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10cc's Graham Gouldman at The Apex...

10cc songwriter and musician, Graham Gouldman formed what became ‘Heart Full of Songs’ over 10 years ago, purely for the pleasure of playing songs in their simplest form.

The format became so popular that it adopted a name and undertook its first stand-alone concert tour in 2013, touring again the following year.

‘Heart Full of Songs’ line-up comprises Graham, 10cc live band members Iain Hornal and Keith Hayman, and Dave Cobby. The semi-acoustic four-piece performs a broad spread of Graham’s songs, including chart hits for 10cc, the Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck and his time in Wax with Andrew Gold.

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 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, Graham formed 10cc and enjoyed a string of Top 10 hits, including three No 1s – ‘Rubber Bullets’, ‘I’m Not In Love’ and ‘Dreadlock Holiday’ – along with ‘Donna’, ‘Art For Art’s Sake’, ‘The Things We Do For Love’, ‘I’m Mandy Fly Me’ and ‘The Wall Street Shuffle’.

Graham’s status as one of the world’s leading songwriters was acknowledged with his induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame at a special ceremony in New York.

Graham Gouldman and his band will play these hits and more at The Apex on Monday 6 March at 7.30pm. Ring the box office on 01284 758000 or see the website, www.theapex.co.uk for details.