Microdisney were an Irish rock band formed in Cork in 1980. They were founded and led by songwriters

Cathal Coughlan Cathal Coughlan may refer to: * Cathal Coughlan (politician) (1937–1986), Irish Fianna Fáil politician * Cathal Coughlan (musician) Cathal Coughlan (16 December 1960 – 18 May 2022) was an Irish singer and songwriter from Cork, best k ...

(keyboards, vocals) and Sean O'Hagan (guitar). Originally typeset as Micro Disney, the band had become Microdisney by the time they (Coughlan and O'Hagan) had relocated to London in 1983 and signed to

Rough Trade Records Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London, England. It was formed in 1976 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove. Having successfully promoted and sold records by punk rock and early post-pun ...

. Between 1983 and 1986 the band recorded six Peel Sessions for BBC Radio and released their debut album for Rough Trade called ''Everybody Is Fantastic''. In 1985, their album ''The Clock Comes Down The Stairs'' reached number one in the UK Indie Chart, and they reached the Irish top 40 with the 1987 single "Town to Town". They were one of the few Irish bands of the 1980s to achieve international success with "Town to Town" reaching number 55 in the UK Singles Chart. This single, released by Virgin Records, was followed into the UK chart by "Gale Force Wind" in March 1988. That 1 July, days after supporting David Bowie at London's Dominion Theatre, the band split up. O'Hagan and Coughlan formed separate bands, the High Llamas and the Fatima Mansions, respectively, with Coughlan also going on to work with Sean Hughes in Bubonique and Luke Haines as part of

The North Sea Scrolls ''The North Sea Scrolls'' is a collaborative project by Luke Haines, Cathal Coughlan and Andrew Mueller which was performed live in 2011, with an album following in 2012. Background An alternative musical history of the British Isles, ''The Nort ...

project. In 2017, a radio documentary was made about the band called ''Iron Fist in Velvet Glove - The Story of Microdisney'' by producer Paul McDermott, which was re-broadcast by Newstalk 106-108fm as part of their Documentary on Newstalk season. In 2018, Microdisney reunited for the first time in 30 years, performing live in Dublin and London. In February 2019, they played their last shows in Dublin and Cork. The members of Microdisney were awarded an IMRO/NCH Trailblazer Award, given to "culturally important" Irish albums (in this instance, for ''The Clock Comes Down The Stairs'') in 2018.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums *''Everybody Is Fantastic'' (1984) *''

We Hate You South African Bastards! ''We Hate You South African Bastards!'' is the second album by the Irish band Microdisney. It was re-issued on CD with the title ''Love Your Enemies'' to reflect post-Apartheid South Africa. The album consists of early recordings of Microsdisney ...

'' (1984) *''The Clock Comes Down the Stairs'' (1985) *''Crooked Mile'' (1987) *''39 Minutes'' (1988) Other albums *''

Kaught at the Kampus ''Kaught at the Kampus'' is a live compilation 12-inch EP conceived and organised by Irish promoter Elvera Butler, and released in 1981 on her Reekus Records label. A showcase of then emerging Cork city punk and post-punk bands, it contains tra ...

'' (1980) *''The Peel Sessions Album'' (1989) *''Big Sleeping House'' (1995) *''Daunt Square to Elsewhere: 1982–1988'' (2007)

Singles

*"Hello Rascals" (1982) *"Pink Skinned Man" (1983) *"Dolly" (1984) *''In the World'' EP (1985) *"Birthday Girl" (1985) *"Town to Town" (1987, UK #55) *"Singer's Hampstead Home" (1987) *"Gale Force Wind" (1988, UK #98)

References

Sources

* McDermott, Paul.
Iron Fist in Velvet Glove — the story of Microdisney
. Audio documentary, Newstalk / University College Cork, 2018

External links