The Flying Pickets is a British a cappella vocal group, that had a surprise Christmas 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 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 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".
Albums
* Live at the Albany Empire - 1982
* Lost Boys - 1984
* Flying Pickets Live - 1985
* Best of the Flying Pickets - 1988
* The Original Flying Pickets: Volume 1 - 1994
* Best of the Flying Pickets - 2006 Repack
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