The Flying Pickets was founded in 1982 by a group of actors who had been active with him in a fringe theatre organisation that had sung a cappella in their production of the 1981 political play One Big Blow. They chose the name “The Flying Pickets” as band members had played a part in the UK miners’ strikes of 1972 and 1974.
Performing in clubs and pubs in London, the vocal group transferred the art of a cappella to the pop music scene, accompanied by a flamboyant appearance.
Their political stance caused them problems: Saturday Superstorewouldn’t give away their free gift of Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book, and Wogan banned them from waving red and black flags when they sang on his chat show. They had to make do with wearing Russian seamen’s uniforms (which they hired from Bermans and Nathans).
Their first single – a version of Yazoo‘s Only You, was the UK Christmas number one in 1983, spending a total of five weeks at the top of the charts and doing well around Europe and in Canada, where it reached #17 in spring 1984 (The no-frills video was shot in the Red Lion And Pineapple pub in Acton High Street, London.)
A second single – a cover of Van McCoy’s (When You’re) Young and in Love reached #7 in the UK, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics’ Who’s That Girl? barely charted.
Hibbard and Stripe left the band in 1986 and were replaced by Gary Howard and Hereward Kaye.
The group’s line-up has changed often throughout the years (there have been around 27 members), but the Flying Pickets have never officially called it a day. The last member of the original line-up, David Brett, left the band in 1990.
The original line-up (minus Lloyd) reformed in 1994 to record one more album.
Although none of the founding members have been part of the group since then, the Flying Pickets continue to record albums and tour all over Europe and abroad.
Both Stripe (David Gittins) and Ken Gregson (Kenneth Gregory) emigrated to Australia.
Brian Hibbard
Vocals Rick Lloyd
Vocals Gareth Williams
Vocals David Brett
Vocals Ken Gregson (Kenneth Gregory)
Vocals Red Stripe (David Gittins)
Vocals Gary Howard
Vocals Hereward Kaye
Vocals
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