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Flying Pickets
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The Flying Pickets is a British a cappella vocal group, that had a surprise number one hit in 1983 in the UK singles chart, with their cover of Yazoo’s track - “Only You”.
The name ‘Flying Pickets’ refers to mobile strikers who travel in order to join a picket. The group of six was founded by Brian Hibbard in 1982 by a group of actors , the “7:84 Theatre group”, a fringe theatre group who had sung a capella in their production of One Big Blow, based on the 1984 UK miners’ strike. “Only You”, their debut single, was the British Christmas number one in 1983, spending a total of five weeks at the top, and also doing well around Europe. A second single When You’re Young and in Love reached number 7, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics’ Who’s That Girl barely charted. Joining Hibbard in the Group were Rick Lloyd, Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins).
They were internationally renowned for their appearances; Hibbard’s huge sideburns, Stripes thick eyeliner and 4 others showing off flamboyant suits and large hats. A group like the pickets were very lucky to get into the charts at all, let alone a Christmas number one and a pleasing number 7.
Hibbard and Gittins tried desperately to stay in the music business, and formed their own act called ‘Brian and Stripe’, but unfortunately their first and only single failed and they returned to their separate acting careers.
Since the Original Flying Pickets split, a new team of 5 ambitious men have tried to follow in the Original’s footsteps - but have had no chart success. They tour around Europe in lots of small venues all year round, but have not achieved the short-lived giddy heights of their predecessors.
The name ‘Flying Pickets’ refers to mobile strikers who travel in order to join a picket. The group of six was founded by Brian Hibbard in 1982 by a group of actors , the “7:84 Theatre group”, a fringe theatre group who had sung a capella in their production of One Big Blow, based on the 1984 UK miners’ strike. “Only You”, their debut single, was the British Christmas number one in 1983, spending a total of five weeks at the top, and also doing well around Europe. A second single When You’re Young and in Love reached number 7, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics’ Who’s That Girl barely charted. Joining Hibbard in the Group were Rick Lloyd, Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins).
They were internationally renowned for their appearances; Hibbard’s huge sideburns, Stripes thick eyeliner and 4 others showing off flamboyant suits and large hats. A group like the pickets were very lucky to get into the charts at all, let alone a Christmas number one and a pleasing number 7.
Hibbard and Gittins tried desperately to stay in the music business, and formed their own act called ‘Brian and Stripe’, but unfortunately their first and only single failed and they returned to their separate acting careers.
Since the Original Flying Pickets split, a new team of 5 ambitious men have tried to follow in the Original’s footsteps - but have had no chart success. They tour around Europe in lots of small venues all year round, but have not achieved the short-lived giddy heights of their predecessors.
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The Best Of The Flying Pickets
Flying Pickets
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Lost Boys
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The Best Of The Flying Pickets - Only You
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The Original Flying Pickets Vol. One
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Shoutbox
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kocior wrote:
One of my wishes/dreams is to see them live!
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AnnieLR wrote:
The version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine on Live at the Albany Empire I've loved ever since I was tiny, that whole album is brilliant... makes me wish I was old enough to have been there!
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benslater91 wrote:
How come some songs don't play anymore like under the bridge and smells like teen spirit? they used to be full tracks not to long ago.
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paulparadiis wrote:
so underrated!
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alfie wrote:
You should listen to Smells Like Teen Spirit from the original album. It's perfect. :)
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KingKaibo wrote:
Buffalo Soldier and Space Oddity are better.
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Twaize wrote:
Only You, is SUCH a good song
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Events
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Dec
14
Flying Pickets
Die Härterei, Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Dec
15
THE CHRISTMAS SHOW 2009
Kofmehl, Solothurn, Switzerland
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| 1 attendee
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