The duo had originally been members of a Stax-style soul band called The Big Sound, working mainly in Denmark, Sweden and Germany, but also touring Israel in 1967.

[citation needed] Parrott left Oscar after 10 years, and teamed up with Coleman again, in the live act to try to keep up the promotion of "Matchstalk Men", and had to be billed as 'Brian'.

Backing singers St Winifred's School Choir released an unsuccessful album entitled The Matchstalk Children.

"[7] In February 2012, Brian and Michael decided to form a new band and recruited their respective brothers, former Dooleys drummer Nigel Parrott, and Tim Coleman as lead vocalist.

They also added a keyboard player – The Dakotas keysman, Toni Baker, made several guest appearances – and Ian Jenkins took over the role in 2014.

In 'The Matchstalk Men', Coleman returned to his bass playing roots, Parrott to his rock guitar style, and the band performed songs from the two Brian and Michael albums, plus "many of the favourites we grew up with during our 1950s and 1960s formative years".