Kevin Godley is a musician and drummer for rock band 10cc as well as a music video director who has worked with U2, The Beatles, Lou Reed and The Police, among many others.
He is also a graduate of the Stoke-on-Trent Regional College of Art, one of three colleges that merged in 1971 to form North Staffordshire Polytechnic, later renamed Staffordshire University. He lived in Hanley from 1966 to 1968 while studying graphic design during the day and playing drums with R&B group The Mockingbirds at night.
After leaving college, he joined Hotlegs, a short-lived band best known for its number two UK hit single “Neanderthal Man” in 1970. In 1972 he formed 10cc with Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart and Lol Creme. Over the next four years, he would go on to have nine hit singles and four hit albums with the band, before leaving in 1976 with Lol Creme. The pair had several hit records under the name Godley & Creme and, eventually, turned their hands to music video directing.
The duo’s first video was for their own song “An Englishman in New York”, at a time when music videos were only just beginning to appear. Their early adoption and innovative approach ensured they became sought after directors, working with dozens of other bands. They collaborated on around 100 music videos, including “Every Breath You Take” by The Police, “Girls on Film” by Duran Duran, “Rockit” by Herbie Hancock,“Two Tribes” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood and many more.
At the end of the 1980s, the creative partners split and Kevin continued to direct on his own. His solo work includes “ Numb”, “The Sweetest Thing” and “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” by U2, “C’Mon People” by Paul McCartney, “Woke up This Morning” for Alabama 3 and the world music special for BBC2 “One World One Voice”. Some of the latest bands and artists he has worked with include The Charlatans, Keane, Snow Patrol, Katie Melua and Elbow.
Kevin’s creative interests have diverged into writing a screenplay, recording a solo album of collaborations called “Muscle Memory” via online music platform PledgeMusic and directing an audio-visual movie called “Hog Fever” featuring Terence Stamp.
The Award of Honorary Doctor of Staffordshire University is bestowed upon Kevin in recognition of his pioneering work in music video production and the conception of early music videos in the 1970s and 80s.