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Dolores O’Riordan dies aged 46

Irish musician and singer-songwriter Dolores O’Riordan, who came to fame as lead singer of The Cranberries, has died suddenly aged 46.

The band’s facebook page was updated two hours ago with the following message:

“Irish and international singer Dolores O’Riordan has died suddenly in London today. She was 46 years old. The lead singer with the Irish band The Cranberries, was in London for a short recording session. No further details are available at this time.

Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

The Cranberries released seven studio albums during their career and enjoyed international success with their 1994 long-player No Need To Argue. Produced by Stephen Street, that album has sold 17 million copies to date and features the single Zombie –  a number one hit in Australia, Germany and France.

Less than a year ago The Cranberries issued Something Else an album that featured unplugged and orchestral versions of ten previously released singles and three new songs. The band’s 1993 debut Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? received an audiophile vinyl reissue last year, courtesy of US label Analog Spark.

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45 Comments

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SimonP

Drowned in the bath apparently

[…] a four-disc box set This anniversary reissue was already in the works when Dolores O’Riordan died in January this year. After much soul searching, the band put out a statement saying “we thought about it and […]

[…] Doing It So Why Can’t We? was in the works, only to be put on hold when Dolores O’Riordan died in January. After much consideration, the band are now pushing ahead once more – “we have decided to […]

Saad

My heart goes out to her children….

Tom M Hans

I never understood the Cranberries hype and Zombie was played to death on German Radio Stations. Still I am sad to read this. I will be 50 this year. Sigh… Peace. Health. Seeds of Love SDE.

Julian H

I wouldn’t call myself a fan, but 46 is no age. RIP :(

François

All the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and now 90’s rock talents are going away year after year. This leaves us with Ed Sheran and Miley Cirus ? I hope not..

Ross

I am genuinely upset about this. I loved the Cranberries, such a good band. And Dolores had the most astonishing voice. Such a sad loss. She was younger than me, way too young to leave us :(

Cosmo Castanza

Linger is my favourite song of the 1990’s.
An incredible voice and presence , 46 is a desperately young age to lose such a talent.

RIP

Steve Cawrey

I first saw The Cranberries when they supported Mike Oldfield at the Royal Albert Hall in 1993. They were obviously just on the verge of being signed and had ‘THAT’ something extra that you see from support bands who clearly are going places.
I’m pretty sure her husband managed Duran for a while too – very sad being so young.

Chris Squires

That was the Cranberries? I was at that concert, well one of them anyway so I assume that the support act would have been the same, I had no idea as, to my shame, I paid them no attention. Well well….That’ll teach me.

Kenneth

Such a sad loss. Loved their debut album especially. RIP, Dolores.

RJS

Never been inclined to buy any of her records, but I did enjoy ‘Ode to My Family’ and ‘Zombie’ (which was huge in Germany) in the mid-nineties. Sad news for her family and friends.

Robert Laversuch

Huge fan great band lovely voice unique and instantly recogniseable much too young you will be missed after Ray Thomas the Year is indeed not starting out too well RIP

Brex Tangerine

May you rest in peace, Dolores. We will miss you.

Dan

Completely shocked by this, I absolutely love her voice and her back catalog. RIP Dolores.

JimmyRabbit

Met her last year and she was in awful shape.
Sad but not surprised at the news.
Lots of frustrations but no satisfying answers

Paul Nolan

Absolutely devastated. What a genuinely truly gifted artist she was… R.I.P Dolores x

Larry Davis

Was a fan of their first album but then the 2nd album and the faux-grunge “Zombie” just threw me and I stopped following the band, as they seemed to just go in a myriad of directions without logic or plan…still, sucks she passed on, as Dolores was NOT talentless…RIP, thoughts with her family, friends and band…

SimonP

Same here. Apparently she was just about to record a new version of Zombie with some heavy rock band who cover it in their live gigs.

Domingo

Sad

MARK LEVY

I had a crush on her. Now what?

Eamonn

Completely idiosyncratic and the type of musician in a band that just wouldn’t get a look-in in today’s commercial pop environment. Had her demons too, at least she’s at peace now.

memoryboy

She was the same age as me. I have all their albums. Even the recent one. I LOVED her voice. And the Bands music and arrangements. She was also a Virgo as I am, born the same year just a few weeks before me. I heartbroken. And when I say I loved their albums, I mean there was not one bad song on each of their albums. I have them all. And I was a fan from the beginning. Seeing the video for “Linger” on MTV. I’m so sad and shocked. RIP

Mike C.

Hurt
Gutted
Saddened
Shocked
Angry

FROM MARS

Blessed to see them play at Bristol’s Fleece and Firkin, shortly after the Uncertain EP. A very different prospect, in those days. Magical.

Thoughts with family and friends..

Dennis

This feels so very hard to post, having been a fan of the band since hearing ‘Linger’ for the first time approx. 25 years ago as a new entry on the modern rock charts and following them ever since. Reading the news this evening, I couldn’t believe what I saw on the tv screen. Such a talented person and so very Young. Her voice was not everyone’s taste for sure, but definetely unique and it made the band in a kind of love or dislike way. Many of the songs have meant so much over those years + will stay in my heart forever. It feels very strange to dream ones dreams now without Dolores singing.
R.I.P. and deepest condolences to her family.

Michael

What sad news for someone to die so young. My thoughts and prayers go out to Dolores O’Riordan’s family and friends. Her distinctive Irish voice cracked with pain, love and vehemence. Dolores and the Cranberries made a wonderful contribution to pop music. I wish more contemporary singers and songwriters had her unabashed passion. Now she sings with the angels. God bless Dolores.

Flemming Larsen

R. I. P.

Ejner

Well, THAT was a gutpunch…

Richard

Sorry to hear, was never a fan though, found her voice v grating. Saw the Cranberries supporting American Music Club at the Astoria in April 93 and watched sadly as AMCs career went down the pan while the Cranberries’ went into stratosphere! RIP anyway

Darren Howard

Is this really the time and place for you to say that?

Leemer

This is very sad. My deepest condolences to her family, friends and fans. May Dolores O’Riordan rest in peace.

joel

such a shame and so young…great singer and artist

Tony Orwell

it’s such a shame that for us to listen to the best it is sometimes the result of a tortured soul, I hope she can now lay those demons to rest. RIP

Meadowmeal

I first heard her lovely voice on “Soon is never soon enough”, on Moose’s XYZ album, which made me curious about her band. I really liked their debut, but then I didn’t like Zombie at all and I lost sight of them. This is a very sad reason to explore the rest of their work.

Todd

Same here with the Moose track. I listened to it today after hearing the news; forgot how good it is.

Meadowmeal

I didn’t realize that Everybody Else Is Doing It hadn’t even been yet released in 1992 and that she was so young back then.
The lyrics are a bit disturbing in the light of her untimely death.
https://youtu.be/hURGve-rtp0

Nancy

Terrible news!

May she rest in peace…

Griffin

OMG, I’m in shock. RIP. I’ll always remember her voice ;(

Elliot

Woah, I was just listening to Linger this morning before work.

Sad news, she had a lovely voice. :(

Chris Squires

Like you I had only just watched “Click” on Sky this morning where the Cranberries had a cameo. So very sad, 46 is no age, I’m sure many of us here are well past it ( in more than one sense) too young to go.

stauros

I’m overwhelmed rip dolores

paolo

Don’t have any word, just shocked.

George Glazener

Awww, that’s horrible. I was just listening to “Linger” on Pandora yesterday, and thinking about buying their CDs. 2018 is not starting out very well.