Cranberries Singer Dolores O’Riordan Dies At Age 46

Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer of The Cranberries, died in London on Monday aged 46, her publicist announced.

Dolores O’Riordan Death News

The Irish musician, a Limerick native, propelled the rock band to stardom in the 1990s with hits like “Linger,” “Zombie” and “Salvation.”

The cause of death was not immediately revealed.

“The lead singer with the Irish band The Cranberries was in London for a short recording session,” O’Riordan’s publicist said in a statement. “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.”

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

Among the first to pay homage to O’Riordan on social media were members of another Irish rock band, Kodaline. Hozier, who is also Irish, chimed in as well.

Absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of Dolores O’Riordan! @The_Cranberries gave us our first big support when we toured with them around France years ago! Thoughts are with her family and friends

— Kodaline (@Kodaline) January 15, 2018

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.

— Hozier (@Hozier) January 15, 2018

The singer had posted a photo on Twitter of herself and a cat just last week:

bye bye Gio. We’re off to Ireland 🍀 pic.twitter.com/d6HKOFJqGB

— Dolores O’Riordan (@DolORiordan) January 4, 2018

O’Riordan is survived by her three children, 20-year-old son Taylor, 16-year-old daughter Molly and 12-year-old daughter Dakota.

“The best time in my life was the years spent at home with my family,” she told the Irish News in Mary 2017. “I love being a mum. My kids don’t see me as a famous person, or have any kind of expectation; I’m just their mum.”

The singer was married to Canadian Don Burton from 1994 to 2014.

In 2014, O’Riordan was accused of assaulting three police officers and a flight attendant during a flight from New York to Ireland. She pleaded guilty and was fined 6,000 euros ($6,600).

The other three members of The Cranberries are brothers Mike and Noel Hogan and Fergal Lawler.

The band split in 2003 and several members pursued solo careers. However, they reunited in 2009 and then released an acoustic album through BMG titled Something Else in April 2017. The group announced a tour in Europe and North America following the album’s release.

They went on to sell over 40 million records around the world. O’Riordan later released the solo records Are You Listening? in 2007 and No Baggage in 2009.

Their music has been compared to that of Sinéad O’Connor, among others.