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Tributes are flowing for Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer of 90s pop-rock band the Cranberries, who died suddenly overnight at the age of 46.
A publicist for the music icon confirmed O’Riordan passed away in London, where she was on a short recording visit, and said her family was “devastated” by the news.
No cause of death was given.
In recent years she has discussed her struggle with bipolar disorder, as well as painful back problems that prevented her from performing for several months.
The band released a statement on their Facebook page, saying:
“We are devastated on the passing of our friend Dolores.
“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.”
O’Riordan, who rose to fame with her distinctive voice and sometimes melancholy sound and lyrics, leaves behind three children aged 20, 16 and 12.
The Cranberries were one of the most successful bands of the 1990s and have sold over 40 million records worldwide. The Cranberries had two No.1 albums in Australia, 1994’s No Need to Argue and 1996’s To The Faithful Departed.
They were perhaps best known for the 1994 global smash Zombie, which topped the ARIA charts for eight weeks as well as the Triple J Hottest 100 for that year.
The song was also sampled on rapper Eminem’s recent chart-topping album��Revival.
The band recorded an acoustic album last year, Something Else, and planned to tour it through Europe and North America this year.
In tributes on social media, she’s been described as having “the most amazing voice and presence” by James Corden and “an incredible talent and a lovely soul” by Ronan Keating.
Writer Ashley C. Ford may have summed up best the feelings of 90s kids that listened to Zombie, Salvation and Linger on repeat.
“The Cranberries taught me that I could tap into the melancholy I naturally drifted toward, and create something beautiful with it. Dolores O’Riordan’s voice called me into that understanding of myself. I am so grateful for her life, her work, and her voice.”
RIP.
