THE SURVIVING members of The Cranberries have admitted they are still reeling from the tragic death of leader singer Dolores O’Riordan.
The 46-year-old singer was found dead in the room of a London hotel in January 2018.
An inquest subsequently found she had died by accidental drowning due to alcohol intoxication.
O’Riordan’s sudden passing sent shockwaves through the world of music and, three years on, her former bandmates continue to struggle with the idea of her no longer being around.
Brothers Noel and Mike Hogan along with drummer Fergal Lawlor decided to split after completing their last album, In The End, which featured vocals recorded by Dolores prior to her death.
Speaking in an interview with Forbes to mark the release of 25th anniversary edition of their second album, No Need To Argue, the former bandmates said they are still struggling with the loss.
Noel said: “It’s a bit surreal because we were basically the same age. 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.”
Though he said they were getting used to her absence “bit by bit”, there was still “a lot of reminders”.
Noel’s sentiments were echoes by Lawlor, who described Dolores as “almost like a sister”.
Fergal told Forbes: “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.”
Featuring previously unreleased material with O’Riordan on lead vocals, the 25th anniversary version of No Need To Argue is out now.
