NEWS
10cc celebrate 50th anniversary of I'm not in Love on Radio 2’s Piano Room
13 February 2025
On Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show this morning, 10cc performed for Radio 2’s Piano Room month, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC Maida Vale studios.
Graham Gouldman reunited specially for this Piano Room with fellow band co-founder Kevin Godley in the 50th anniversary year of their seminal hit, I’m Not in Love, which they performed as their classic hit, plus new single - I Don't Wanna Get To Heaven, and a cover of The Everly Brothers’ All I Have To Do Is Dream.
They chatted with Vernon about ‘the gizmo’, working together, writing music, and getting older.
When their Piano Room was first announced, Graham Gouldman said: “It’s a huge honour to be asked to do a Piano Room session. Kevin and I have worked together on several projects over the years, he’s guested with 10cc at the last two Royal Albert Hall concerts, so we didn’t have to think long about accepting. Writing a new song and picking a cover track to perform were stimulating and enjoyable challenges.”
Vernon asked about their song, I’m Not In Love, going through different iterations:
Kevin: There were two versions, the first recording of it was dreadful. It sucked. So we put it to one side. We knew it was a good song and then we came back to it when we were deeper into the album and discovered this new way of approaching it and suddenly it came to life.
Vernon: Is there something inside your own home that recognises your success and everything you've done?
Kevin: Yes, my wife!
Vernon commented that they've still got great heads of hair...
Kevin: How do you know they’re real, though?
Vernon: Oh trust me, I can tell.
Vernon then played a message from a caller who said that his dad, John McConnell, worked with Kevin and Lol to develop the gizmo an instrument which made a guitar sound like a whole orchestra. Vernon asked if they had any memories to share of those great days.
Kevin: Gosh, John McConnell was our saviour. We had this idea for a piece of equipment, a very analogue piece of equipment with sort of rotating wheels that would strum the strings of a guitar and give the impression that there were like violins and cellos and violas, essentially, but we didn't have the means to actually create a prototype. And John, John McConnell, actually did that. He built us a wonderful prototype so we could actually find out what this thing was capable of. Thank God he did.
Vernon: Lovely to hear from his son
Kevin: Oh fantastic, that’s wonderful, thank you!
Vernon asked if there a chance of the band getting back on stage together?
Kevin: No.
On Monday, Natasha Bedingfield performs for Radio 2’s Piano Room month.
Graham Gouldman reunited specially for this Piano Room with fellow band co-founder Kevin Godley in the 50th anniversary year of their seminal hit, I’m Not in Love, which they performed as their classic hit, plus new single - I Don't Wanna Get To Heaven, and a cover of The Everly Brothers’ All I Have To Do Is Dream.
When their Piano Room was first announced, Graham Gouldman said: “It’s a huge honour to be asked to do a Piano Room session. Kevin and I have worked together on several projects over the years, he’s guested with 10cc at the last two Royal Albert Hall concerts, so we didn’t have to think long about accepting. Writing a new song and picking a cover track to perform were stimulating and enjoyable challenges.”
Vernon asked about their song, I’m Not In Love, going through different iterations:
Kevin: There were two versions, the first recording of it was dreadful. It sucked. So we put it to one side. We knew it was a good song and then we came back to it when we were deeper into the album and discovered this new way of approaching it and suddenly it came to life.
Vernon: Is there something inside your own home that recognises your success and everything you've done?
Kevin: Yes, my wife!
Vernon commented that they've still got great heads of hair...
Kevin: How do you know they’re real, though?
Vernon: Oh trust me, I can tell.
Vernon then played a message from a caller who said that his dad, John McConnell, worked with Kevin and Lol to develop the gizmo an instrument which made a guitar sound like a whole orchestra. Vernon asked if they had any memories to share of those great days.
Kevin: Gosh, John McConnell was our saviour. We had this idea for a piece of equipment, a very analogue piece of equipment with sort of rotating wheels that would strum the strings of a guitar and give the impression that there were like violins and cellos and violas, essentially, but we didn't have the means to actually create a prototype. And John, John McConnell, actually did that. He built us a wonderful prototype so we could actually find out what this thing was capable of. Thank God he did.
Vernon: Lovely to hear from his son
Kevin: Oh fantastic, that’s wonderful, thank you!
Vernon asked if there a chance of the band getting back on stage together?
Kevin: No.
On Monday, Natasha Bedingfield performs for Radio 2’s Piano Room month.
