Hot Chocolate formed in Brixton, London, England. Members of the group around Errol Brown included Tony Connor, Larry Ferguson, Harvey Hinsley, Derek Lewis, Pat Olive and Tony Wilson.
In 1969 while demoing a slight reggae version of the John Lennon song "Give Peace A Chance" with a group of friends, Errol Brown changed the lyrics of the number but he was informed that he could not change Lennon's song without his permission! So a copy of the demo was sent to the Beatles record label, 'Apple', with fingers crossed. Amazingly John Lennon loved the version and it was released on the 'Apple' label. Errol and his friends were given the name, 'The Hot Chocolate Band', a name thought up by a secretary at the company but which the band later changed to 'Hot Chocolate'.