10cc

Formed in 1972 in Stockport, England, 10cc originally brought together Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme — musicians from the studio scene at Strawberry Studios where they worked as songwriters, producers and instrumentalists for other artists. From the debut album “10cc” (1973) and “Sheet Music” (1974), 10cc established a blend of melodic pop rock, art-rock influences and ironic songwriting, characterised by elaborate vocal arrangements and a taste for unconventional song structures. With “The Original Soundtrack” (1975) and “How Dare You!” (1976) the band refined a highly crafted studio approach, alternating atmospheric ballads, more direct pop tracks and narrative songs. After Kevin Godley and Lol Creme left in 1976, Gouldman and Stewart carried the group forward with albums such as “Deceptive Bends” (1977) and “Bloody Tourists” (1978), which continued the sophisticated pop-rock style while broadening rhythmic horizons. 10cc then released “Look Hear?” (1980), “Ten Out of 10” (1981) and “Windows in the Jungle” (1983), before a more spaced release schedule led to the reunion records “Meanwhile” (1992) and “Mirror Mirror” (1995). Since the late 1990s, 10cc has existed mainly as a live act centred on Graham Gouldman, with a renewed lineup revisiting this pop-rock repertoire that still bears experimental edges.