thirteen. [4] His other inspirations were inspirations then were Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis and Art Blakey.

After leaving school, John moved to Birmingham and worked as a computer programmer. [4] It was there he played in some of his first bands. One of these bands, The Dicemen, John claims dressed in Beatles-inspired suits and wore trousers so tight they had to be carried on stage. [4] Another band, Jugs O'Henry, was the first group he turned professional with in 1965.

Career

The Alan Bown Set

The Jugs O'Henry band was short–lived, and once they had ended, Helliwell put an advertisement into an issue of Melody Maker with the title "Have Sax, Will Travel". [4] His advertisement was seen by members of The Alan Bown Set, and he joined The Alan Bown Set, replacing Dave Green in January 1966. [5] [6] Helliwell was in The Alan Bown Set (later known as The Alan Bown or just Alan Bown) until February 1972.

The band, known for including future music stars such as Alan Bown, Jeff Bannister, Jess Roden, Robert Palmer, Mel Collins, and Dave Lawson, had limited success in sales, and changed genre's through the 60s, transitioning from blues, soul, and rnb, to psychedelic, progressive, and baroque pop, and freakbeat. [4] [7]

On a few later Alan Bown records, including their 1971 album Stretching Out, Helliwell is credited as John Anthony, his fore and middle name. The Alan Bown Set had ended by early 1972, and Helliwell worked with the groups bassist Dougie Thomson in London.

Supertramp and later career

Helliwell joined Supertramp in 1973 along with bassist Dougie Thomson, who convinced Helliwell to make the move. [8] John's addition helped introduce saxophone, other woodwinds, occasional keyboards, synthesizers, and backing vocals to the groups sound. Helliwell was in Supertramp until 2011, even when the band had two break ups.

In 1987 Helliwell played on Pink Floyd's album A Momentary Lapse of Reason ; his name was misspelled as "Halliwell". [9] This was after Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour had played on Supertramp's album Brother Where You Bound . Helliwell also played on French singer Jean-Jacques Goldman's 1985 album Positif, and clarinet on Sara Hickman's 1990 album Shortstop.

During a professional lull in the 1990s, Helliwell began studying for a music degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, but he discontinued his studies to join Supertramp on tour when Some Things Never Change was released. In 2004 he contributed saxophone work on the Simon Apple album River to the Sea. [10]

In 2004, Helliwell formed the band Crème Anglaise with Mark Hart, who had joined Supertramp in 1985. This group recorded their eponymous debut album in 2005.

Helliwell contributed clarinet to The Pineapple Thief's song "Fend For Yourself" from their Your Wilderness album which was released in 2016. [11] [12]

Helliwell fronts the Super Big Tramp Band, [13] which has a jazz big band line-up of trumpets, trombones, saxophones and rhythm section. It plays versions of Supertramp tunes, arranged by members of the band, with no vocals, but with Helliwell as the chief soloist. The band first played in Manchester in June 2013. [14] In 2019 the band played at the Manchester Jazz Festival [15] in May and was scheduled to play in Hull and Hamburg later in the year. [16]

In October 2020, Helliwell released Ever Open Door, a CD album of ballads with Helliwell on saxophone and clarinet, with a string quartet and Hammond organ.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supertramp</span> British rock band

Supertramp were a British rock band formed in London in 1970. Marked by the individual songwriting of founders Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, the group were distinguished for blending progressive rock and pop styles. The classic lineup, which lasted ten years from 1973 to 1983, comprised Davies, Hodgson, Dougie Thomson (bass), Bob Siebenberg (drums) and John Helliwell (saxophone), after which the group's lineup changed numerous times, with Davies eventually becoming the only constant member throughout its history.

<i>Crime of the Century</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Supertramp

Crime of the Century is the third studio album by the English rock band Supertramp, released in October 1974 on A&M Records. Crime of the Century was Supertramp's commercial breakthrough in many countries, most notably in the UK, Canada and Germany where it peaked in the Top 5 while also making the Top 20 in Australia and France. It was an improvement over their previous sales in the US, but still only peaked at No. 38, with the US hit being "Bloody Well Right". "School" was another popular track, particularly on album rock-oriented radio stations. The album was eventually certified Gold in the US in 1977 after the release of Even in the Quietest Moments.... In Canada, it was eventually certified Diamond. The album was Supertramp's first to feature drummer Bob Siebenberg, saxophone and clarinet player and vocalist John Helliwell, bassist Dougie Thomson, and co-producer Ken Scott. The album has received critical acclaim, including its inclusion in Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time".

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

Crisis? What Crisis? is the fourth album by the English rock band Supertramp, released in 1975. It was recorded in Los Angeles and London – Supertramp's first album to have recording done in the US.

<i>Is Everybody Listening?</i> 2001 live album by Supertramp

Is Everybody Listening? is a live album by the English rock band Supertramp, released in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dougie Thomson</span> British musician

Douglas 'Dougie' Campbell Thomson 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakfast in America (song)</span> 1979 single by Supertramp

"Breakfast in America" is the title track from English rock band Supertramp's 1979 album of the same name. Credited to Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, it was a top-ten hit in the UK and a live version of the song reached No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1981. The lyrics tell about a person, presumably British, who dreams of visiting the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Raining Again</span> 1982 single by Supertramp

"It's Raining Again" is a song recorded by the English progressive rock band Supertramp and released as a single from their 1982 album …Famous Last Words… with credits given to Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, although as indicated on the album sleeve, it is a Hodgson composition. The end of the song incorporates the old nursery rhyme "It's Raining, It's Pouring".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Kind of Lady</span> 1983 single by Supertramp

"My Kind of Lady" was the second single from Supertramp's 1982 album …Famous Last Words…. The song is a '50's-style mid-tempo love ballad; it peaked at #16 on the USA Billboard Adult Contemporary and #31 on the USA Billboard pop singles charts. The lead and backing vocals were all sung by Davies, who harmonizes with himself by switching between his natural voice and a falsetto vocal. The echo-treated and natural sounding voice was sung in Davies' baritone. The falsetto passages were double tracked and mixed with a phaser. Despite being released as a single, the track was not performed live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannonball (Supertramp song)</span> 1985 single by Supertramp

"Cannonball" is the opening track from Supertramp's 1985 album Brother Where You Bound.

<i>The Very Best of Supertramp 2</i> 1992 greatest hits album by Supertramp

The Very Best of Supertramp 2 is a best of album by the English rock band Supertramp originally released by A&M Records in November 1992.

<i>Live 88</i> (Supertramp album) 1988 live album by Supertramp

Live '88 is the second live album by the English rock band Supertramp released in October 1988 on A&M Records. It was their last album to feature bassist Dougie Thomson in any capacity.

<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.

The Alan Bown Set, later known as The Alan Bown! or just Alan Bown, were a British band of the 1960s and 1970s whose music evolved from jazz and blues through soul and rhythm and blues and ended up as psychedelia and progressive rock. The band achieved limited chart success and is best known for the role it played in developing the careers of numerous musicians including Mel Collins, John Helliwell, Robert Palmer, Jess Roden and Dougie Thomson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Bown</span> Musical artist

Alan James Bown was a jazz trumpeter who was active in the early 1960s jazz scene in London. He performed in The John Barry Seven, and later his own band The Alan Bown Set.

<i>The Story So Far...</i> (Supertramp album) 1990 video by Supertramp

The Story So Far... is a 1990 rockumentary by English rock band Supertramp, featuring interviews with the band members telling the story of the band, and concert footage from the 1983 world tour promoting ...Famous Last Words..., filmed in Toronto and Munich. Originally released by A&M Records on VHS in 1990, it received a DVD version in 2002 that featured some of the band's music videos as extras. The cover art is the same as the greatest hits compilation The Very Best of Supertramp.

<i>Your Wilderness</i> 2016 studio album by the Pineapple Thief

Your Wilderness is the eleventh studio album by British rock band The Pineapple Thief. The album features guest musicians including Gavin Harrison, John Helliwell (Supertramp), and Geoffrey Richardson (Caravan).

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

"Babaji" is a song by British 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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free as a Bird (Supertramp song)</span> 1987 single by Supertramp

"Free as a Bird" is the title track from Supertramp's 1987 album of the same name. Released as a single at the end of that year, the song achieved only marginal commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Bannister (musician)</span> Musical artist

Jeff Bannister is a British keyboardist and singer. He started in early 1960s rock and roll groups, and was a member of The John Barry Seven in their later years. He then joined the groups spinoff, The Alan Bown Set. He later joined the Jersey band A Band Called O, and since 2010 has been a member of Alan Lovell's The Swinging Blue Jeans.

References

  1. ↑ "John Helliwell - Biography". www.johnhelliwell.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  2. ↑ "John Helliwell Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & M..." AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  3. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Andrew Leahe. "Supertramp". All Music Guide. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Auto biography". www.johnhelliwell.com. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Jeff Bannister (2007). "The Alan Bown Set" . Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Breakfast In Spain - Roger Hodgson and Supertramp website - John Helliwell". www.breakfastinspain.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Looking Back 80 Mod, Freakbeat & Swinging London Nuggets". www.cherryred.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  8. ↑ Brad, Bad. "Q&A with John Helliwell". RingSide Report. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  9. ↑ A Momentary Lapse of Reason
  10. ↑ "johnhelliwell.com". johnhelliwell.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  11. ↑ Ainscoe, Mike (17 July 2016). "THE PINEAPPLE THIEF - YOUR WILDERNESS – album review". louderthanwar.com. Louder Than War. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  12. ↑ Mind, The Prog (2 August 2016). "The Pineapple Thief – "Your Wilderness"". The PROG Mind. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  13. ↑ "Supertramp's John Helliwell from geeky kid to rock icon". A Breath of Fresh Air. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  14. ↑ "RNCM Big Band with Supertramp's John Helliwell - Rob Buckland - Saxophonist". robbuckland.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  15. ↑ "Big Band Super Tramp featuring John Helliwell" . Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  16. ↑ "johnhelliwell.com". johnhelliwell.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

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