Flying Pickets

Flying Pickets

Flying Pickets is a British a cappella vocal group from the United Kingdom, active since 1982 and associated with pop. The group is founded by Brian Hibbard and first forms from a set of actors linked to the 7:84 Theatre group, a fringe theatre company that performs a cappella in its production of One Big Blow, which is based on an earlier UK miners’ strike. The name refers to mobile strikers who travel to join a picket.

Early success

The group’s debut single is a cover of Yazoo’s Only You, which becomes a surprise UK number one in 1983. It spends five weeks at the top of the singles chart and reaches Christmas number one in the UK, with success also across Europe. Their follow-up single, a version of Van McCoy’s When You’re Young and in Love, reaches number seven, while a later cover of the Eurythmics’ Who’s That Girl? does not chart strongly.

Members and image

The original line-up includes Brian Hibbard, Rick Lloyd, Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson and Red Stripe, whose real name is David Gittins. The group becomes known for its stage appearance, with Hibbard’s large sideburns, Stripe’s heavy eyeliner, and the others wearing flamboyant suits and large hats. After the original group splits, Hibbard and Gittins form Brian and Stripe, but that act does not achieve chart success, and the members later move into other careers.

Later activity

A later five-member version of the Flying Pickets continues to tour in small venues in Europe throughout the year, but without comparable chart success. Brian Hibbard, Red Stripe, Rick Lloyd, David Brett, Gary Howard, Ricky Payne, Michael Henry, Andy Laycock, Dylan Foster, Andrea Figallo, Simon John Foster, Damion Scarcella, Ken Gregson and Kareth Williams are listed among the group’s members.