I recently had the pleasure of chatting on the phone to Patrick Olive, one of the founding members of legendary group ‘Hot Chocolate’. We are talking about he and the bands upcoming first visit to Tasmania this month.
Patrick tells me he is ‘Really,really, really looking forward’ to the visit. Most of what he knows about Tasmania comes via a television show he saw on the Tasmania devil and Patrick is very keen to meet the little fellow on his visit.
Patrick reminisces with me about the beginnings of ‘Hot Chocolate’ in 1969.
Patrick explains that at that time most young guys wanted to be actors or musicians and the group’s individual members were no different, although they all came from diverse backgrounds. Patrick himself was a computer analyst working in ICT, another of the guys worked in treasury, yet another member of the band was a neighbour who played guitar and another member was the guy who sold jeans and t shirts to the others! None of the guys had a musical college background but ironically, now, two of the new recruits have studied classical music.
It all began when the guys got together and did a Reggae version of JohnLennon’s song ‘Give Peace a Chance’. The guys played the song at the Apple label headquarter where John Lennon himself was in attendance and were asked to record it on the Apple label. At the time however, the guys didn’t have a name for their band. It was Apple secretary Mavis Smith came up with the title ‘Hot Chocolate’ which the guys thought brilliant.
‘Hot Chocolate’ have even entered the Guinness Book of Records. Between 1970 and 1984 the band had a hit every year and their song ‘You Sexy Thing’ made the top ten in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’S.
I ask Patrick why he believes ‘Hot Chocolate’ songs are still so relevant and popular
Patrick says the songs are timeless and appeal to all age groups, young and older people, they are songs everyone can sing along too and their message although simple like ‘It Started with a Kiss’ are about something vital to everyone, the trajectory of love and relationships. While seemingly a simple message the songs are also profound.
The band gathers it’s inspiration for its songs from a diversity of sources. For instance it can be from driving along in a car and hearing something on the radio or a visual experience such as band member Sammy seeing a huge poster advertising milk with the slogan ‘Are you getting enough?’…in this case…’milk’ but for the boys it might translate into a song as, are you getting enough’love’ or ‘happiness.’
Over the years people have told Patrick they have named their children after’Hot Chocolate’ songs, daughters named ‘Emma’ and boys named ‘Louis’ . It isn’t just in names that ‘Hot Chocolate’ have transcended generations, Patrick recounts to me the story of a girl who attended a concert in Austria and told him that her Mum had been to a ‘Hot Chocolate’ concert with her as a six year old 35 years previously and she showed him a photo of she and her Mum at the concert.
Patrick tells me his favourite song is ‘Love is life’ because it is poetic, particularly poignant and lyrical. It’s message of a seed growing to a flower, giving life, giving love, also sums up ‘Hot Chocolate’s message reminding us that love is our sustenance and to quote a line in the song ‘love will find a way’.
You can see Hot Chocolate perform at Hobart’s Wrest Point Casino Friday October 17, and Launceston’s Country Club Casino October 18.
Paula Xiberras
