Irish rocker Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer of The Cranberries, found dead at 46, in London hotel
Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer of Irish rock band The Cranberries, died Monday in London, UK at age 46
"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," the band said in a statement on Facebook.
The statement from the band and an earlier one from her publicist did not clarify the cause of the singer's untimely death.
'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,' the statement read.
'Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.'
O’Riordan rose to fame as the gentle voice behind The Cranberries’ biggest hits, including “Zombie” and “Linger,” the latter of which, a lilting love song, served as the band’s breakthrough hit in 1993. The tune, with its distinctive string section, peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
O'Riordan's death was 'sudden' and that her family are 'devastated' said her publicist. Cause of death was not specified
It also featured prominently in the 2006 Adam Sandler movie “Click,” prompting a brief cameo by O’Riordan to sing the song in a wedding scene.
The Limerick, Ireland native got her start in 1990 after a successful an audition to join brothers Noel and Mike Hogan in their band the Cranberry Saw Us.
Not long after, the band, with O’Riordan as an important piece, achieved international recognition on the back of their hit album “Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?”
Dolores O’Riordan died Monday at 46
Several hits and five albums later, the pressures that come with being dubbed “Ireland’s biggest musical export since U2” by Rolling Stone, took it's toll. The Cranberries went on a break in 2003.
The band regrouped in 2009, and were slated for a European ans American tour this past summer. That tour however, was cancelled as O'Riordan recovered from an "ongoing back problem," according to The Cranberries' website.
"Unfortunately Dolores O'Riordan's recovery from her ongoing back problem which forced the cancellation of most of the band's European tour this Summer has not been going as well as expected to such extent that her Doctors have now instructed her to cancel her upcoming almost sold out tour of North America with the band," the statement read.
The band’s final album with O’Riordan. an acoustic compilation record called “Something Else,” was released in April.
The 46-year-old singer divorced from her husband of 20 years, Don Burton, in 2014.
Burton, the former Duran Duran tour manager and O'Riordan shared three children, Taylor Baxter, Molly Leigh and Dakota Rain.
![Dolores O'Riordan [center], with her Cranberries bandmates in 1999.png](https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Dolores-ORiordan-center-with-her-Cranberries-bandmates-in-1999.png)
Dolores O'Riordan [center], with her cranberries bandmates in 1999 photo
The singer seen here on “Saturday Night Live,” was the lead singer of the popular Irish rock band The Cranberries
The singer said in May that she was more than happy to swap her time in the spotlight for time at home.
Dolores O'Riordan with daughter Molly in 2008. She also shares on Taylor and daughter, Dakota with her ex-husband Burton, as well as step-son Donnie
O’Riordan, seen here on stage, rose to fame in the 1990s with the indie band, after the biggest hit, Zombie. Lately she has been singing with the band D.A.R.K.
As news of her sudden death stirred a torrent of tributes in for O'Riordan.
"Take Me to Church" singer Hozier, who also hails from Ireland, praised O'Riordan's memorable voice in a touching Twitter post.
"My first time hearing Dolores O'Riordan's voice was unforgettable. It 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. Shocked and saddened to hear of her passing, thoughts are with her family," he wrote.
Irish President Michael D. Higgins issued a statement, praising The Cranberries' "immense influence on rock and pop music."
"It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of Dolores O'Riordan, musician, singer and song writer," he wrote. "I recall with fondness the late Limerick TD Jim Kemmy's introduction of her and The Cranberries to me, and the pride he and so many others took in their successes. To all those who follow and support Irish music, Irish musicians and the performing arts her death will be a big loss."
Irish pride: O'Riordan from Limerick, Ireland, last posted a picture of herself with her cat on Twitter on January 4 with the caption: 'Bye bye Gio. We're off to Ireland.'
Other tributes have come from the like of singer Liz Phair who expressed her condolences with
"Devastated for fans and her family — Dolores O'Riordan had such an exquisite voice, so distinctive and defining of an era. She would have continued to be a rare musical treasure late into a long life," Phair wrote.
Comedian James Corden meanwhile, recalled meeting the singer as a teenager.
"I once met Dolores O'Riordan when I was 15. She was kind and lovely, I got her autograph on my train ticket and it made my day. She had the most amazing voice and presence. So sorry to hear that she's passed away today x," he wrote on Twitter.
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