'10cc weren't into the glitter - we're very much all about the music'

Graham Gouldman’s solo show will delve into a back catalogue of hits that goes far beyond his 10cc years. MARTIN NEAL catches up with him ahead of a tour that will support some of the nation’s smaller live venues

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WHEN 10cc star Graham Gouldman finishes his forthcoming solo tour, he doesn’t expect to dash out and buy a flash car with the proceeds.

But that’s not the point. As well as showcasing songs he’s written and performed over a long and stellar career, he’s eager to show his support for the nation’s smaller venues - many of which are finding the going extremely tough and need all the help they can get.

Among those venues he'll be taking his Heart Full of Songs tour to is Komedia in Bath and The Sub Rooms in Stroud.

‘The tour, for which he'll be joined on stage by current members of 10cc, will feature semi-acoustic versions of many of the songs he's been involved with.

‘And having penned hits for The Yardbirds, Herman's Hermits, The Hollies and more alongside a 53-year career in 10cc and two solo albums, he'll have a lot of material to choose from.

“We did a Heart Full of Songs tour of bigger venues in March and we enjoyed it so much, it was such a lot of fun,’ explained Graham.

“It’s very different from the 10cc show, of course - which is also great - but we wanted to do a few more gigs.

“Because of the time constraints it was more smaller venues that were available and I wanted to do it to help support smaller venues because they're in danger of going, a lot of them.

“A lot of them have already gone because of Covid, the general costs of touring and other things.

“So I wanted to do something that was in a way supporting smaller venues. And of course we enjoy playing them.

“We won't be ordering any Ferraris after the tour! But that’s not the point. We love playing and we had this time slot and it seemed a nice idea to put something in”

What has evolved into the Heart Full of Songs setlist some years ago was born almost by accident.