Dolores O'Riordan, voice of The Cranberries, dies at 46

Team Café

Dolores O'Riordan, whose urgent, powerful voice helped make Irish rock band The Cranberries a global success in the 1990s, died suddenly on Monday at a London hotel. She was 46.

She had been in the city to record a cover of ‘Zombie’, one of her group’s biggest hits, with hard rockers Bad Wolves. Scotland Yard Police issued a statement that her death is not being treated as suspicious.

Her Cranberries bandmates — Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan and Fergus Lawler — tweeted that O'Riordan "was an extraordinary talent and we feel very privileged to have been part of her life."

Ireland's President Michael D Higgins said O'Riordan and The Cranberries "had an immense influence on rock and pop music in Ireland and internationally." Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar tweeted that "for anyone who grew up in Ireland in the 1990s, Dolores O'Riordan was the voice of a generation. As the female lead singer of a hugely successful rock band, she blazed a trail and might just have been Limerick's greatest ever rock star. RIP."

O'Riordan was born on September 6, 1971 in Ballybricken, southwest Ireland. In 1990, she answered an ad from a local band in nearby Limerick city — then called The Cranberry Saw Us — that was looking for a lead singer. A name change and a confluence of factors turned The Cranberries into international stars.

The Cranberries' 1993 debut album, ‘Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?’, sold millions of copies and produced the hit single ‘Linger’. The follow-up, ‘No Need to Argue’, sold in even greater numbers and contained ‘Zombie’. The band released three more studio albums before splitting up in 2003. O'Riordan released a solo album, ‘Are You Listening’, in 2007, and another, No Baggage’, in 2009. The Cranberries also reunited that year, resulting in the album Roses’ in 2012. The Cranberries released the acoustic album ‘Something Else’ in 2017 and had been due to tour Europe and North America. The tour was cut short because O'Riordan was suffering from back problems.

In India, the singer enjoyed a great fan following. Café speaks to her fans from Goa who pay tribute to the legendary artiste:

The Cranberries can easily owe their distinct music to the voice of Dolores O'Riordan. ‘Zombie’ was the first song I heard and almost instantly became a fan because of the grunge rock feel and uniqueness of her voice. It has ever since been on my playlist, and that's the last 10 years. It was only after that that I explored The Cranberries to find variety in the form of ‘Dreams’, ‘When You're Gone’ and ‘Linger’ and got introduced to Irish rock while it wasn't still popular.

Nascimento Pereira

 Dolores's voice was the most unique voice I've heard. Her music is iconic to our generation with ‘Zombie’ being one of the most sung songs at any karaoke event. I have grown up listening to Dolores and just knowing that she's not around anymore is so disheartening. ‘Linger’, ‘Ode to my family’ and ‘The Journey’ are three of her songs I cannot get over. Additionally, her rendition of ‘Ave Maria’ with Pavarotti was simply stunning. The industry has lost one of its brightest shining stars.

Sullivan Noronha

I remember I was barely 14 when a friend introduced me to The Cranberries. Dolores seemed so effortlessly cool. Her voice touched my soul. Growing up, the song 'Ode to my family' resonated with me so much that even today it chokes me up. The Cranberries was a very potent part of my youth. I am shocked and saddened to hear of her passing, thoughts are with her family. Rest in Peace Dolores O'Riordan. Your amazing voice will always be remembered.

Rohit Pagi

I'll never forget the first time I heard Dolores's voice, the timbre was unlike anything I've ever heard till date. Her words spoke to you in the most uncomplicated manner and resonated with you. Obscure, simple, distinct and piercing, right down to your soul. ‘Ode to my family’ has to be my favourite. Her music will live on!