FLYING POSTMEN, THE : Vocal and instrumental group, all born Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. Andrei Nicula, bass guitar, piano, vocal, born May 25, 1974; Emil Bojescu, guitar, mouth organ, vocal, born July 12, 1972; Mircea Sturza, drums, percussions, vocal, born December 9, 1972; Gabriel Andronic, guitar, vocal, born May 26, 1974.
The Flying Postmen were formed in 1989 in Chisinau by Andrei Nicula along with Emil Bojescu and Mircea Sturza and their inaugural performance was later that year in their local school. They went on to play many other venues throughout Chisinau City, including big festivals such as Ave Beatles, Rock Independent and Rock Marathon. Their popularity quickly grew, attracting interest from TV and Radio stations and invitations from across the border in Bucharest, Romania. In-between concerts and media appearances, the band took part in charity events and played official engagements for the American Embassy.
During this time, Emil and Andrei were busy writing their first original songs to which the audience was being introduced step by step, beginning with the nicely crafted ballad Hello. The band’s main songwriting influence hails from the 60's, although new dimensions of rock and roll were keenly explored. Along with coining out new flying stuff, they performed cover versions of American and British artists like Ray Charles, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, The Kinks, The Who, The Yardbirds, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones to name a few. They called this time "the Hamburg school” which they embarked upon to become real professionals.
In January 1996, The Flying Postmen set about recording their debut album, WELL, which features 10 original songs, the most outstanding ones being the newly composed title song Well along with the classic ballad Hello. In February 1996, the band acquired Gabriel Andronic on lead guitar and went from strength to strength, enjoying growing success with 2 more successful visits to Bucharest and numerous appearances in their home city including the newly opened Cuibul Jazz Club.
This was a prolific time giving rise to many new original songs including Thinking Of Love, Rocking Chair and Something You Can’t Do Without, all melodies which encapsulate what’s become the unique Flying Postmen sound.
In May 1997, Andrei Nicula was offered a place at Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) where he would embark on a 1-year course in Popular Music and Sound Technology. Despite this, the band carried on playing with Emil on bass until Andrei could re-join during breaks from studies. But it wasn’t long until the whole band was back together in Liverpool to take part in the Mathew Street Festival and Beatles Convention 1998 where they played the Cavern Club on a residential basis for 6 months - the first band to do this since The Beatles!
Fortunately, they had time to play big venues like LIPA, Strawberry Fields, Adelphi Night Club, Lomax and Ronnie Scotts (Birmingham), all gigs which were a smash hit with audiences who voted them one of the best bands of the Mathew Street Festival. They created quite a media buzz with interest from the Liverpool Echo, Granada Television, even a dawn interview on BBC Radio Merseyside where they played live two new Liverpool-born songs How About and You Haven’t Lost.
Among the festival audience that year was BBC writer Tony Hawks who became a Flying Postmen fan, seeking the band’s assistance for his follow-up quest to his first travel adventure “Round Ireland With A Fridge”. This time the intrepid gambler was heading for Moldova and the band’s extensive contacts helped smooth the way as Tony explains in his best-selling book “Playing The Moldovans At Tennis”, inviting them to play live at the book launch in January 2000.
1999 and 2000 were slightly quieter years for the band, nevertheless, a fruitful time for taking care of the business side. On the 27th day of September 2000, Flying Postmen Limited (FPL) was incorporated as a private limited company upon the need of an umbrella for the band’s management, business interests and handling of copyright.
At the moment, the band is preparing to re-emerge on the British music scene and throughout Europe (Germany, France, Scandinavian countries etc). No doubt their spiritual strength, overwhelming energy and songwriting originality will continue to impress future audiences.
