The Unlikely Demise of 10cc: A Conversation with Graham Gouldman
In the late 1970s, 10cc was on top of the world. With five consecutive Top 10 albums in the UK and 12 Top 40 hits, the band seemed untouchable. But all good things must come to an end, and 10cc’s reign eventually came to a close. In a recent conversation with Ultimate Classic Rock Nights host Matt Wardlaw, 10cc bassist and vocalist Graham Gouldman reflected on the band’s rise and fall, as well as his own post-10cc endeavors.
A Brief Hiatus
"It’s been so long since the band toured America," Gouldman said. "I think although we had a couple of very big hits in America, we never gained any traction with any albums, really. We toured quite a few times back in the ’70s and it became impractical or too expensive to tour and we had other places to go to."
The Early Days
The band’s early days were marked by a focus on songwriting, with Gouldman and co-founder Eric Stewart penning tracks like "Waterfall" and "Donna." "We’d recorded a song called ‘Waterfall,’ which Eric and I’d written," Gouldman recalled. "Apple Records, the Beatles’ label, had shown some interest in it. Eric and I had written the A-side, so we thought, ‘We should ask Kevin [Godley] and Lol [Creme] to write the B-side, which turned out to be ‘Donna.’ As we were recording it, we thought, ‘We’ve got something special here. It’s different and it’s strange, but there’s something really good here.’"
Touring Life
When 10cc began touring, Gouldman recalled that it took some time to adjust to the rigors of life on the road. "I think we did it pretty quickly," he said. "Of course, we hadn’t [initially] toured as a band. We were born in the studio, really, but we all had some experience of being in bands anyway. Eric Stewart in particular, being in Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders and then the Mindbenders. So we took to it really easy, actually, I think, looking back."
Touring with Slade
One memorable tour for Gouldman was the 10cc-Slade tour. "Well, in America, we toured with Slade, which was a bit of a strange combination," he said. "It was a very odd choice of acts to put together, I have to say. I mean, we got on with them fine."
Life After 10cc
After the band’s commercial decline, Gouldman went on to pursue other projects, including stints with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band and his own solo work. "I think it’s been really good, actually," he said. "I’ve been lucky to have had some great projects to work on. I did a few things with Ringo, which was a real honor. And then I did my own solo album, which was nice."
New Album, "I Have Notes"
Gouldman’s latest solo album, "I Have Notes," was inspired by his experiences with 10cc. "I recorded a track called ‘Floating in Heaven,’ which I wrote about the James Webb Space Telescope," he said. "I played it to Andrew at my record company and he said, ‘You should get Brian May to play on it because he’s a great guitarist, obviously, but he’s also an astronomer and an astrophysicist, so it kind of fits.’"
The Songwriting Process
When asked about his songwriting process, Gouldman joked, "I call it my expensive hobby, making records. I just love doing it. What’s not to like?"
A Personal Note
One memorable moment for Gouldman came when he received feedback on an early 10cc album. "There’s a series called ‘The Boys,’ about the superheroes," he said. "The main character in that, Homelander, that’s where I heard it a lot. He used to say it a lot, ‘I have notes.’ It struck me for the obvious reasons – but particularly with 10cc, nobody told us what to do or had notes for us. I don’t think they’d dare."
Conclusion
In the end, 10cc’s decline was a sobering experience for Gouldman. "The last album that was successful for 10cc was Bloody Tourists in 1978," he recalled. "After that, things went downhill. I won’t go into details, but I remember we did an album and we took it to the record company. When you play something for somebody – it’s like a song or anything or if you’ve written a piece – and you read it to your friend or partner, as you’re reading it, anything that’s not good is suddenly dreadful. It amplifies all of the bad things."
FAQs
- What was the band’s peak, and how did it come to an end?
10cc’s peak was marked by five consecutive Top 10 albums in the UK and 12 Top 40 hits. However, the band’s commercial decline began after the release of their 1978 album Bloody Tourists. - How did the band’s songwriting process work?
The band’s songwriting process was collaborative, with Gouldman and Eric Stewart penning tracks like "Waterfall" and "Donna." The band would often work together to craft their songs. - What inspired Gouldman’s latest solo album, "I Have Notes"?
Gouldman’s latest solo album was inspired by his experiences with 10cc and his fascination with astronomy. The album features a track called "Floating in Heaven," which was written about the James Webb Space Telescope. - How did Gouldman’s songwriting process change after 10cc?
Gouldman’s songwriting process has remained largely the same since 10cc, although he has explored new themes and ideas in his solo work.
