The Flying Pickets

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This article is about the singing group. For use of the term in relation to labour disputes, see Picketing § flyingpickets.

The Flying Pickets
OriginLondon, England
GenresA cappella
Years active1982 (1982)–present
LabelsVirgin
MembersMartin George
Andy Laycock
Simon John Foster
Michael Henry
Christopher Brooker
Past membersBrian Hibbard
Ken Gregson
David Brett
Red Stripe
Rick Lloyd
Gareth Williams
Ron Donachie
Christopher Ryan
Dylan Foster
Hereward Kaye
Gary Howard
Nick Godfrey
Lex Lewis
Ricky Payne
Henrik Wager
Paul Kissaun
Fraser Collins
Andrea Figallo
Damion Scarcella
Gavin Muir
Websitewww.pickets.co.uk

The Flying Pickets is a British

UK Singles Chart with their cover version of Yazoo's track "Only You
".

History

The band of six was founded by

1972 and 1974.[1]

Performing in clubs and pubs in London, the Flying Pickets came up with a concept of transferring the art of a cappella to the pop music scene.[2][3] Joining Hibbard in the group were Rick Lloyd (who also wrote the music to One Big Blow), Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson (real name Kenneth Gregory) and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins).[4] The members of the group were internationally renowned for their flamboyant appearance: Hibbard's huge sideburns, Stripe's thick eye-liner, and the others showing off gaudy suits and large hats. Two of the other original members, Ron Donachie and Christopher Ryan left the band before "Only You".

"Only You", their first single, was the UK Christmas number one in 1983 spending a total of five weeks at the top,[4] and also doing well around Europe and in Canada, where it reached number 17 in spring 1984. It emulated the success of the original Yazoo version. The video was shot in the Red Lion And Pineapple, Acton High Street, London.[5]

The name "Flying Pickets" refers to mobile strikers who travel in order to join a

1984 miners strike, when the National Union of Mineworkers called strike action following the National Coal Board's decision to close 20 pits – a move which would claim some 20,000 jobs.[1] The Flying Pickets were vocal in their support of the miners during the dispute and came to blows with the record label Virgin after they picketed Drax Power Station in Yorkshire.[1] They also performed benefit gigs for the miners.[4] Hibbard himself claimed that their political beliefs probably had a detrimental effect on the group's mainstream image but it was a sacrifice they were willing to make; according to the group, one well-known record store refused to sell the group's albums due to their support of strike action.[1]

Despite the group's socialist views, the

Ruby and the Romantics) reached number 7 in the UK, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics' "Who's That Girl" barely charted.[4]

In 1986, Hibbard and Stripe left the band and were replaced by Gary Howard and Hereward Kaye.[6] Hibbard and Stripe tried to stay in the music industry, forming their own act called Brian and Stripe, but their first and only single, a cover version of Yazoo's "Mr. Blue", failed to chart, and they returned to their separate acting careers.

In 1987, the Flying Pickets sang the title song (in Latin, Dives in Omnia) and endtitles reprise to Porterhouse Blue, in the style of a medieval university drinking-song.

The group sang two songs on the Eric Woolfson/Alan Parsons 1990 album Freudiana.

The Flying Pickets' line-up has changed throughout the years, but the band never died; since the Pickets began, there have been around 27 members. The last member of the original line-up, David Brett, left the band in 1990.[7] However, in 1994, the original line-up (minus Lloyd) reformed to record one more album.[7]

miner's strike, Drax Power Station
,1984

Although none of the founding members have been part of the group since 1990, the Flying Pickets continue to record albums and tour all over Europe and abroad.

Post-Picket activities

Hibbard, the group's founder and lead singer, went on to act in Doctor Who and then briefly in Coronation Street as Doug Murray. He appeared regularly on Welsh television. He also had a brief role as Bobby-John Downes in the soap opera Emmerdale in 2003 and then came back for another brief spell in 2006. He appeared in the cult 1997 film Twin Town, playing the part of the karaoke king, Dai Rhys. In 2006, Hibbard won the BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Actor for his role as Tony in the film Little White Lies. He also appeared in Doctors in 2005. He died on 17 June 2012.[8]

Brett toured with the

Dedalus Diggle in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.[10]

Williams toured in a production of

Guys & Dolls. He also worked with Jonathan Miller on a TV adaptation of Henry Mayhew's London Labour, London Poor. In 2009, he understudied and went on for Patrick Stewart in the Theatre Royal Haymarket production of Waiting for Godot.[11]

Gittins worked in bread delivery after leaving the band, then decided to move to Australia where he took a job as a stage mechanist at The Victorian State Theatre. He also co-developed the techno act Poets of the Machine.[11]

Gregson also emigrated to Australia and has made an appearance in the soap Neighbours.[11]

Lloyd was a joint winner of a

BAFTA TV Award for his work on the 1987 TV series Porterhouse Blue
, and was musical director for the 1999 film Julie and the Cadillacs.

Members

Original

Present

  • Andy Laycock
  • Simon John Foster
  • Michael Henry
  • Christopher Brooker
  • Martin George

Other past members

Discography

Main article: The Flying Pickets discography

References

  1. ^ a b c d "The Flying Pickets’ taste of fame", WalesOnline, 12 April 2009 (updated 29 March 2013). Accessed 12 July 2009.
  2. ^
    ISSN 1054-2043
    .
  3. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "The Flying Pickets Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ^
    ISBN 1-85227-745-9
    .
  5. ^ "Flying Pickets original 1983 video for 'Only You'". Official Flying Pickets website. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  6. ^ Kaye, H., (1986) "Ba Ba Da Da The Flying Pickets - 1986". Accessed 30 March 2007.
  7. ^ a b "The Original Flying Pickets". Accessed 30 March 2007.
  8. ^ "Brian Hibbard obituary". The Guardian. 19 June 2012.
  9. ^ The Original Flying Pickets. (1994) The Original Flying Pickets: Volume 1 (from CD information booklet).
  10. ^ David Brett at CastNet UK. Accessed 17 April 2007.
  11. ^ a b c The Original Flying Pickets. (1994) (from CD information booklet).

External links

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