Ahead of their gig at the Watford Colosseum, Graham Gouldman of 10cc sits down with Rosy Moorhead and chats Costco, nuts and not being in love.

Have you been to Watford before? What do you remember about the gig?

Oh yeah, we go to Costco, don’t we! That’s a pretty good memory. I’ve no idea to tell you the truth, I can’t remember playing in Watford – that doesn’t mean to say that we didn’t.

What can we expect when we come to see you at the Colosseum on October 14?

You’ll hear the classics among other things. There are certain songs that we definitely have to do or they wouldn’t let us out – or let us back in! So all the hits and more, really. We do various album tracks that we like to play and the audience seems to enjoy, or that the audiences have requested, and a couple of surprises as well.

How is the dynamic different to the original line-up?

It’s not really. The main thing is that the songs are the same, and the songs are the star of the show. People still want to hear those songs, they’ve got a timeless quality, and that’s why people still want to hear us play.

What’s it like being on the road these days? Any different to how it was in the ‘70s?

It’s a lot more relaxed. I don’t get as upset about things going wrong. The whole thing is very professional, it’s a lot of fun, the band is a great bunch of people, we get on very, very well together. The actual being on the road is great.

Who’s in the audience at one of your gigs these days?

There’s the sort of people that have grown up with us, but we get quite a lot of the young people in the audience as well, which is great. It’s a real mix.

10cc has been described as being ‘one of the most inventive and influential bands in popular music’. Is that how it feels?

That’s not for us to say, but if other people say it then it must be true! We did what we wanted to do for ourselves, really, that was the whole point, we weren’t following any trends, we did everything to please ourselves, but fortunately other people liked what we did.

Where did the name come from?

The average male ejaculation is 10cc. There’s a couple of reasons really, but that’s the short answer.

What’s your favourite 10cc song?

Oh, who’s my favourite child? Does that answer it? There’s something special about I’m Not In Love. When we play that you can feel a kind of a rush going through the audience.

And what’s your favourite song that you’ve written for another artist?

The song Bus Stop, that I wrote for The Hollies.

You were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in February this year, how did you feel when you heard?

Absolutely delighted, very, very happy. The ceremony was brilliant. We went for about five days altogether, it was a brilliant, brilliant trip. It was unbelievable being in that room with all those other amazing songwriters.

Where did your love of music come from?

It was inherent really, there’s obviously got to be an inherent attraction to it, but I was born at a very good time for music. I was a young teenager listening to the music coming out of America and late ‘50s rock and roll – Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly and then into the Shadows, the Beatles and the Animals, all the great bands of the ‘60s.

Who influenced you to pick up an instrument and make music yourself?

I think style-wise it was probably Hank Marvin and The Shadows, songwriting-wise the Beatles.

Who are you listening to now? What was the last album you bought?

I like Ben Howard, I like the last Alt J album, I thought that was terrific. And just general, I’ve got an eclectic mix of music on my iPod.