Microdisney
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 in Cork, Ireland |
| Headquarters | Cork , Ireland |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Microdisney was a rock band originating from Cork, Ireland, established in 1980 and fronted by the principal songwriters Cathal Coughlan (vocals, keyboards) and Sean O'Hagan (guitar). Initially known as Micro Disney, the group adopted the name Microdisney after their move to London in 1983, where they signed with Rough Trade Records. Over the period from 1983 to 1986, they recorded six Peel Sessions for BBC Radio and launched their first Rough Trade album, Everybody Is Fantastic.
Their 1985 release, The Clock Comes Down the Stairs, achieved the number one position on the UK Indie Chart. The 1987 single "Town to Town," issued through Virgin Records, peaked at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart and secured a spot within Ireland's top 40. This was succeeded by the 1988 track "Gale Force Wind." Following their support slot for David Bowie at London's Dominion Theatre in July of that year, the band disbanded.
After the breakup, O'Hagan and Coughlan went on to form The High Llamas and The Fatima Mansions, respectively. Additionally, Coughlan partnered with Sean Hughes in Bubonique and collaborated with Luke Haines on The North Sea Scrolls project.
In 2017, Paul McDermott produced a radio documentary titled Iron Fist in Velvet Glove – The Story of Microdisney, which was broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm. The band reunited in 2018 for live shows in Dublin and London, culminating with final concerts in Dublin and Cork in February 2019. That same year, they were honored with an IMRO/NCH Trailblazer Award that recognized The Clock Comes Down the Stairs as an album of significant cultural importance in Ireland.
A BBC4 documentary released in 2024, entitled Microdisney: The Clock Comes Down the Stairs, detailed the band’s origins, career trajectory, and reunion.
Albums
Studio albums
- Everybody Is Fantastic (1984) UK Indie: 6
- The Clock Comes Down the Stairs (1985) UK Indie: 1
- Crooked Mile (1987)
- 39 Minutes (1988)
Other albums
- Kaught at the Kampus (1980)
- We Hate You South African Bastards! (1984) UK Indie: 7
- 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) UK Indie: 7
- "Birthday Girl" (1985) UK Indie: 6
- "Town to Town" (1987) Ireland: #30, UK: #55
- "Singer's Hampstead Home" (1987)
- "Gale Force Wind" (1988) UK: #98
Sources
- McDermott, Paul. "Iron Fist in Velvet Glove – the story of Microdisney". Audio documentary, Newstalk / University College Cork, 2018
Further reading
- Mark J. Prendergast (1987) Irish Rock: Roots, Personalities, Directions. O'Brien Press.
- Mark McAvoy (2009) Cork Rock: From Rory Gallagher to the Sultans of Ping. Mercier Press.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Cathal Coughlan (musician)
- Irish rock music groups
- Irish alternative rock groups
- Musical groups from Cork (city)
- Musical groups established in 1980
- Musical groups disestablished in 2019
- 1980 establishments in Ireland
- 2019 disestablishments in Ireland
- Rough Trade Records artists
- 1980s in Irish music
- 2010s in Irish music