Hot Chocolate

‘The Hot Chocolate Band’ formed in the 1960’s but the name was quickly shortened to Hot Chocolate. The band is well known for their list of hit singles including You Sexy Thing (the soundtrack for movie ‘The Full Monty’ and huge hit in 1997), Everyone’s a Winner, It Started with a Kiss and So You Win Again and is the only band to clock up a hit every year in the British charts throughout the 1970’s.

Interview with Hot Chocolate’s bass player and backing vocalist Patrick Olive…

How did Hot Chocolate make the big time?
It was 1971 and we were already together when we produced a reggae version of the Beatles track Give Peace a Chance and we were signed by Apple Records.

Errol Brown left in 1986 yet not a lot of people seem aware of this, why do you think that is?
He was the front man, so everyone knew who he was. There was a lot of publicity about his leaving in the national press and daily papers at the time. It was like a marriage; things got stale and Errol wanted to pursue a solo career. He has appeared on the likes of GMTV as a solo artist.

What is your favourite Hot Chocolate song?
‘Seventeen Years of Age’; it is from ‘The Ultimate Collection’ CD; it has great lyrics and everyone can understand a girl of 17 wanting to experience things and explore the world but having protective parents. It’s a great song.

I always thought Hot Chocolate was an American band…
We had a couple of number ones in the U.S.A. when we first started out. It was a time that everyone wanted to make it in America. The funny thing is the American’s wanted to make it over in Europe. It’s a case of the grass is always greener on the other side but no, we are from the U.K.

Have you had the same lead singer ever since Errol left?
No, Errol had big shoes to fill and we tried out a couple of guys but it didn’t work; either they had the personality but not the voice or they had the voice but not the personality. The present Hot Chocolate lead Greg Bannis has been with us for 13 years.

What keeps the band going?
The music, the great songs and the messages in them together with the melodies make us enjoy what we do today as much as we did when we first started out.

What is the best gig you have ever played and why?
It was performing at Buckingham Palace in front 99.9 % of the Royal family for the prenuptial of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. It was very special.

What is Hot Chocolate up to this summer?
We are going to be performing in both Europe and the U.K.; at race courses, the Lincoln festival and of course the Trust Thamesmead festival.

What are you most looking forward to about playing at Trust Thamesmead’s Community Festival?
The audience! They are always really appreciative and there’s always a real buzz about playing in your own home country.