10 CC . . . at the Apollo on September 20

EXTRA CAPACITY FOR A 'NEW' 10CC

"When we went into the studio it was like going to war," says Graham Gouldman, one half of the inspirational and song-writing genius of British rock band 10 CC.

Adelaide Advertiser 11 september 1977 pop rock section
by Dennis Atkins

Graham was commenting on the effect of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme leaving the band in 1976.

The result of that "war" in the studio was "Deceptive Bends" the group's latest, and strongest album.

Since that split Graham and Eric Stewart, the other survivor, have added Paul Burgess (drums), Tony O'Malley (keyboards, vocals), Stuart Tosh (drums, vocals) and Rick Fenn (guitar, vocals). This band appears at Apollo Stadium on September 20.

Graham says the group put more work into the "Deceptive Bends" album than any other. "We had to double up on everything."

Before Kevin and Lol left the four would split up into different songwriting teams which Graham feels gave their records a variety they could not have attained otherwise.

Graham says the new band is much stronger on stage, an area where 10 CC were often criticised.

"We are able to fill in extra things and do things we could never do before on stage." The major reason for this is the addition of keyboard player Tony O'Malley. Before, when keyboards were introduced on stage it would be at the expense of a guitar.

Graham describes the current music scene in England as "quite healthy," adding that it has made bands look at themselves a lot more closely. "It makes us look very establishment," he says.

Eric Stewart says that all of 10CC's material is a gamble. "We don't go into a studio to do a commercial song. We always make sure we are going to enjoy the finished product."

He emphasises this point by saying that if the band does have a commercial song, when they are in the studio they ask themselves what can be done with it to break down that aspect.

"We might change the rhythm or add a drum beat."

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