Seventies legends 10CC still getting new fans thanks to old songs like I’m Not In Love in blockbuster films
10CC’s Dreadlock Holiday may be a cricket anthem but British musician Graham Gouldman, the man who co-wrote it, has never watched a match live.
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Each time Graham Gouldman performs in Australia with his band 10CC, there will be fresh faces in the front row thanks to I’m Not In Love.
That 1975 anti-love song finds a new generation of fans every decade courtesy of film soundtracks, with its most recent outing as the opening number in the Guardians of the Galaxy.
It was also a big chart hit in Australia more than 20 years after its original release courtesy of Deni Hines’ cover version for her debut album Imagination.
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“I don’t know exactly why but there is something inherent in the song which transcends generations,” Gouldman said in Sydney ahead of The Things We Do For Love tour.
“I look at the audiences we have today and there will be three generations. I love watching the faces of young people who come with this ‘What the hell is that?’ look on their faces, like they were dragged there, and that changes to ‘I love this’.”
Another song which stands the test of time courtesy of sports broadcasts is the reggae-flavoured smash Dreadlock Holiday.
The 10CC tour kicks off the same day as the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup, with cricket famously namechecked in the song’s lyrics.
The British musician has yet to attend a match, joking he is holding out for his friend and cricket tragic Sir Tim Rice to invite him to Lord’s but remains grateful Dreadlock Holiday’s famous lyric “I don’t like cricket, I love it” keeps the royalties ticking over.
“It would be very nice if it did (feature during the Wold Cup,” he said.
“That phrase was given to me, I didn’t make it up. I was in Jamaica on holidays, chatting to this guy about sports and I asked him ‘What about cricket? Do you like cricket?’
“And he said “ No, I don’t like it … I love it.’ The writer in me immediately thought it was a great line to save.”
Gouldman has juggled his 10CC touring commitments in recent years with his induction into Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band for the 2018 tour.
He was keen to repeat that experience this year – he was in charge of sourcing good Indian restaurants for their communal dinners – but had his own tour booked.
Gouldman said it was impossible not to be a fanboy when he first met Starr.
“There’s only certain people who have that effect on me and The Beatles were the most important thing for me and music, there wouldn’t have been a 10CC without them so it’s impossible to forget who he is,” he said.
“We did chat about quite personal things and then I would suddenly realise who I was talking to. But he’s such a lovely guy, generous, smart, massive energy, a real presence about him.
“It was a great experience for me and also to work with the rest of the band. It was a tremendously interesting time over those two tours. I loved it so much.”
10CC’s The Things We Do For Love tour kicks off at Zoo Twilights, Melbourne on Friday and also plays at the Southern Cross Club, Canberra on February 22, Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul on February 23, Astor Theatre, Perth on February 25, Enmore Theatre on February 27, Twin Towns, Gold Coast, February 28, Events Centre, Caloundra, February 29, Civic Theatre, Townsville, March 2, Performing Arts Centre, Cairns, March 3 and Civic Centre, Darwin, March 4.
Originally published as Seventies legends 10CC still getting new fans thanks to old songs like I’m Not In Love in blockbuster films