Paranoid Visions – Outsider Artists: The Story of Paranoid Visions to premiere at The Sugar Club, Dublin

OUTSIDER ARTISTS: The Story of Paranoid Visions

Premiere of the Documentary
Q&A
Live gig

A no-budget, no-compromise documentary chronicling four decades of Irish punk defiance.

DUBLIN, IRELAND — Outsider Artists: The Story of Paranoid Visions is a new independent documentary that explores the 40-year history of Ireland’s longest-running anarcho-punk band, Paranoid Visions. Created by the father-and-son duo Clifford Clifford Productions, the film is a raw, DIY celebration of music, resistance, and the enduring spirit of counterculture.

Filmed over six years with no institutional funding, this feature-length documentary tracks Paranoid Visions from their formation in 1981 through the evolution of Ireland’s underground punk scene — all while addressing broader themes including DIY punk ethos, Ireland’s socio-political climate, emigration, the role of women in punk, the abuse of the Catholic Church, fashion as protest, and the thriving subcultures of fanzines and cassette tape duplication.

Greg Clifford, co-director of the film, says:
“What makes Paranoid Visions such an interesting case study for me is their longevity. To survive on such a timeline against all odds, and ascend like they’ve done in recent years, on their own terms, without the trappings of the industry, is remarkable. They were a hugely important band throughout the 80s, embracing DIY subcultures, speaking to the working class, and pushing back against the shackles and deviant abuse of the Church — epitomised by the release of ‘Strange Girl’, which shone a light on the tragic passing of Ann Lovett in Granard in 1984. From pioneers to mentors, the band continues to embody the punk ethos and aesthetic, both in Ireland and abroad.

With a rotating cast of approximately 35 members since its formation — while core members Deko Dachau (vocals) and Peter “PA” Jones (guitar) have remained constants — Paranoid Visions’ story is as chaotic, inspiring, and unrelenting as punk itself. Outsider Artists features intimate interviews with Paranoid Visions’ past and present members, alongside punk icons such as Steve Ignorant (Crass), T.V. Smith (The Adverts), John Robb (The Membranes), Pete Holidai (The Radiators From Space), and Dick Lucas (Subhumans), plus rising Irish artists like Meryl Streek and Molly Vulpyne.

The project is a testament to DIY creativity: researched, shot, edited, and produced entirely independently by Dave Clifford (editor of VOX Magazine, 1980–83) and Greg Clifford (musician & filmmaker). The documentary embodies the same resilient, self-taught, and rebellious spirit it celebrates.

Premiere Event:
Outsider Artists: The Story of Paranoid Visions will premiere at The Sugar Club, Dublin on Sunday 28th September. The event will feature a Q&A session with the filmmakers and band members, followed by a live performance by Paranoid Visions.

Tickets are available now via Powertik:https://ie.powertik.com/events/outsider-artists-the-story-of-paranoid-visions-documentary-premiere-q-a-performance