The Story of Microdisney: The Clock Comes Down the Stairs

The story

In 1980, two Cork outsiders, Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan, met at a New Year's Eve party. Bonding over music, a friendship and songwriting partnership was ignited; the band they formed, Microdisney, was one of the best bands of the 1980s that you’ve probably never heard. Mixing Sean’s stunning melodic arrangements with Cathal’s poetic, angry lyrics, they recorded three brilliant LPs, gained critical adulation and an obsessive cult following. But a hit single eluded them, as did radio play and LP sales. By 1988, frustrated by their lack of progress, the band crashed and burned, leaving a trail of acrimony and broken friendships.

Cast

C Cathal CoughlanSelf S Sean O'HaganSelf J John FellSelf T Tom FennerSelf A Aidan GillenSelf E Elvera ButlerSelf G Garreth RyanSelf J Jacknife LeeSelf A Andrew MuellerSelf R Richard BoonSelf P Padraig CollinsSelf J Jamie LaneSelf

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R Ronnie GurrSelf L Lenny KayeSelf N Nick AllumSelf G Grimmo O'GruamaSelf G Gary SheehanSelf B Billy ConnollySelf (archive footage) J John PeelSelf (archive footage) M Muriel GraySelf (archive footage) À Àngel CasasSelf (archive footage) T Tom O'ConnorSelf (archive footage) D David HepworthSelf (archive footage)