Lol Creme

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Lol Creme
Lol Creme 1976 (cropped).jpg
Creme in 1976 performing with 10cc
Background information
Birth nameLaurence Neil Creme
Also known asLolagon
Born (1947-09-19) 19 September 1947 (age 77)
Prestwich, Lancashire, England
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • keyboards
  • vocals
  • bass
Years active1962–present

Laurence Neil "Lol" Creme (born 19 September 1947) [1] is a British musician and music video director, best known for his work in 10cc. He was later one half of the duo Godley & Creme, with 10cc drummer Kevin Godley. Creme has collaborated with Trevor Horn's Band. He sings and plays guitar, bass and keyboards.

Contents

Early life and education

Creme was born in Prestwich, Lancashire, England. Like bandmates Graham Gouldman and Kevin Godley, Creme grew up in a Jewish household. [2] While attending art school in Birmingham, where he met Godley, he took up the nickname 'Lolagon'.

He graduated from the college in Birmingham in 1968. [3]

Career

Early career

Creme and Kevin Godley the white R&B combo the Sabres (the Magic Lanterns), Hotlegs and other bands together. [4]

After recording a one-off single under the name of 'Yellow Bellow Room Boom' for UK CBS in 1967 ("Seeing Things Green" b/w "Still Life"), the pair began their professional music career together in 1969, performing pop music in Strawberry Studios at Stockport near Manchester with Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman. The duo also released a single in 1969, "I'm Beside Myself" b/w "Animal Song", under the name Frabjoy & Runcible Spoon after being signed on to Marmalade Records directly by label head Giorgio Gomelsky. A 7-song LP was slated for a late 1969 release on Marmalade; however, the label collapsed financially before the end of the year, and the LP was shelved until its release in the 2022 compilation Frabjous Days: The Secret World of Godley & Creme 1967–1969 on Grapefruit Records.

10cc and Godley & Creme

Kevin and Lol most significantly performed, wrote and produced with 10cc, an art rock group the duo formed with Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart, who had both been in the band The Mindbenders (formerly fronted by Wayne Fontana). [5]

Godley & Creme had written many songs for 10cc, including: "Donna" (no. 2 in UK), [6] "Rubber Bullets" (no. 1 in UK), [7] "The Dean and I" (no. 4 in UK), [8] "Silly Love" (no. 24 in UK), [9] and "Life Is a Minestrone" (no. 7 in UK). [10]

In 1976, Lol and Kevin left 10cc to record as Creme & Godley (later Godley & Creme). In 1977 they released their first album project - Consequences (Godley & Creme album) - a concept album demonstration piece for the "Gizmo" a device that enabled an electric guitar to mimic orchestral instruments the pair had begun developing early on in 10CC years. Consequences is basically a story about meek Walter Stapleton divorcing his French playgirl wife, with English comedian and satirist Peter Cook voicing the parts of 2 solicitors, the irascible Pepperman and the alcoholic Haig, and Haigs' downstairs resident & reclusive musician Mr Blint, who constantly interrupts them and confuses the proceedings, and singer Sarah Vaughan. The album was released as a 3 LP box set.

Consequences attained a niche following and had 1 single released from it, "Five O'clock in the Morning". However, despite the creativity, innovation and imagination involved, it was a commercial flop.

The pair later became music video directors, working with bands including Yes.[ citation needed ] In 1979, they directed their first music video for their single "An Englishman in New York". After this, they became involved in the production of videos for artists such as Ultravox, the Police, Yes, Duran Duran, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Huey Lewis and the News and Wang Chung, as well as directing the groundbreaking video for their 1985 single "Cry".

Creme (centre, seated) with 10cc in 1974 10CC - TopPop 1974 2.png
Creme (centre, seated) with 10cc in 1974

From 1972 to 1978, 10cc had five consecutive UK top-ten albums: Sheet Music (1974), The Original Soundtrack (1975), How Dare You! (1976), Deceptive Bends (1977) and Bloody Tourists (1978). 10cc also had twelve singles reach the UK Top 40, three of which were the chart-toppers "Rubber Bullets" (1973), "I'm Not in Love" (1975) and "Dreadlock Holiday" (1978). "I'm Not in Love" was their breakthrough worldwide hit, and is known for its innovative backing track.

In 1988, Godley & Creme parted ways: "What happened was in '89, certainly in '88, maybe before, Kevin changed, I think his priorities in life changed. He'd had enough, he'd simply had enough of me and the way we worked, the things we did, the priorities we had. And the fact that we were a priority, for example. Our working relationship dominated our...lives, you know. It was time for a shift in all that and he was obviously right. When I see him, which is not regularly, but I do see him occasionally, he seems well. I thinks he wants to be lazy and just hang. And God bless him, you know." [11]

Later work

After cutting ties with Godley, Creme moved to Los Angeles, California, USA and worked as a director in his own right. Creme directed the 1991 Jamaican comedy film The Lunatic, starring Paul Campbell. [12]

After his move to the United States, Creme began experimenting with Digital art and Oil painting. [3]

In 1988, Creme became a member of the band Art of Noise, with Anne Dudley and Trevor Horn, and directed videos for the artists who recorded with them, such as Tom Jones. Further work with Horn followed, including forming the band the Producers with Chris Braide and Steve Lipson, and the Trevor Horn Band. Creme appears on Horn's Echoes: Ancient and Modern . [13]

Family

Creme's son Lalo was a member of the 1990s indie-dance band Arkarna, and has also worked on a number of projects with his father. Creme's wife, Angie, is the sister of ex-10cc member Eric Stewart's wife, Gloria. [14] [15]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10cc</span> British art rock band

10cc are a British rock band formed in Stockport in 1972. The group initially consisted of four musicians — Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme — who had written and recorded together since 1968. All four members contributed to songwriting, working together in various permutations. Godley and Creme’s songwriting has been described as being inspired by art and cinema. Every member of 10cc was a multi-instrumentalist, singer, writer and producer. Most of the band's records were recorded at their own Strawberry Studios (North) in Stockport and Strawberry Studios (South) in Dorking, with most of those engineered by Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Godley</span> British musical artist (born 1945)

Kevin Michael Godley is a British singer-songwriter, drummer and music video director. He was a singer and drummer of the art rock band 10cc and later was part of collaboration duo Godley & Creme with Lol Creme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godley & Creme</span> English rock duo

Godley & Creme were an English rock duo formally established in Manchester in 1977 by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. The pair began releasing music as a duo after their departure from the rock band 10cc. In 1979, they directed their first music video for their single "An Englishman in New York". After this, they became involved in the production of videos for artists such as Ultravox, the Police, Yes, Duran Duran, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Huey Lewis and the News and Wang Chung, as well as directing the groundbreaking video for their 1985 single "Cry". The duo split at the end of the 1980s. Both have since been involved in music videos, TV commercials, and sporadic music projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Stewart</span> English musician (born 1945)

Eric Michael Stewart is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known as a founding member of the rock groups the Mindbenders with whom he played from 1963 to 1968, and likewise of 10cc from 1972 to 1995. Stewart co-owned Strawberry Studios in Stockport, England, from 1968 to the early 1980s, where he recorded albums with 10cc and artists including Neil Sedaka and Paul McCartney. Stewart collaborated with McCartney extensively in the 1980s, playing on or co-writing songs for McCartney's solo albums Tug of War (1982), Pipes of Peace (1983), Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984), and Press to Play (1986). Since 1980, Stewart has released four solo studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Gouldman</span> English musician (born 1946)

Graham Keith Gouldman is an English singer, musician and songwriter, best known as the co-lead singer and bassist of the art rock band 10cc. He has been the band's only constant member since its formation in 1972. Before 10cc, Gouldman worked as a freelance songwriter and penned many hits for major rock and pop groups, including the Yardbirds, the Hollies, Herman's Hermits and Ohio Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Not in Love</span> 1975 song by British band 10cc

"I'm Not in Love" is a song by British group 10cc, written by band members Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman. It is known for its innovative and distinctive backing track, composed mostly of the band's multitracked vocals. Released in the UK in May 1975 as the second single from the band's third album, The Original Soundtrack, it became the second of the group's three number-one singles in the UK between 1973 and 1978, topping the UK Singles Chart for two weeks. "I'm Not in Love" became the band's breakthrough hit outside the United Kingdom, topping the charts in Canada and Ireland as well as peaking within the top 10 of the charts in several other countries, including Australia, West Germany, New Zealand, Norway and the United States.

<i>Sheet Music</i> (10cc album) 1974 studio album by 10cc

Sheet Music is the second album by the English rock band 10cc. It was released in 1974 on UK records, and yielded the hit singles "The Wall Street Shuffle" and "Silly Love". The album reached No. 9 in the UK and No. 81 in the United States.

<i>Deceptive Bends</i> 1977 studio album by 10cc

Deceptive Bends is the fifth studio album by rock band 10cc, released in 1977. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of founding members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme and produced the hit single "The Things We Do for Love".

<i>...Meanwhile</i> 1992 studio album by 10cc

...Meanwhile is the tenth studio album by the British rock band 10cc, released in 1992. It was the band's first in nine years and marked the brief comeback of the original 10cc members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme.

<i>The History Mix Volume 1</i> 1985 studio album by Godley & Creme

The History Mix Volume 1 is the sixth studio album by English duo Godley & Creme, released in June 1985 by Polydor Records. The album was a remix of songs spanning the career of Godley & Creme and their earlier bands, 10cc, Doctor Father and Hotlegs.

<i>Thinks: School Stinks</i> 1971 studio album by Hotlegs

Thinks: School Stinks is the only studio album by English pop band Hotlegs. The album, featuring the band's hit single "Neanderthal Man", was recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport near Manchester and engineered by the studio's co-owners, Eric Stewart and Peter Tattersall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubber Bullets</span> 1973 single by 10cc

"Rubber Bullets" is a song by the English band 10cc from their self-titled debut album. It was written by Lol Creme, Kevin Godley and Graham Gouldman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neanderthal Man (song)</span> 1970 single by Hotlegs

"Neanderthal Man" is a song by Hotlegs, an English pop band that was later relaunched as 10cc. The song, initially created only as a studio exercise to test drum sounds on new recording equipment, sold over two million copies and reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 22 in the US. It reached No. 1 in Italy and Germany and was also a Top 20 hit in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dean and I</span> 1973 single by 10cc

"The Dean and I" is a song by the art rock/pop band 10cc, from their 1973 eponymous debut album, written by Lol Creme and Kevin Godley. The song was released as the fourth single from the album in August 1973 and peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart. The single reached the top of the Irish Singles Chart on 20 September 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna (10cc song)</span> 1972 single by 10cc

"Donna" is the first single by British art pop band 10cc. Released in 1972, it peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was written by Lol Creme and Kevin Godley.

<i>Changing Faces – The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme</i> 1987 greatest hits album by 10cc

Changing Faces – The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme is a compilation album that included the hits of 10cc and Godley & Creme, the first album to include both bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Lisberg</span> English talent manager and impresario

Harvey Brian Lisberg is an English talent manager and impresario, best known for discovering Herman's Hermits in 1963. In 1965, he signed songwriter Graham Gouldman, a founder member of 10cc, who Lisberg also managed, along with Godley & Creme, Tony Christie, Barclay James Harvest, Gordon Giltrap, Sad Café, Wax and others.

<i>100cc</i> 1975 compilation album by 10cc

100cc, also known as 100cc - Greatest Hits of 10cc is a compilation album by the English rock band 10cc.

<i>Clever Clogs</i> 2008 live album by 10cc

Clever Clogs is a live and video album by 10cc released in 2008.

<i>Frabjous Days: The Secret World of Godley & Creme 1967–1969</i> 2022 studio album and compilation album by Godley & Creme

Frabjous Days: The Secret World of Godley & Creme 1967–1969 is an album by Godley & Creme, released on Grapefruit Records in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Lol Creme profile". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Heirs to The Beatles: the story of 10cc". The Jewish Chronicle. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  3. 1 2 "THE ART OF NOISE ONLINE www.theartofnoiseonline.com". www.theartofnoiseonline.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Kevin Godley.com, History Retrieved 31 December 2020
  5. ↑ Lester, Paul "Heirs to The Beatles: The story of 10cc". The Jewish Chronicle
  6. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 552/3. ISBN   1-904994-10-5
  7. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 287. ISBN   1-904994-10-5
  8. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 552. ISBN   1-904994-10-5
  9. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 29/9/1974". Official Charts. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "10 CC | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts . 13 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Lol Creme, Uncut 1988". Mr Blint’s Attic. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  12. ↑ The Lunatic (1991) - IMDb . Retrieved 9 June 2024– via www.imdb.com.
  13. ↑ "Steve Hogarth, Robert Fripp and more step up for Trevor Horn's new Echoes – Ancient & Modern album". 22 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Tremlett, George (1976). The 10cc Story. Futura. ISBN   0-86007-378-5.
  15. ↑ "Lol Creme discusses The Beatles, 10cc and a life in music". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
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