Cathal Coughlan of Microdisney and Fatima Mansions, RIP
Sad news: Cathal Coughlan, who led Microdisney in the ’80s and Fatima Mansions in the ’90s, has died. The Guardian reports that his family confirmed his death, saying he “slipped away peacefully in hospital after a long illness.” He was 61.
Microdisney formed in Cork, Ireland in 1980, and were a unique mix of guitarist Sean O’Hagan’s delicate guitar-playing and Coughlan’s one-of-a-kind voice. Their 1985 album The Clock Comes Down The Stairs reached #1 on the UK indie charts. The band broke up in 1988, with O’Hagan forming The High Llamas and Coughlan starting the decidedly more aggressive-sounding Fatima Mansions. That band scored a Top 10 hit in the UK in 1992 with their out-there cover of Bryan Adams mammoth single “Everything I Do, I Do It For You.”
Coughlan started his solo career when Fatima Mansions split up in 1996, and he released Songs of Co-Aklan last year, which featured appearances from Sean O’Hagan, The Auteurs’ Luke Haines and more. Microdisney reformed for a few shows in 2018.
Rest in peace, Cathal. Watch videos by Microdisney, Fatima Mansions and more, and read tributes from O’Hagan, Tracey Thorn, and more, below.
Sad to hear of the death of Cathal Coughlan. There are lines of songs that stay in your head and for some reason "Put that suitcase down before you answer me" has always stayed in mine. https://t.co/UgvnTe5L25
— Tracey Thorn (@tracey_thorn) May 23, 2022
I'm so sorry to say that my dear friend Cathal Coughlan has passed away. I have no words at the moment. Just sadness and anger really.
— Luke Haines Rock N Roll (@LukeHaines_News) May 23, 2022
Cathal Coughlan, music genius, has left this realm. His brilliant songs remain. Play them loud and remember him
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) May 23, 2022
Terribly sad loss, brilliant, beautiful Cathal Coughlan, of Microdisney & Fatima Mansions. So many good memories, he gave me a t-shirt with FUCK FUCK FUCK printed on it, I wore to a @bjork gig. We contemplated doing a cover of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart 💔 https://t.co/At9lFQ846A
— Wendy Smith (@wendyfinnandmax) May 23, 2022
Sad to hear of the death Cathal Coughlan, a bold, fearless and frequently confrontational singer/songwriter. Gone at 61. No age. My age.
Rock In Peace.
Ix pic.twitter.com/AwTl3yFvOe— Ian McNabb. Cultural attaché: Kensington, L,pool. (@empiresend) May 23, 2022
Cathal Coughlan was such a great musician, singer and songwriter. Really love the recent solo and Telefis records. Such sad news.
— Gideon Coe (@gidcoe) May 23, 2022