WHEN you count the likes of Axl Rose and Chrissie Hynde amongst your fans, you know you’re doing something right, and 10CC certainly did things right.

The original band might have split up some time ago, but their music just had to be kept alive, and founder member Graham Gouldman does just that.

For a number of years, Graham has been taking his band out on the road performing the very best of the band and such is the demand, he is undertaking a short tour of the UK kicking off in Glasgow on April 30th and ending on May 10th at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Formed in Stockport by Graham, Eric Stewart, Lol Crème and Kevin Godley, 10CC racked up almost a dozen Top Ten hits, which included Art For Art’s Sake, The Things We Do For Love and Life Is A Minestrone from 1972 to 1978.

Three of their hits, Rubber Bullets, Dreadlock Holiday and the sublime I’m Not In Love all topped the charts, with I’m Not In Love having received a BMI citation for five million radio plays in the US.

Not content with just having hits with 10CC, Graham penned hits for The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits and The Yardbirds, later teaming up with Andrew Gold as Wax and having a hit with Bridge To Your Heart.

But he always returns to 10CC.

Hang on… rewind a bit, 10CC had their first hit in 1972, which means that the band is celebrating their 40th anniversary.

Speaking from his home, Graham says that he never imagined that he would still be going out and performing as 10CC after all these years.

“Of course not, you never think of these things.”

He continues. “It’s a source of pride that our music has lasted.”

“It’s the songs really,” he says, commenting on what he thinks is the enduring appeal of the band.

“Their inventiveness, music, lyrics and originality.”

Nor did Graham, or any of his band-mates have any inkling that they were creating a musical legend.

“We had no intention of that, we just did what we wanted to do.”

“We were lucky to have our own studio so we wrote and recorded for our own pleasure – there was no master-plan.”

Joining Graham on stage as his band are: Paul Burgess on drums, Rick Fenn on guitar, Mick Wilson on vocals, keyboards and guitar, plus Mike Stevens on keyboards.

Paul has worked with 10CC from the beginning and Rick joined the live band in the mid-70’s. Mike sometimes has to take time out to tour as the Musical director to Take That when he is replaced by Keith Hayman.

“The band is amazing,” Graham says, paying tribute to his colleagues.

“I’m not keen on rearranging stuff and I want to hear the songs as originally recorded, to be faithful to the original, and this band enables me to do that.”

“I always look at concerts from the audiences’ point of view, I want the show to be great for you and doing that keeps it fresh for me.”

“Basically, I’m a punter as well as a musician.”

Despite all the hits that 10CC were responsible for, Graham cannot pick a song that is the definitive 10CC number.

“There were so many facets to the band,” he explains.

“Nothing represents 10CC and I like them all.”

“You can’t really pigeonhole the 10CC canon, we sounded different on all our records; just look at out three chart-toppers. Rubber Bullets was sung by Lol, Eric sang I’m Not In love and I sang Dreadlock Holiday.”

“We just did what was best for each song.”

He says that he likes them all, but one song does have a bit of an edge in his mind.

“There’s something about I’m Not In Love,” he admits.

“It seems to have a spirituality about it and has a hypnotic quality that affects me even today- and I’ve played it God knows how many times.” He laughs.

“And although, artistically it was right, it doesn’t identify the band – we chopped and changed too much for that. Plus it’s not fair on the rest of the songs.”

“They’re all our children! God bless ‘em!” He laughs.

For this years’ show Graham will of course be taking us on a musical journey through the history of 10CC.

“That’s right, there will be the hits and more, plus some new stuff.”

“By that I don’t mean newly recorded material – I would never do that as we are just a touring band; I mean that we’ll be playing come tracks that we haven’t done much before.”

But we will get to hear some new songs, as Graham is releasing a new solo album.

“Yes, the new album is called Love and work and I’ll play some of the songs in my solo spot in the show; I think that’s the legitimate place to introduce it.”

As it’s a special anniversary, I wondered whether we might see any former members making an appearance, after a pause, Graham was very guarded.

“There is a possibility yes, but not at all the gigs so I can’t say where…. Or who.”

Now in his sixties, Graham still enjoys playing music.

“We are loving doing it,” he says. “And I always look forward to playing in my home town of Manchester.”

And he is still keen to produce new material as well as his solo work.

“I’m doing things with new writers and I’ve been talking to Andrew Gold about working together again.”

“We always loved writing together.”

And his inspiration comes from many places.

“If I waited for inspiration I would get nothing done, I think it was Picasso who said ‘Inspiration love to find you working’, so I end up sitting and mucking around on my guitar – then I’ll hit a chord sequence and go from there.”

As for the future, the band is planning a trip to South Africa and a number of festival appearances throughout the summer.

But before that, is a little matter of the UK tour.

“This is as near as you’re ever going to get to hearing the perfect 10CC. Hit after hit after hit. It’s relentless and we show no mercy.”

He concludes.

“It’s a great evening,” he smiles, “and do you know, I’ve been to every one and loved it.”

10CC will be appearing at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Wednesday May2nd.

Tickets are available from the Box Office (0161 907 9000) and all the usual outlets.