The Flying Pickets
The name 'Flying Pickets' refers to mobile strikers who travel in order to … Read Full Bio ↴The name 'Flying Pickets' refers to mobile strikers who travel in order to join a picket. The band of six was founded by Brian Hibbard in 1982 from a group of actors who had been active with him in John McGrath's '7:84 Theatre Group', a fringe theatre organisation who had sung a cappella in their production of the 1981 play One Big Blow. The group chose the name The Flying Pickets as band members had played a part in the UK miners strikes of 1972 and 1974. The Flying Pickets came up with the then novel concept of transferring the art of a cappella to the pop music scene. Joining Hibbard in the Group were Rick Lloyd (who also wrote the music to One Big Blow), Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins). The members of the group were internationally renowned for their flamboyant appearance: Hibbard's huge sideburns, Stripe's thick eye-liner, and four others showing off gaudy suits and large hats. Two of the other original members, Ron Donachie, Chris Ryan left the band before "Only You".
"Only You", their debut single, was the UK Christmas number one in 1983 spending a total of five weeks at the top, and also doing well around Europe and in Canada, where it hit #17 in the spring of 1984. Despite the radical Socialist politics of The Flying Pickets then Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher proclaimed to much amusement that it was her favourite record. A second single, featuring Van McCoy's "When You're Young and in Love" originally written for Ruby and the Romantics reached number 7 in the UK, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics' "Who's That Girl" barely charted.
The height of the groups fame following the success of Only You coincided, quite ironically, with the 1984 Miners Strike. In 1984 the National Union of Mineworkers called strike action following the National Coal Board's decision to close 20 pits and lay off 20,000 people. The Flying Pickets were very vocal regarding 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. They also put on benefit gigs for the miners. Hibbard himself claimed that their political beliefs probably had a detrimental affect regarding the groups mainstream image but it was a sacrifice they were willing to make, one well known record store refused to sell the groups albums due to their support of strike action.
In 1986 Hibbard and Stripe left the band and were replaced by Gary Howard and Hereward Kaye. Hibbard and Gittins tried to stay in the music industry, forming their own act called 'Brian and Stripe', but their first and only single featuring a cover of Yazoo's "Mr. Blue" failed to chart, and they returned to their separate acting careers.
There have been many different members of The Flying Pickets and the line-up kept changing constantly throughout the 1990s and 2000s; since the Pickets began, there have been at least 19 different band members. The last member of the original line-up, David Brett, left the band in 1990. However in 1994, the original line-up (minus Lloyd) reformed to record one more album.
Since the Original Flying Pickets split, new teams of ambitious men using the name The Flying Pickets have tried to follow in the Original's footsteps, but there have been no chart successes. The current line-up tours around Europe in lots of small venues all year round, but have not achieved the short-lived heights of the original line-up
"Only You", their debut single, was the UK Christmas number one in 1983 spending a total of five weeks at the top, and also doing well around Europe and in Canada, where it hit #17 in the spring of 1984. Despite the radical Socialist politics of The Flying Pickets then Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher proclaimed to much amusement that it was her favourite record. A second single, featuring Van McCoy's "When You're Young and in Love" originally written for Ruby and the Romantics reached number 7 in the UK, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics' "Who's That Girl" barely charted.
The height of the groups fame following the success of Only You coincided, quite ironically, with the 1984 Miners Strike. In 1984 the National Union of Mineworkers called strike action following the National Coal Board's decision to close 20 pits and lay off 20,000 people. The Flying Pickets were very vocal regarding 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. They also put on benefit gigs for the miners. Hibbard himself claimed that their political beliefs probably had a detrimental affect regarding the groups mainstream image but it was a sacrifice they were willing to make, one well known record store refused to sell the groups albums due to their support of strike action.
In 1986 Hibbard and Stripe left the band and were replaced by Gary Howard and Hereward Kaye. Hibbard and Gittins tried to stay in the music industry, forming their own act called 'Brian and Stripe', but their first and only single featuring a cover of Yazoo's "Mr. Blue" failed to chart, and they returned to their separate acting careers.
There have been many different members of The Flying Pickets and the line-up kept changing constantly throughout the 1990s and 2000s; since the Pickets began, there have been at least 19 different band members. The last member of the original line-up, David Brett, left the band in 1990. However in 1994, the original line-up (minus Lloyd) reformed to record one more album.
Since the Original Flying Pickets split, new teams of ambitious men using the name The Flying Pickets have tried to follow in the Original's footsteps, but there have been no chart successes. The current line-up tours around Europe in lots of small venues all year round, but have not achieved the short-lived heights of the original line-up
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Flying Pickets Lyrics
Blowing Away I've been romanced, dined and danced Crazy nights and wild t…
Blue Money Photographer smile take a break for a while Take a rest,…
Buffalo Soldier Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta There was a Buffalo Soldier…
Coral island/Summertime Summertime and the livin' is easy Fish are jumpin' and the…
Crazy Love She give me love, love, love, love Crazy love She give me…
Dance The Night Away Have you seen her? So fine and pretty Fooled me with…
Disco Down We're sharp as the suit's the zoot boys wear We're as…
Don't Turn Around If you wanna leave baby I won't beg you to stay And…
eternal flame Close your eyes, give me your hand, darlin' Do you feel…
Factory Early in the morning factory whistle blows Man rises from b…
Get Off My Cloud I live in an apartment on the Ninety-ninth floor of my…
Groovin Groovin', on a Sunday afternoon Really couldn't get away too…
Here There and Everywhere To lead a better life I need My love to be…
Higher and Higher Your love is lifting me higher Than I've ever been lifted…
I Feel for You Baby, baby, when I look at you I get a warm…
I Got You Babe They say we're young and we don't know We won't find…
I Heard It Through the Grapevine I bet you're wonderin' how I knew 'Bout your plans to…
Master Of War Come you masters of war You that build the big guns You…
Only The Lonely (Dum-dum-dummy doo-wah, ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah) (Oh, oh, oh…
Only You Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba…
Psycho Killer I can't seem to face up through the facts I'm tense…
Purple Rain I never meant to cause you any sorrow I never meant…
Remember This Remember this, nothing is sacred. We live right beside the…
Road To Nowhere Well we know where we're goin' But we don't know where…
Sealed With a Kiss Though we gotta say goodbye for the summer Darling, I promis…
She Drives Me Crazy I can't stop the way I feel Things you do don't…
Sign Your Name Fortunately you've got someone who Relies on you we started …
Smells Like Teen Spirit Load up on guns, bring your friends It's fun to lose…
So close There is a better way to live our lives And I…
Space Oddity Sit back and fasten your seat belts now As Flying Pickets…
Summer In The City Hot town, summer in the city Back of my neck…
Take my Breath away In my foolish lover's game On this endless ocean Finally lov…
The Happiest Place in Town Oh deliver me, there's danger here There's wind to fill this…
The Tears of a Clown Now if there's a smile upon my face it's only…
Tracks Of My Tears People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell…
Traffic Jam Damn this traffic jam how I hate to be late Hurts…
Under the bridge Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner Sometimes I…
When Doves Cry Dig if you will, the picture Of you and I engaged…
When You (la la la la la la la....) Spring in the air…
When You're Young (La la la la la la la) Spring in the air…
When Youre Young And In Love (la la la la la la la....) Spring in the air…
Who The language of love Slips from my lover's tongue Cooler tha…
Wide Boy I went to school out in the streets Kicking cans and…
Wonderful World Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't …
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' You never close your eyes anymore When I kiss your lips And …
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling You never close your eyes anymore When I kiss your lips And…