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Updated at 12.14pm
POLICE IN THE UK have confirmed that they are not treating the death of The Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan as suspicious.
A spokesperson for London Met Police confirmed today that officers were called to hotel in Park Lane, London yesterday morning at 9.05am.
A 46-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene and her next of kin were informed.
The spokesperson confirmed that the death was not being treated as suspicious and and that a report was being compiled for the coroner.
The London Hilton on Park Lane confirmed “with deep regret” that an unnamed guest had “sadly passed away” at its hotel.
“Team members acted swiftly to alert the Metropolitan Police and we are co-operating fully with their investigation,” a spokeswoman said.
In a statement, Father James Walton, the parish priest of Ballybricken in Limerick, said that the funeral mass arrangements for the singer had not been finalised as of yet.
A book of condolences has been opened at Limerick city and county council’s headquarters and was available the council website from 10am today.
Yesterday, O’Riordan’s PR agency, said the singer had died suddenly in London where she was staying while recording a short studio session.
The band who she was due to record with, Bad Wolves, released a statement on their Facebook page saying that they were “shocked and saddened” by the news of her death, just hours before she was to record vocals on its version of Zombie.
“We have always had deep respect for her as an artist and a vocalist and she was never afraid to bare her soul in her music and lyrics.”
Zombie is an incredibly personal song… We always felt the rawness and honesty she projected on stage and in her recordings was something to which all bands should aspire to, regardless of genre.
Tributes
Tributes have been paid to O’Riordan following her sudden death.
At the National Concert Hall last night, musicians and celebrities assembled for a tribute gala for the former Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, who was given a lifetime achievement award by President Michael D Higgins.
But O’Riordan wasn’t far from the performers’ thoughts: Bono performed a few notes from the Cranberries’ hit ‘Linger’, while Welsh singer Cerys Matthews dedicated a song to her, prompting an ovation for Dolores O’Riordan.
The Times of London and Independent UK’s digital edition carry the same striking photo of O’Riordan on their front pages this morning and carried one of many of the international tributes to the famous Limerick artist.
Neil Henderson / TwitterTHE TIMES: Taxpayers face huge bill for collapse of Carillion #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/LiZ0ToCn3w
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 15, 2018
Neil Henderson / TwitterINDEPENDENT DIGITAL: Carillion faces inquiry into bosses’ £4m bonuses #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/GDLFtdFB5Z
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 15, 2018
The Guardian‘s photo of O’Riordan takes up half of its newly re-designed front page:
Neil Henderson / TwitterGUARDIAN: Scramble to save jobs as Carillion crisis deepens #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/m74PIavyO1
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 15, 2018
The Daily Mail also covered the story on their front page.
Neil Henderson / TwitterDAILY MAIL: Supermarket bans plastic #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/iutd9tU7fG
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 15, 2018
O’Riordan became the lead singer in The Cranberries before the Limerick band would go on to gain huge success in the early to mid 90s.
The band went on to have four US Top 20 albums, with single Linger landing at number 8 in the US. Zombie, which rose to number three in the Irish charts, remains among the band’s best-known songs.
Her bandmates paid tribute to their lead singer in a tweet last night, saying that she was “an extraordinary talent”.
“The world has lost a true artist today,” they wrote.
The Cranberries / TwitterWe are devastated on the passing of our friend Dolores. She was an extraordinary talent and we feel very privileged to have been part of her life from 1989 when we started the Cranberries. The world has lost a true artist today.
— The Cranberries (@The_Cranberries) January 15, 2018
Noel, Mike and Fergal
English rock group Duran Duran wrote that they were “crushed” to hear of the iconic singer’s sudden death, and said their thoughts were with her family.
Margaret Cho / TwitterREST IN POWER #doloresoriordan - a voice like no other, a beauty like no other, a fierce resister that inspires all of us. 👑 pic.twitter.com/RExVMBnTbg
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) January 15, 2018
British comedian and US presenter James Corden said on Twitter said the singer had “the most amazing voice and presence”.
I once met Dolores 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.
The New York Times wrote the following about the iconic singer:
In the band, her voice – high and breathy, but far more determined than fragile – rode atop a rich wash of electric guitars.
Her unmistakable Irish accent and the Celtic inflections of her melodies gave her singing a plaintive individuality and a flinty core.
The New York Times / TwitterThe Cranberries became widely known for Dolores O’Riordan's style, which combined a Celtic influence with vocals that could be sweet or biting, depending on the song’s mood https://t.co/BQsJImxPRA
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 16, 2018
The LA Times wrote:
The [Cranberries'] songs – on which O’Riordan was chief lyricist and co-songwriter – had a Celtic-infused tunefulness. And in O’Riordan they had a charismatic lead singer with a distinctively powerful voice.
Irish tributes
Irish singer Hozier said that hearing Dolores O’Riordan’s voice for the first time “threw into question what a voice could sound like in that context of rock”.
Hozier / TwitterMy 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
President Michael D Higgins said that “Dolores O’Riordan and The Cranberries had an immense influence on rock and pop music in Ireland and internationally”.
Speaking in the Dáil, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described her as “the voice of a generation” for anyone who grew up in the 90s.
“No matter where you were in the world in recent times, it wouldn’t take long before you heard a Cranberries song on the radio, even in the most far-flung places.
“She blazed a trail across the world with her unique voice and talented songwriting.”
- With reporting from AFP and Cormac Fitzgerald
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God rest her an icon God bless her family
@Roger Poles: RIP
More saddened than I would have imagined about this. Was definitely something very authentic about her. Was always less bullshit than comes with Bono, Geldof et all. Was more about the music. RIP.
@Roibeard O Beachain: what’s it like being perfect?
@Roibeard O Beachain: So it was fake? That’s your claim no, that it wasn’t authentic?
@Joey Navinski: I wouldn’t know. Mind you I have never assaulted a Guard!
@Toon Army: Great that someone got that dig in at Bono. No point in letting a good opportunity like the death of someone else go without getting that in. Fair play.
He and others will be full of praise of bono some unfortunate day
@Roibeard O Beachain: she just lost her life, and you think it’s more important to point out a minor incident she did wrong while she was alive.. What a jackass!
@Roibeard O Beachain: you are a bad representative for the gay community. I thought you guys weren’t so judging.
What a great voice. Rip Dolores
RIP Dolores.
RIP.
The powerful song ‘Zombie’ captured the horrors of the troubles at a time peace in the north was beginning to get off the ground.
Shameful to see her being attacked by the crass repealers on twitter for supposedly being against abortion.
@Shane P. Slayer: why even mention some idiots on twitter? Does it suit your agenda perhaps?
@Shane P. Slayer: Crass attempt to throw fuel on a completely different issue .
Give it a rest .
@Shane P. Slayer: Can’t understand the mentality of someone like yourself that will use the death of someone else to further your own narrow agenda. Shameful behaviour.
@Shane P. Slayer: Shameful to see you Shane exploiting her tragic death for your own agenda.Why did you feel the need to even mention that?
The lights went out in Limerick.
I can rem when a certain national radio stations prominent D.J.s ridiculing the cranberries just because they hailed from our city/county.Limerick.We have our good and our bad just like everywhere else.But Delores was one of our greatest.R.I.P.
@Dave Walsh: The radio stations can’t get enough of The Cranberries since yesterday. Pity I haven’t heard any of their songs on the radio in years.
Ya like the once great RTE 2FM played the cranberries for the first time in a long time yesterday and today. Would the cranberries get this airplay from 2FM and other Irish stations if they released a new record or if they planned a few gigs here? No way. Ed sheeran and Co. rule now.
@Mark Johnson: I think the song were played as a tribute. I have listened to there music in years but went on YouTube last night and gave a few songs a listen
I hate those politically-correct tributes from politicians, they often do a disservice to the subject.
Dolores O’Riordan passed away too soon. May she rest in peace.
I met her at a charity do once.
God needed a great musician…rip…our thoughts are with her children..
It’s just a terrible tragedy & so sad & young. Thoughts are with her family & close friends RIP girl…
F@#k the daily mail …. popstar dies in Park… who do they think they are…. no one today can compare today with just how unique her voice was
@Thomas Byrne: it says in “Park Lane hotel “…
We all know how much commercial success she & the Cranberries had. We all know how popular she was and how many albums and single recordings the band sold. What we don’t know, and what the journalists do not seem to be investigating or commenting on, is what precisely killed her prematurely at the age of only 46, when she was not suffering from any life-threatening physical disease. How did she die and why did she die so youg? Those are the questions our journalists and commentators should be concentrating on …
Very tragic!! To die at such a young age. Condolences to her parents and children. She was a great talent. R.I.P.
Truly amazing & unique woman God has 1 extra angle in heaven today. My thoughts & prayers for her family and friends.
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