The Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan dies aged 46

The band achieved international success in the 1990s with their debut album, 'Everyone Else is Doing it, So Why Can't We?', which included hit single 'Linger'.

Lead singer of Irish band The Cranberries, Dolores O'Riordan

In this file image, Lead singer of Irish band The Cranberries, Dolores O'Riordan performs on stage at Campo Pequeno in Lisbon, Portugal, 10 March, 2010. Source: EPA/JOSE SENA GOULAO

Irish singer-songwriter Dolores O'Riordan, frontwoman of the multi-million selling rock band The Cranberries, died suddenly in London on Monday aged 46, her publicist said.

"Irish and international singer Dolores O'Riordan has died suddenly in London today, family members are devastated," Lindsey Holmes said in a statement.

"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.

"Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."
The Daily Mail reports O'Riordan died in a hotel in London, where she had been recording with the band, D.A.R.K, which she formed with former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke in 2009.

The band achieved international success in the 1990s with their debut album Everyone Else is Doing it, So Why Can't We?, which included hit single Linger.

Follow-up album No Need to Argue went to number one in Australia, France and Germany, and number six in the United States.

The album also gave rise to single Zombie, which hit number one across Europe. The band sold about 40 million records worldwide.

O'Riordan's last social media posting came shortly before Christmas on the band's Facebook page.

"Hi All, Dolores here. Feeling good! I did my first bit of gigging in months at the weekend, performed a few songs at the Billboard annual staff holiday party in New York with the house band," it read.

"Really enjoyed it! Happy Christmas to all our fans!! Xo".

The band, formed in 1989, went on a break in 2003 but reformed in 2009, releasing their final album, Something Else, last year.

They had to cancel several concerts and said at the time this was because O'Riordan had a back problem.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AFP, SBS, Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world