Death of Irish singer, whose band sold more than 40m records, is being treated as ‘unexplained’
Dolores O’Riordan, the Irish soprano who led The Cranberries to worldwide fame as one of the most popular bands of the 1990s, has died, her publicist said Monday.
The news was confirmed by her publicist in a statement, but no cause of death has yet been announced. O’Riordan, who had to cancel a tour with a reunited Cranberries in 2017 because of a back problem, had been in London for a recording session.
The statement described the death as sudden, and added: “Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
Irish and international singer Dolores O’Riordan has died suddenly in London today. She was 46 years old.
Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time. Full Statement: https://t.co/L8K98BFpSM pic.twitter.com/ADEY51Xnwe— The Cranberries (@The_Cranberries) January 15, 2018
Formed in Ireland, The Cranberries shot to fame in the 1990s with hits including “Zombie” and “Linger” that fused the alternative rock edge with poppy tunefulness. The band split up in 2003 but reunited several years later.
In 2017 The Cranberries announced a tour including dates in Europe, the UK, and the US.
However, in May – shortly into the European tour – the group had to cancel the remainder of the European dates as a result of O’Riordan’s health issues.
Tributes pour in for Dolores
Tributes have begun pour in from O’Riordan’s fans – including musicians revealing how much of an inspiration she was to them.
Irish president Michael D Higgins said he learned of the news with “great sadness”, adding: “To all those who follow and support Irish music, Irish musicians and the performing arts, her death will be a big loss.”
Musicians have started to pay tribute, including Irish songwriter Hozier, who said he was “shocked and saddened”, and that O’Riordan’s voice “threw into question what a voice could sound like in that context of rock. I’d never heard somebody use their instrument in that way.”
Her current band mates in The Cranberries – Noel Hogan, Fergal Lawler, and Mike Hogan – paid tribute to the lead singer on social media.
“We are devastated on the passing of our friend Dolores,” her bandmates tweeted. “She was an extraordinary talent and we feel very privileged to have been part of her life from 1989 when we started the Cranberries. The world has lost a true artist today.”