Hot Chip’s WWF influence

Hot Chip formed over a shared interest in WWF wrestling.

The British electro-pop band – known for their geeky demeanour and slight stature – was started over ten years ago by founder members Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, who had previously been school friends brought together by a love of the US World Wrestling Federation (WWF -now World Wrestling Entertainment) – a US sports league which sees musclebound fighters battle it out in specially constructed rings.

Joe said of the pair’s meeting at a London school as 11-year-olds: “Alexis is a diminutive guy, I was surprised he was as interested in WWF wrestling as I was. We’d do pretend wrestling on the grass outside school. The band was very important in our lives. We didn’t just bond over music, we had lots in common.”

He added that as they grew up, their pastimes changed: “Later Alexis wasn’t drinking then, but I was getting drunk on cheap cider. Then we’d go to see shows together, like Royal Trux and the Beastie Boys.”

The pair pursued their musical aspirations intermittently after heading to separate universities and only cemented the band’s line up in 2003 when they were joined by members Owen Clarke, Felix Martin and Al Doyle.

Although the band are known for their ‘geek’ look, they claim this is not something they have purposefully cultivated.

Joe added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Alexis has always worn glasses. Some people think we style ourselves up as geeks, but we don’t style ourselves like a stereotypical R ‘n’ B band or rock ‘n’ roll group. We wear whatever we want.

Hot Chip’s fourth album ‘One Life Stand’ is available now.