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Dolores O'Riordan
Biography
Born the youngest of seven on September 6, 1971, outside Limerick, Ireland, Dolores O'Riordan grew up finding solace in music, singing from an early age as well as playing classical piano and harmonium in church. In 1990 she tried out for lead singer in the Limerick-based Cranberry Saw Us and received the part, impressing her future bandmates with her style. The group changed its name to the Cranberries and began releasing demos, and was soon being courted by major labels. Due to management problems, however, their debut, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We, didn't come out until 1993. That was followed the next year by No Need to Argue, the album that, propelled by the strength of its first single, "Zombie," brought the group fame in both Europe and North America, and threw O'Riordan almost instantly into the public eye. To the Faithful Departed was issued in 1996, and three years later Bury the Hatchet hit shelves. Though by this time the Cranberries were nowhere near as popular as they had been during the mid-'90s, they released Wake Up and Smell the Coffee in 2001 and the greatest-hits compilation Stars: The Best of 1992-2002, celebrating their decade in the industry, in 2002. Shortly after, however, the bandmembers announced that they would be splitting up, giving O'Riordan time not only to focus on her family and health (she had battled anorexia and anxiety throughout her time in the spotlight) but also on her solo career. She contributed a song, "Pure Love," to Italian superstar Zucchero's album of duets, Zucchero & Co., and in May 2007 her solo full-length debut, Are You Listening, was released worldwide. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide
Selected Discography