THE SURVIVING members of The Cranberries have paid tribute to Dolores O’Riordan on the third anniversary of the iconic singer’s death.
O’Riordan was found dead in the room of a London hotel in January 2018.
An inquest later found the 46-year-old died by accidental drowning due to alcohol intoxication.
One of the most distinctive vocalists to ever emerge out of Ireland, O’Riordan’s sudden passing sent shockwaves through the world of music.
She was the voice behind iconic tracks like Linger, Dreams and Zombie and a key component in The Cranberries’ incredible success across much of the world.
Her loss was so keenly felt by bandmates Fergal Lawlor and brothers Noel and Mike Hogan that they decided to disband the group after completing work on their final album, In The End, which featured vocals recorded by Dolores prior to her death.
However, they continue to celebrate O’Riordan’s legacy with fans and marked the anniversary of her sad passing with a poignant tribute on social media.
“It’s hard to believe that three years have gone by since Dolores passed on,” a shared from the band statement reads.
“She is always in our thoughts and our hearts. So many years of fond memories.
"Wherever you are D, we hope you’re bringing joy with your unique voice.
"Ferg, Mike and Noel.”
It’s hard to believe that three years have gone by since Dolores passed on.
She is always in our thoughts and our hearts.
So many years of fond memories.
Wherever you are D, we hope you’re bringing joy with your unique voice.
Ferg, Mike and Noel pic.twitter.com/pXbKHRCFV5— The Cranberries (@The_Cranberries) January 15, 2021
The band’s touching message was posted alongside a black and white picture of O’Riordan in happier times.
Noel and Fergal opened up about the fact they are still struggling to come to terms with the loss during an interview with Forbes last year to promote the release of the 25th anniversary edition of their second album, No Need To Argue.
“It’s a bit surreal because we were basically the same age,” Noel said.
“If we were 80 or 90 and you got a call they passed away, you’d go, ‘Yeah, that’s terrible’
“But when you’re talking to someone one morning and then the following morning you get the call, and you’re only in your 40s, it’s such a shock to take.”
Fergal added: “She was such a big part of our lives. She was almost like a sister, spent so long working together and touring together — we were like a family.
"There is not a day goes by that she doesn’t pop into my head. Some days I still can’t believe she’s gone because she was so young. I don’t think you ever really get used to it. I can’t put it into words. It’s a massive, emotional experience.”
