Brian and Michael

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Brian and Michael
Origin	Manchester, England
Genre(s)	Pop music
Years active	1978-
Members
Michael Coleman Kevin Parrott
Former members
Brian Burke

Brian & Michael are a British music duo best known for their 1978 UK number one hit single, Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs. They comprise of two members; Michael Coleman and Kevin Parrott.

[edit] History

The duo had originally been members of a band called The Big Sound, working mainly in Denmark, Sweden and Germany, also touring Israel in 1967. The Big Sound had previously backed singer Karol Keyes, now known as the actress Luan Peters. In Denmark, the band were the backing group to the Danish singer, Rock Nalle. Click here to view the story: http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=8939196

The act Brian and Michael was originally called Burke & Jerk, a comedy duo comprising of of Brian Burke and Mick Coleman. Mick wrote Matchstalk Men, and Burke soon left and was replaced by Coleman's old friend Kevin Parrott from The Big Sound. Kevin produced the actual record, Matchstalk Men & Matchstalk Cats & Dogs. They went on to achieve a number one hit with their song. Kevin had to be Brian as the first run of records had already been pressed before Brian Burke left. Therefore Kevin had to live "The Life of Brian" for 30 years.

After their success, Brian and Michael released a follow-up single, "Evensong", and an LP, "The Matchstalk Men", followed by a second album named "I Can Count My Friends on One Hand" (Similarly, St. Winifred's School Choir released an unsuccessful album titled "The Matchstalk Children".)

Mick Coleman & Kevin Parrott remain in the music business as writers & producers for themselves and other acts. Despite the middle of the road image of Matchstalk Men, both are accomplished rock musicians, Coleman as a bass guitar player, Parrott as a lead guitarist. St Winifred's had their own number one hit with There's No-one Quite Like Grandma during Christmas 1980.

[edit] Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs

"Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" is a tribute to the artist L. S. Lowry, who had died two years previously. For the hit, Mick Coleman drew on his own memories of Salford and Ancoats as well as the paintings of L. S. Lowry. St Winifred's School Choir also appeared on the record, singing the children's song "The Big Ship Sails on the Alley-Alley-O". Tintwistle Brass Band were also featured. Kevin Parrott was living in this Derbyshire village at the time, and recruited the band for the recording session. The single spent three weeks at the top of the UK singles chart.

Kevin Parrott was also in the Manchester rock band Oscar, who were signed to DJM Records. Oscar recorded three albums, including the highly acclaimed Twilight Asylum^{[citation needed]}.

Other chart success as writers/producers were with "The Sparrow" (The Ramblers, No 11 in 1979), and Claire and Friends' "It's 'Orrible Being in Love when You're Eight and a Half" (Number 13 in 1986). Mick Coleman wrote the hit song Hold My Hand for Ken Dodd.