Cathal Coughlan Cause of Death Suspicious? Irish Rock Genius Dies at 61

Cathal Coughlan, the frontman for indie bands Microdisney and The Fatima Mansions, has reportedly passed away recently.

Coughlan's family broke the tragic news to the public, explaining that the singer "slipped away peacefully in hospital after a long illness."

"It is with deep sadness that we have to inform you of the passing of Cathal Coughlan on 18th May 2022," the family said in a statement. (via NME)

As of this writing, the cause of death of Cathal Coughlan has been mysterious since the family only referred to the cause being a "long illness." More details about the cause of his death are expected to be disclosed in the coming weeks.

Cathal Coughlan Music Career: Microdisney and The Fatima Mansions

A Cork, Ireland native, Cathal Coughlan formed Microdisney after meeting guitarist Sean O'Hagan in the 1980s. He eventually relocated to London three years after. He played indie pop at the time, but they were met with a glimpse of the mainstream scene as one of their singles, "Town to Town," almost climbed to the UK Top 40.

After the feat, they became prominent in the United King and Ireland indie scenes and have managed to record some music together for John Peel.

"I probably saw popular music as an easy route to cultural mobility, wherein a person with my then-fitful attention span and limited tolerance for the 'wider picture' of learning could live a creative life," Coughlan said at the time.

He managed to release five studio albums and four special ones with Microdisney, the last being - "From Daunt Square to Elsewhere," a compilation album released in 2007; their last studio album was released in 1988.

In the same year, they released their swan song, and the two split and formed their own bands - O'Hagan formed The High Lamas while Coughlan goes for The Fatima Mansions.

Since their inception, Coughlan decided to take on a different sound and opted for an "intense full-throated delivery."

His "outlaw mentality" in music had brought them success in the indie scene and charts, especially in 1992, when they entered the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart with a rendition of Bryan Adams' song "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You."

In the same year, the band also supported U2 for their "Zoo TV" Tour.

The band released a total of seven studio albums, the last being "Western Union Stakeout" in 1995.

His latest music came this year with an album, "a hAon," on a newly formed duo, Telefis. A year before that, he released a solo album, "Song of Co-Aklan."

In 2006, The Irish Times dubbed Coughlan as the "genius of Irish rock."