Brian and Michael
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Brian Burke, Mick Coleman |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Brian and Michael were a British musical pairing primarily recognized for their 1978 UK chart-topping single, "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs". The duo consisted of Michael Coleman and Kevin Parrott and are regarded as one-hit wonders within the UK music scene.
Career
Initially, both artists performed in a soul group inspired by the Stax sound named The Big Sound, with their activities concentrated in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Israel throughout the 1960s. The act Brian and Michael originated from a comedic duo called Burke and Jerk, established in 1976 by Brian Burke alongside Mick Coleman. Coleman had been following Parrott’s work as lead guitarist for the Manchester rock group Oscar, which was signed to DJM Records.
The song "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" was penned by Coleman and presented to Parrott, who invested £1,000 to produce it at Pluto Studios located in Stockport, owned by Keith Hopwood. The recording included contributions from the Tintwistle Brass Band, hailing from Parrott’s home village in Derbyshire. Despite initial refusals from several labels, Pye Records eventually issued the single on 25 November 1977. Shortly thereafter, Brian Burke departed from the group citing "family reasons," prompting Parrott to step forward alongside Coleman for live shows under the name 'Brian' to preserve the act's identity.
After their breakthrough success, Brian and Michael released the single "Evensong" (written by Phil Hampson) along with two albums: The Matchstalk Men and We Can Count Our Friends on One Hand. Additionally, backing vocalists St Winifred's School Choir produced an album titled The Matchstalk Children, which did not achieve commercial impact.
Coleman and Parrott maintained careers as songwriters and producers, securing chart placements with The Ramblers' "The Sparrow" (peaking at No. 11 in 1979) and Claire and Friends' "It's 'Orrible Being in Love when You're Eight and a Half" (reaching No. 13 in 1986). Coleman also composed Ken Dodd’s hit "Hold My Hand". Notably, St Winifred's School Choir attained a UK Christmas number one with "There's No One Quite Like Grandma" in 1980.
The duo reunited for performances in 2002, including a concert at Salford’s Lowry Centre featuring the original St Winifred's choir members.
In 2012, Brian and Michael reassembled as a full band incorporating their brothers Nigel Parrott (drums) and Tim Coleman (lead vocals), alongside keyboardist Toni Baker from The Dakotas. Coleman resumed bass duties while Parrott concentrated on lead guitar within a rock framework. Their repertoire included selections from their own albums as well as popular songs from the 1950s and 1960s.
In 2015, Kevin Parrott and Mick Coleman celebrated five decades of musical partnership. Following Tim Coleman's retirement in 2016, Steve Pickering (also known as comedian Dudley Doolittle) assumed lead vocal responsibilities. Keyboardist Ian Jenkins succeeded Toni Baker but retired in 2017; Baker subsequently rejoined the lineup.
Kevin Parrott passed away due to a stroke in Stockport on 9 October 2023 at age 77.
Studio albums
- The Matchstalk Men (1978), Pye
- We Can Count Our Friends on One Hand (1979), Pye
Singles
| Year | Title | UK |
Certifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" | 1 |
| |||
| 1978 | "Evensong" | — | ||||
| 1978 | "Mam When's Mi Dad Coming Home?" | — | ||||
| 1979 | "You Don't Call Me Darling" | — | ||||
| 1979 | "Bottle of Gin" | — | ||||
| 1979 | "Pinocchio" | — | ||||
| 1983 | "Mama" | 93 | ||||
| "—" indicates singles that did not enter the charts. | ||||||