WHEN you count the likes of Axl Rose and Chrissie Hynde among your fans, you know you’re doing something right, and 10CC certainly did things right.

The original band might have split up years ago, but their music had to be kept alive, and founder Graham Gouldman does just that.

For years, Graham has been taking his band on the road performing the best of 10CC and such is the demand he is undertaking a 33-date tour of the UK.

Formed in Stockport by Graham, Eric Stewart, Lol Crème and Kevin Godley, 10CC racked up almost a dozen Top 10 hits, including Art For Art’s Sake, The Things We Do For Love and Life Is A Minestrone, from 1972 to 1978.

Three of their hits, Rubber Bullets, Dreadlock Holiday and I’m Not In Love all topped the charts, with the latter receiving a BMI citation for five million radio plays in the US.

Graham also penned hits for The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits and The Yardbirds, later teaming up with Andrew Gold as Wax and having a hit with Bridge To Your Heart.

But he always returns to 10CC. “It’s the songs really,” he says. “Their inventiveness, music, lyrics and originality.”

However, their biggest hit was a bit different from their usual output.

Most of their songs had clever, witty lyrics with an infusion of humour, but that wasn’t the case with I’m Not In Love.

“We loved it,” he says. “But we never thought of it as a single.

"But we played it to everyone and they said it would be a massive hit.

"It’s kind of a serious one really and up until then we’d avoided writing a love song as it was a bit of a cliché.”

Joining Graham as his band are Paul Burgess on drums, Rick Fenn on guitar, Mick Wilson on vocals, keyboards and guitar, and Mike Stevens on keyboards.

Paul has worked with 10CC from the beginning and Rick joined the live band in the mid-70s.

Mike sometimes has to take time out to tour as the musical director to Take That when he is replaced by Keith Hayman.

“The band is amazing,” Graham says. “I’m not keen on rearranging stuff and I want to hear the songs as originally recorded, and this band enables me to do that.

“I always look at concerts from the audience’s point of view. I want the show to be great for you and doing that keeps it fresh for me.”

Despite all the hits, Graham cannot pick a song as the definitive 10CC number.

“There were so many facets to the band. Nothing represents 10CC and I like them all.”

But one song does have a bit of an edge in his mind. “I’m Not In Love seems to have a spirituality about it and has a hypnotic quality that affects me even today.”

There’s a change to the show this time. In previous years, the band played some of the hits, then in the middle of the show there is a section where Graham plays some songs he wrote for others.

However, he says: “I come on first and sing a few of songs I wrote before 10CC, and gradually bring on the rest of the band.

"Then we go off, get changed and come back as 10CC. I’m my own support really.”

Now in his 60s, Graham still enjoys playing music. “I always look forward to playing in my home town of Manchester.”

He is still keen to produce new material, saying: “I’m doing things with new writers and I’ve been talking to Andrew Gold about working together again.”

But before that, is a little matter of the UK tour.

“This is as near as you’re ever going to get to hearing the perfect 10CC. Hit after hit.

"It’s relentless and we show no mercy. It’s a great evening, and I’ve been to every one and loved it.”

* 10CC appear at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, on Friday, February 25; then The Lowry on Sunday, February 27.