John Pickles: Jive Bunny creator dies aged 84
John Pickles who created the Jive Bunny music mixes has died aged 84, the Mastermix company he founded has confirmed.
Pickles formed the novelty pop act Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers in Rotherham in 1989 and they went on to have three UK number ones with Swing The Mood, That’s What I Like and Let’s Party, with a statement from Mastermix describing him as “a true pioneer in the music industry”.
The DJing company’s statement read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Pickles, founder and creator of The Music Factory Entertainment Group, Mastermix and Jive Bunny.
“John was a leader, an entrepreneur, a businessman, and an incredibly talented songwriter. He was a true pioneer in the music industry, whose creativity, vision and passion for music touched the lives and careers of so many people around the world, and for the most fortunate of us, he was dad.”
Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers were made up of Pickles, his son Andrew, who also worked as a director for his company Mastermix, along with Doncaster DJ and producer Les Hemstock.
Their records typically used synthesisers and sampling to combine contemporary pop music with music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
The group also had a UK top 10 album in Jive Bunny The Album and scored five UK top 10 hits including their number ones.
Their album covers and music videos featured a cartoon rabbit, with costumed actors also making promotional appearances as the character.
In December 2024, Mastermix released a new Jive Bunny production called 3, 6, 9, which it said was “celebrating the origins of Jive Bunny while adding a modern twist”.