Cranberries Lead Singer, Dolores O’Riordan Passed Away

By JUICE Malaysia  •  16 Jan 2018 in Breaking News

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Dolores O’Riordan, frontwoman and lead singer of the iconic alternative rock band Cranberries, has passed away in London at age 46. Her death was announced by her publicist, who did not mention the cause. According to The Guardian, O’Riordan, who cancelled a tour with a reunited Cranberries in 2017 due to a back problem, had been in London for a recording session.

Publicist Lindsey Holmes said in an emailed statement that “Irish and international singer Dolores O’Riordan has died suddenly in London today” and that family members are “devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

The Guardian also reported that a Metropolitan police statement confirmed the news, and that O’Riordan’s body was found at a Park Lane hotel. “At this early stage the death is being treated as unexplained,” the statement read.

No further details were given.

O’Riordan joined the band circa 1989 by responding to an advertisement by the band members who were looking for a new singer after their former singer left. She auditioned by writing lyrics and melodies to some existing demos, creating the soon-to-be chart-topping ‘Linger’ in the process.

With hits like ‘Dreams’, ‘Free To Decide’, ‘Salvation’, ‘Just My Imagination’, ‘Zombie’ (which is karaoke staple here in Malaysia) and a heck of a lot more (just try Googling ‘cranberries hits’), not to mention possessing one of rock’s most distinct vocals, O’Riordan and her bandmates went on to commercial success for most of the ’90s, and delivered 7 studio albums in their career, the last of which Something Else was released less than a year ago.

The last time the Cranberries performed in Malaysia was 4 April 2012, at Stadium Negara.

Here’s a lesser known Cranberries song that’s one of our favourites, a cover of The Carpenters’ ‘Close To You’.

RIP.