First up was Tory Matt Bennett. This sensible chap who has been overseeing the recovery of the council's children's social services department is, it turns out, a bit of punk rocker.

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"I am a frustrated musician," he admitted, "at 16 I was the lead singer of a punk band.

"We played one gig, at Josiah Mason College. The band told me they thought their future was better without me.

"I couldn't even sing well enough for a punk band.

"Well the joke's on them, where are they now?"

He later recalled that the name they settled on was The Deadends - I can see the opposition campaign leaflet writers sharpening their pencils as they read this.

As if that was not eyebrow raising enough, along came tiny Peter Kane, the Labour veteran, to reveal his own musical roots.

He was a regular on the Birmingham gig circuit in the 60s, 70s and 80s playing at venues like The Barn in Aston.

"Like councillor Bennett I was a mediocre musician, but I managed to play in most of the music venues in Birmingham. Only because I managed to con my way into different groups."

I was also reminded that the council leader himself, Mike Whitby, claims to have been in a Simon and Garfunkel -style folk group in the 60s.

Just in case any of them are feeling inspired to pick up their various instruments they should first go to Amazon where a download of John Hemming's Bring the Sunshine In is available for 89p. That ought to put them off.

The only thing slightly more cringeworthy than a politician claiming a talent, is when they claim to be cool.

Who can forget Gordon Brown talking about having the Artic Monkeys on his iPod or David Cameron discussing his love of The Smiths as the lyrics speak to the tortured teenager within.

Well there was no shortage of that in the Council Chamber either.

Cabinet member for culture Martin Mullaney managed to confirm both his and Philip Parkin's credentials by revealing their shared admiration of Tom Waits.

While the aforementioned Matt Bennett can add ground breaking British Reggae to his list of favourites.

"Why," he asked, "is there no mention in the report of Steel Pulse and their album Handsworth Revolution?"

But most impressive and maximum cool points was Quinton's very tall Tory Peter Smallbone.

He had been very impressed by last year's Home of Metal exhibition, even though he hadn't previously been a fan.

Instead he is an aficionado of late 80s and 90s dance music and mentioned the Bimingham based rave and garage label Network Records.

"Their acts included Altern8 and KWS," he explained as councillors of a certain age imagined him throwing shapes at a rave in a field in the home counties some 20 years ago.