10CC’s Graham Gouldman finally sees first cricket match – but did he love it?

Graham Gouldman of 10CC has finally been to see his first cricket match, despite claiming to “love” the sport in lyrics nearly 50 years ago.

The musician is a founding member of the band, and found fame thanks to their 1978 hit song ‘Dreadlock Holiday’, which famously included the line: “I don’t like cricket – I love it”.

The song has since become synonymous with the sport and has been adopted by fans as an unofficial anthem at matches.

It was also named as a personal favourite by ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell, who previously told Gouldman that it was part of the “soundtrack to my cricket career” (via BBC).

“Wherever we were touring, it was always on,” he said. “Also I’m pretty sure when I came out of the second jungle [on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here] that was the tune I came out to.”

Now, 47 years since the song was first released, Gouldman has gone to a cricket match for the first time, and shared his verdict on the event, which saw England beat the West Indies at The Oval.

“After today’s experience I can say ‘I don’t like cricket, I absolutely love it’,” said the artist, who is now aged 79 (via BBC). “I’ve had a really lovely day really, enjoyed it… great atmosphere, great people. I just had a wonderful time.”

When he was asked if he would consider writing another cricket-related song now he has seen his first game, he said: “When you have had a nice experience like this I’m sure somewhere, at some point. something will crop up in a song”.

The song remains one of the band’s biggest hits, following their formation in Stockport in 1972. Previously speaking about the single, Gouldman said that it was inspired by a man he met while on vacation in Jamaica.

Check it out above.

In other Graham Gouldman news, in 2022 the artist joined forces with Queen guitarist Brian May to share a track called ‘Floating In Heaven’.

It was written to mark the historic first images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that launched in December 2021 and became the the most powerful telescope to be launched into space.

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