As the 78-year-old star tours his latest solo LP, he answers your questions on his Everton terrace anthem, the making of I’m Not in Love and hosting Joey Ramone in Stockport

Do 10cc deserve more recognition for their contribution to forward-thinking music in the 70s? In my mind, you were up there with Sparks and Roxy Music – and way ahead of Queen. Flashbleu
I agree, but Queen had two very identifiable things in Brian May’s guitar and Freddie Mercury’s vocals. In 10cc, we had three No 1s [Rubber Bullets, I’m Not in Love and Dreadlock Holiday] with three different singers! Also, we were never a showbiz kind of band, but Queen are still performing with Adam Lambert and I’m touring our catalogue, so it shows that we’ve both stood the test of time. The songs are the stars of the show, really.

How on earth did you write For Your Love, Heart Full of Soul and Evil Hearted You for the Yardbirds as a teenager? Deckard85
From the age of 11, when I got my first guitar, music was it for me. I wasn’t good at school and my parents didn’t force me to go to university, because they recognised that songwriting is a gift and I was lucky enough to have it. At that age, I was listening to Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, the Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and then guitar players like Hank Marvin with the Shadows. All my contemporaries have exactly the same influences. Then, of course, the Beatles. So you put it all together.