10cc reschedule Eastbourne date

Keep your tickets: they will be valid for the new shows which include Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre on May 4.

The band will be performing the hits which have singled them out as one of the most inventive and influential bands in the history of popular music.

Marking the 45th anniversary of the release of their mega-hit I’m Not In Love, which landed the band a top five single in ten countries and spawned a number-one album in the US, the 2021 dates will now start in Aberdeen on April 4.

Co-founder Graham Gouldman said: “Although extremely disappointed to have had to move our autumn tour, we are delighted that we’ve been able to relocate it all to next April and May. These certainly are challenging times for all of us, so keep safe, hang onto your tickets and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.”

The line-up features Gouldman (bass, guitar, vocals), Rick Fenn (lead guitar, bass, vocals), Paul Burgess (drums, percussion) – both of whom have been with the band since the early years – Keith Hayman (keyboards, guitars, bass, vocals) and Iain Hornal (vocals, percussion, guitar, keyboards).

In recent years, 10cc have toured worldwide, including Australia, Japan, Iceland, New Zealand, across the UK and Europe.

They’ve performed at the 65,000-capacity British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park and sold out London’s 5,200-seat Royal Albert Hall in advance last year. It has been an eventful few years for Graham.

Not only is 10cc enjoying increasing success around the world, but recognition of his solo achievements has grown too. He was invited by Ringo Starr to join his All Starr Band for tours of Europe in June 2018 and the USA that September, during which the band played three 10cc songs.

Born on May 10 1946 in Manchester, Graham was given his first guitar at the age of 11 and started playing with local bands at 15.

He received early encouragement to develop his musical talent from his mother Betty and father Hymie, who also contributed with suggested lyrics and song titles.

Graham played with various Manchester bands before forming The Mockingbirds in 1965 (with Kevin Godley on drums), and when the record label Columbia rejected Graham’s first single composition for the band, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The song, For Your Love, became a huge hit for The Yardbirds.

Working by day in a men’s outfitters shop and playing by night with his semi-professional band, Graham went on to write a string of hits, such as Pamela, Pamela for Wayne Fontana, For Your Love, Evil Hearted You and Heart Full of Soul (The Yardbirds), Bus Stop and Look Through Any Window (The Hollies), No Milk Today and Listen People (Herman’s Hermits), and Tallyman for Jeff Beck.

In 1972, along with Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, he formed 10cc and enjoyed a string of top ten hits, including three number ones – Rubber Bullets, I’m Not In Love and Dreadlock Holiday.

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