How Neanderthal Man Helped Hotlegs Evolve Into 10cc [Video]

The members of 10cc have built a reputation for their cutting-edge innovations in music and video production. So how is it that one of the most commercially successful singles associated with the band is a silly novelty song that one of its co-writers calls a “mad piece of s–t”? Shortly before Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, and Eric Stewart formed 10cc with frequent collaborator Graham Gouldman in 1972, they recorded the international hit single “Neanderthal Man” under the name Hotlegs. The track bore little resemblance to the sophisticated pop that 10cc would soon be known for. It was every bit as primitive-sounding as its title implies.

When Hotlegs took the initial steps to write and record “Neanderthal Man,” they were not intending to write a song at all, much less a hit single. What began as a day of experimenting with new equipment eventually led to one of the bigger hit …