Stewart and Gouldman were straight pop-song-writers, who created the band’s most accessible songs; Godley and Creme were the experimental half of 10cc, featuring an Art School sensibility and cinematic writing. All are skilled multi-instrumentalists, vocalists, writers, and producers, and each could perform convincingly as lead singers, leading to favourable comparisons with The Beatles.
The band achieved its greatest commercial success during the 1970s.
In 1976 ... Godley & Creme left, releasing records under that name before making a significant contribution to the development of the music video in the 80s.
In 1977 ... 10cc embarked on an international tour with guitarist Rick Fenn, keyboardist Tony O'Malley and additional drummer Stuart Tosh and recorded a live album in 1977, "Live And Let Live", which mixed the hits with material from the previous three albums.
Fenn, Tosh, Burgess and keyboardist Duncan Mackay were full members of the band and performed on 1978 album "Bloody Tourists", which provided the band with their third UK No.1 single, the reggae-styled "Dreadlock Holiday".
1977-1983 ... After the departure of Godley and Creme, Stewart and Gouldman opted to continue as 10cc, bringing in to the studio drummer Paul Burgess, who had up to that point been their tour backup drummer. Their first album as a three piece band was "Deceptive Bends".
1984-1992 ... Separate projects - after 1983, the band went into recess as Stewart did produce recordings for Sad Café and Gouldman produced tracks for The Ramones before teaming up with Andrew Gold to form the synth-pop group Wax.
1992-1995 ... In 1992 the original four members reunited to record "Meanwhile", an album produced by Gary Katz of Steely Dan fame. ...the album was not a "reunion" in the strict sense of the word. All the album's songs were written by Stewart and Gouldman ... Creme and Godley agreed to guest on the album to fullfil their obligation to Polydor records.
1999-2009 ... since 1999 Gouldman has toured as 10cc consisting of Rick Fenn, Paul Burgess, Mick Wilson, Mike Stevens and/or Keith Hayman, with occasional guest appearances by Kevin Godley. The band has embarked on several national tours of the UK and various dates throughout the World playing 10cc hits, plus a section of Gouldman's hits written for others. Their first gig was at Ronnie Scotts jazz club in Birmingham in 1999.
Additional info:
There is much speculation about where the name of the band comes from but the general consensus was that it is named after the average amount of ejaculate in a single male orgasm. However one will find that the average is about 3cc ...the name "10cc" in fact comes from a dream: Jonathan King, the person who signed them, dreamed of a band called 10cc topping the charts in both the UK and America - see: snopes.com/music/artists/10cc.asp
The Stars Didn't Show
10cc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to listen to your sound
You made the night seem endless
You cast a magic spell
You played the part so well
Your music blew away the darkness
We loved you for better
We loved you for worse
Your lives were a blessing
But they carried a curse
The night that the stars didn't show
You made me stand so proud
I was lifted from the crowd
The fire inside me burning
The figure dressed in black
Sending shivers down my back
Deep inside my soul was stirring
We loved you for better
We loved you for worse
The sweet inspiration that you gave us
And I can remember we didn't rehearse
The night that the stars didn't show
Mountains may crumble
And worlds fall apart
Lovers and friends may desert me
The road may be long
But I know in my heart
Your spirit will always be with me
The thrill to be up there
A sea of faces everywhere
I look I find you
We loved you for better
We loved you for worse
But we never took you for granted
Your lives were a blessing
But they carried a curse
The night that the stars didn't show
We loved you for better
We loved you for worse
The sweet inspiration that you gave us
And I can remember we didn't rehearse
The night that the stars didn't show
The lyrics of 10cc's song The Stars Didn't Show reflect on the power and impact of music and how it can lift us up and inspire us, even in the absence of other forms of support. The song honours a beloved musician who has since passed, and the singer reminisces on the way this person's music resonated with them and others in the past. The lyrics allude to the idea that the singer never saw this musician as a given, that they always appreciated the brilliance they brought to the stage.
The first verse mentions how people travelled from all around to see this musician perform because of how much they loved their sound. The second verse then becomes more personal, where the singer expresses how this musician inspired them to be proud and bold. The chorus repeats that though the musician's talents were appreciated by many, they were not taken for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
We came from miles around
We traveled far to hear your music
Just to listen to your sound
Our sole purpose for coming was to hear you sing
You made the night seem endless
Your music filled the night with magic and wonder
You cast a magic spell
You had a power to captivate us and bring us into your world
You played the part so well
You performed with expertise and finesse
Your music blew away the darkness
Your songs brought light and joy to a dark and dreary world
We loved you for better
We admired and respected you at your best
We loved you for worse
We supported you even during tough times
But we never took you for granted
We always appreciated your talent and hard work
Your lives were a blessing
Your presence in our lives was a gift
But they carried a curse
However, fame and fortune came with its own set of struggles and difficulties
The night that the stars didn't show
The night when everything seemed dark and hopeless
You made me stand so proud
Your music gave me a sense of empowerment and confidence
I was lifted from the crowd
I felt elevated and exalted above the rest
The fire inside me burning
Your music ignited a passion inside me
The figure dressed in black
You, the performer, stood out in your black attire
Sending shivers down my back
Your music gave me goosebumps and a sense of awe
Deep inside my soul was stirring
Your music moved me on a deep and emotional level
The sweet inspiration that you gave us
Your music was a source of inspiration and motivation for us all
And I can remember we didn't rehearse
We were caught by surprise when the stars didn't appear that night
Mountains may crumble
The world around me may change and fall apart
And worlds fall apart
Even the universe may face destruction and chaos
Lovers and friends may desert me
People may leave me and be disloyal to me
The road may be long
The journey ahead may be difficult and arduous
But I know in my heart
Nevertheless, deep down, I am aware
Your spirit will always be with me
Your influence and legacy will persist and guide me
The thrill to be up there
The excitement and rush of performing on stage
A sea of faces everywhere
The audience staring back at you, full of anticipation
I look I find you
Even when you're gone, I can still feel your presence and memory
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC STEWART, GRAHAM GOULDMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind