Cranberries ‘haunted’ by Dolores’ voice
TRAGIC Dolores O’Riordan’s vocals proved too much for The Cranberries when they started to record their final album.
The haunting nature of Dolores’ voice from beyond the grave had a profound effect on the band, who had to take a break from production before completing the album.
The 46-year-old singer was found dead in a London hotel room in January 2018. An inquest determined that she had drowned in the bath while intoxicated with alcohol.
Her legacy of unfinished vocals and solo projects was discovered by her then partner Ole Koretsky on her hard drive and brought to the band in Limerick. Guitarist and songwriter Noel Hogan revealed the paralysing moment he heard Dolores singing after her passing.
He said: ‘Every morning when you would walk into the studio and you would put on your headphones and there she was again, singing straight at you. At the beginning it was too much and it took time.
‘We all walked away from it for a couple of months. Honestly, we are only listening to it again because we are doing promo.’ For Noel, The Cranberries as a group are effectively over now that this album has been released to the public.
It is hoped that the recordings will ensure Dolores is remembered for her music, not her personal life.
Noel said: ‘Dolores would want to be remembered for the great music, more so than all the scandals and the headlines. The music is the thing that will be her legacy, even long after we are gone.’