The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London,England |
| Genres | A cappella |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Virgin |
| Members | Martin George Andy Laycock Simon John Foster Michael Henry Christopher Brooker |
| Past members | Brian Hibbard Ken Gregson David Brett Red Stripe Rick Lloyd Gareth Williams Ron Donachie Christopher Ryan Dylan Foster Hereward Kaye Gary Howard Nick Godfrey Lex Lewis Ricky Payne Henrik Wager Paul Kissaun Fraser Collins Andrea Figallo Damion Scarcella Gavin Muir |
| Website | www |
The Flying Picketsis a Britisha cappellavocal groupwhich had aChristmas number onehitin 1983 on theUK Singles Chartwith theircover versionofYazoo's track "Only You".
History
[edit]The band of six was founded byBrian Hibbardin 1982 from a group ofactorswho had been active with him inJohn McGrath's7:84 theatre group,a fringe theatre organisation who had sunga cappellain their production of the 1981 playOne Big Blow.The group chose the name the Flying Pickets as band members had played a part in the UK miners' strikes of1972and1974.[1]
Performing in clubs and pubs inLondon,the Flying Pickets came up with a concept of transferring the art ofa cappellato thepop musicscene.[2][3]Joining Hibbard in the group wereRick Lloyd(who also wrote the music toOne Big Blow), Gareth Williams,David Brett,Ken Gregson (real name Kenneth Gregory) and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins).[4]The members of the group were internationally renowned for their flamboyant appearance: Hibbard's huge sideburns, Stripe's thick eye-liner, and the others showing off gaudy suits and large hats. Two of the other original members,Ron DonachieandChristopher Ryanleft the band before "Only You".
"Only You", their firstsingle,was the UK Christmas number one in 1983 spending a total of five weeks at the top,[4]and also doing well aroundEuropeand inCanada,where it reached number 17 in spring 1984. It emulated the success of the original Yazoo version. The video was shot in the Red Lion And Pineapple, Acton High Street, London.[5]
The name "Flying Pickets" refers to mobile strikers who travel in order to join apicket,reflecting the group's radicalsocialistpolitical views. The height of the group's fame coincided with the1984 miners strike,when theNational Union of Mineworkerscalled strike action following theNational Coal Board's decision to close 20 pits – a move which would claim some 20,000 jobs.[1]The Flying Pickets were vocal in their support of the miners during the dispute and came to blows with the record label Virgin after they picketedDrax Power Stationin Yorkshire.[1]They also performed benefit gigs for the miners.[4]Hibbard himself claimed that their political beliefs probably had a detrimental effect on the group's mainstream image but it was a sacrifice they were willing to make; according to the group, one well-known record store refused to sell the group's albums due to their support of strike action.[1]
Despite the group's socialist views, theConservativePrime MinisterMargaret Thatcherproclaimed, to much amusement and skepticism, that "Only You" was her favourite record.[2]A second single, a cover version ofVan McCoy's "(When You're) Young and in Love"(originally written forRuby and the Romantics) reached number 7 in the UK, but their third, a cover of theEurythmics' "Who's That Girl"barelycharted.[4]
In 1986, Hibbard and Stripe left the band and were replaced by Gary Howard and Hereward Kaye.[6]Hibbard and Stripe tried to stay in themusic industry,forming their own act called Brian and Stripe, but their first and only single, a cover version of Yazoo's "Mr. Blue",failed to chart, and they returned to their separate acting careers.
In 1987, the Flying Pickets sang the title song (in Latin,Dives in Omnia) and endtitles reprise toPorterhouse Blue,in the style of a medieval university drinking-song.
The group sang two songs on theEric Woolfson/Alan Parsons1990 albumFreudiana.
The Flying Pickets' line-up has changed throughout the years, but the band never died; since the Pickets began, there have been around 27 members. The last member of the original line-up, David Brett, left the band in 1990.[7]However, in 1994, the original line-up (minus Lloyd) reformed to record one more album.[7]
Although none of the founding members have been part of the group since 1990, the Flying Pickets continue to record albums and tour all over Europe and abroad.
Post-Picket activities
[edit]Hibbard, the group's founder and lead singer, pursued a career as atelevisionactor, making a guest appearance in the 1987Doctor WhostoryDelta and the Bannermen.His first regular TV role came in 1989, playing petty criminal "Chunky" in three series of Manchester-based comedy dramaMaking Out(1989-1991), followed by a two-year stint inCoronation Streetas garage mechanicDoug Murray.Other appearances includeMinder,The Armando Iannucci Shows,Satellite City,Welsh languagesoapPobol y Cwmas well as the youth dramaPam Fi, Duw?and in the 1997 filmTwin Townas the self-styled "Karaoke King" Dai Rees.
In 2006, Hibbard won theBAFTA CymruAward for Best Actor for his role as Tony in the filmLittle White Lies.He died on 17 June 2012.[8]
Brett toured with theEnglish Shakespeare Companyand appeared as Mad Mike the Mechanic in the BBC children's TV programmeMarlene Marlowe Investigates.[9]In 2000, Brett played the part ofDedalus Digglein the filmHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.[10]
Williams toured in a production ofSouth Pacificand also with The English Shakespeare Company; he played Nathan Detroit in a production ofGuys & Dolls.He also worked withJonathan Milleron a TV adaptation ofHenry Mayhew'sLondon Labour, London Poor.In 2009, he understudied and went on forPatrick Stewartin theTheatre Royal Haymarketproduction ofWaiting for Godot.[11]
Gittins worked in bread delivery after leaving the band, then decided to move toAustraliawhere he took a job as a stage mechanist at The Victorian State Theatre. He also co-developed thetechnoact Poets of the Machine.[11]
Gregson also emigrated to Australia and has made an appearance in the soapNeighbours.[11]
Lloyd was a joint winner of aBAFTA TV Awardfor his work on the 1987 TV seriesPorterhouse Blue,and was musical director for the 1999 filmJulie and the Cadillacs.
Members
[edit]Original
[edit]- Brian Hibbard
- Ken Gregson
- David Brett
- Red Stripe
- Rick Lloyd
- Gareth Williams
Present
[edit]- Andy Laycock
- Simon John Foster
- Michael Henry
- Christopher Brooker
- Martin George
Other past members
[edit]- Henrik Wager
- Andrea Figallo
- James Gibb
- Damion Scarcella
- Dylan Foster
- Hereward Kaye
- Gary Howard
- Nick Godfrey
- Lex Lewis
- Ricky Payne
- Paul Kissaun
- Fraser Collins
- Gavin Muir
Discography
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcd"The Flying Pickets’ taste of fame",WalesOnline,12 April 2009 (updated 29 March 2013). Accessed 12 July 2009.
- ^abAnderson, Douglas (1991)."Bums on Seats: Parties, Art, and Politics in London's East End".TDR (1988-).35(1): 55.doi:10.2307/1146109.ISSN1054-2043.
- ^Torreano, Bradley."The Flying Pickets Biography".AllMusic.Retrieved25 October2020.
- ^abcdColin Larkin,ed. (1997).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music(Concise ed.).Virgin Books.p. 475.ISBN1-85227-745-9.
- ^"Flying Pickets original 1983 video for 'Only You'".Official Flying Pickets website.Retrieved30 September2022.
- ^Kaye, H., (1986)"Ba Ba Da Da The Flying Pickets - 1986".Accessed 30 March 2007.
- ^ab"The Original Flying Pickets".Accessed 30 March 2007.
- ^"Brian Hibbard obituary".The Guardian.19 June 2012.
- ^The Original Flying Pickets. (1994) The Original Flying Pickets: Volume 1 (from CD information booklet).
- ^David Brett at CastNet UK.Accessed 17 April 2007.
- ^abcThe Original Flying Pickets. (1994) (from CD information booklet).
External links
[edit]
- Official website of the Flying Pickets
- Andrea Figallo's website
- Michael Henry's website
- Paul Kissaun's website
- Hereward Kaye's website
- The Flying Picketsdiscography atDiscogs
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