Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer of Irish rock group The Cranberries, has died at the age of 46. The news was confirmed by her publicist earlier today (15 January). No cause of death is currently known.

Her publicist confirmed the news in a statement which read: "The lead singer with the Irish band The Cranberries was in London for a short recording session. No further details are available at this time.

"Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."

The Cranberries were one of the most successful bands of the 1990s, selling over 40 million albums worldwide.

Their debut release, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, was a UK #1 album and spawned hits like Linger and Dreams.

The more politically minded follow-up, No Need to Argue, was an even bigger seller, shifting over 17 million copies. It also contained arguably the band's most famous track, Zombie, a grunge-esque telling of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan was born and raised in the Ballybricken area of County Limerick, the youngest of seven children.

She auditioned for the role of singer in the band, then known as The Cranberry Saw Us, in 1990. The group catapulted to international fame and produced five studio albums and a Best Of compilation before going on hiatus in 2003.

O'Riordan pursued a solo career in the 2000s before reuniting with the Cranberries towards the end of the decade for several live dates.

In 2017 the band announced tour dates across Europe, the UK, and the US. But it was pulled after a few European dates as a result of O'Riordan's health issues.

She was an iconic female front woman, and globally recognised for her distinctive voice and an array of eye-catching hairstyles that ranged from short crops to full length waves in every imaginable colour.

In 2014 she was arrested and charged in connection with an assault on an air hostess on an Aer Lingus flight from New York to Shannon.

Dolores O'Riordan
Dolores O'Riordan, singer The Cranberries,gives an interview in 2002 Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
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