SXSW - A Surprise Takeaway

It was unexpected -- there was great music all about and I saw some really memorable performances last week (21 Pilots, Grohl/Sound City/ St. Lucia, Zedd...), but the band I couldn't get out of my head was a group barely anyone remembers these days: the iconic British art rock band from the '70s, 10cc.

Photo Credit: AVRO

Why 10cc? It all came about because my old Irish friend Suzanne invited me to view a very cool new app called WholeWorldBand, which had been shortlisted from 500 entrants into the final 8 at SXSW Music Accelerator Awards. It was created by Kevin Godley, man of so many careers: songwriter, singer, original member of 10cc, Godley/Crème, video and film director, breakthrough work with U2 etc.

I was supposed to concentrate on the app, but even though I had met Kevin quite a few times, I couldn't stay on topic as I kept thinking about how unique that original lineup of 10cc was. And I wanted to know more about the band.

If you're not familiar with them, a brief recap of their history is in order. 10cc were four very talented guys who had played with other bands and each other, written hit songs and recorded just four albums together (with the original lineup) in the early to mid-'70s. Kevin Godley, Lol Crème, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman had very different musical sensibilities, yet the odd chemistry resulted in magic. A rare combination of pop and rock in its highest form, 10cc wrote witty lyrics and had great singing and musicianship. Their songs were surprisingly complex, often startling the listener with changes in tempo and multi-layered sounds. It defied a single genre definition. If their music came out today, it would trouble many a journalist as to how to describe them.

10cc was a band that kept getting better, pushed by a restless creative spirit where simple songs morphed into masterpieces like "I'm Mandy Fly Me." The brilliant How Dare You became their best, but, unfortunately, final album as the creative tension tore them in half. Godley and Crème split off, while Stewart and Gouldman carried on with 10cc in a more conventional pop direction for a few more years.

Photo Credit: AVRO

It's safe to say that the majority of times that bands break up, it would be a good thing to leave it that way. In trying to recreate the past, something important is always lost. And even though 10cc tried to put the magic back together 15 years later with a new record, as with most reunions, it didn't work.

But the band you should know is the original lineup. So if you're reading this and need an introduction, here are 10 reasons you should know this band:

• Rubber Bullets - Their first big UK hit that created heat on both sides of the Atlantic showing their early promise.