Flying Pickets

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.