SINGER DOLORES O'RIORDAN OF THE CRANBERRIES DIES SUDDENLY AT 46

It has been confirmed by her publicist that The Cranberries lead singer, Dolores O'Riordan, has died suddenly at the age of 46.

A statement from her publicist said: "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," adding, "Family members are devastated to hear the news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said they were called to a hotel in Park Lane at 09:05 GMT on Monday, where "a woman in her mid-40s" was pronounced dead at the scene.

There is no cause of death at this stage.

The Irish musician fronted the band that shot to international success with their 1993 debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, with singles including Linger and Zombie, that would go on to sell over 40 million records worldwide.

After responding to an advert by looking for rock band The Cranberry Saw Us, she joined the band while still a teenager. The band changed their name to The Cranberries where they went on to record Linger (1993), Zombie (1994) – which was a protest song about Northern Ireland bombings – plus No Need To Argue (1994) and To the Faithful Departed (1996).

The band split in 2003 where O'Riordan pursued a brief solo career until The Cranberries reunited in 2009.

In 2017 The Cranberries announced a world tour, but then in May, due to her health issues just after the European leg of the tour started, they were forced to cancel the remainder of the European dates. Their website cited "medical reasons associated with a back problem" preventing singer Dolores O'Riordan's from performing.

Just before Christmas, O'Riordan posted on Facebook: "feeling good... after doing [her]... first bit of gigging in months".

O'Riordan has had her fair bit of controversy over the years.
In 2014, after having three children together, she divorced her husband of 20 years, Don Burton – the former tour manager of Duran Duran.

O'Riordan was also arrested in 2014 over an alleged air rage incident after a stewardess reported being attacked on a flight from New York to Shannon, County Clare – she was released without charge after being questioned by police at a Limerick hospital.

Then, in 2016, O'Riordan was ordered to pay 6,000 euros (£5,300) to charity for headbutting a police officer after an alleged air rage incident.

Condolences from far and wide have already poured in.
Irish president Michael D Higgins called her death "a big loss", adding that her work with The Cranberries "had an immense influence on rock and pop music in Ireland and internationally".

Singer and guitarist from The Kinks, Dave Davies, said on Twitter, "I was talking to her a couple weeks before Christmas she seemed happy and well – we even spoke about maybe writing some songs together – unbelievable god bless her".

Irish rock band Kodaline posted, "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".

A post on Duran Duran's official Twitter feed said, "We are crushed to hear the news about the passing of Dolores O’Riordan. Our thoughts go out to her family at this terrible time".

Others paying tribute include The Late, Late Show presenter, James Corden, who said, "I once met Delores 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", and Jim Corr from Irish band The Corrs tweeted "My deepest sympathies to the family of Dolores O’Riordan who tragically passed away today. RIP".

O'Riordan was the youngest of seven children and had written her own songs since she was 12. A book of condolence will be opened in her home-town of Limerick on Tuesday, at the city council's headquarters.

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