Ireland’s Minister for Arts “Delighted” at SummerFest Lineup

April 15, 2003  |  Comments Off on Ireland’s Minister for Arts “Delighted” at SummerFest Lineup  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Ireland’s Minister of Arts, Sport, and Tourism, John O’Donoghue, went on record weeks ago to say that he was “delighted” at the trio of The Cranberries, Counting Crows, and David Gray, all who will be performing at this year’s SummerFest in Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland. The Cranberries perform with The Counting Crows on June 27th.

“I am therefore delighted to see that such an exciting programme has been planned for this year,” he said at a press conference three weeks ago at Muckross House in Killarney, where the three headlining acts were announced.

“I am confident that many people will decide to holiday in Killarney for the duration of the festival.”

Organizers report that “another major name on the worldwide entertainment stage” may also be added to the list of confirmed acts, as negotions are currently underway to add another rock singer to the festival’s itinerary.

Last year, nearly 100,000 people attended the weeklong festival, raising nearly €7 million in revenue for the town. This year’s festival will cost an estimated €350,000 ($375,000 US), and will be funded by the Bord Fáilte Festivals and Cultural Events Initiative.

Source: The Kingdom

Noel a No-Show at London Marathon

April 15, 2003  |  Comments Off on Noel a No-Show at London Marathon  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Late last year, guitarist Noel Hogan told the Irish newspaper The Sunday Independent that he had planned to run in this year’s Flora London Marathon. He told the paper that he runs 15 miles every second day to stay fit.

However, a search of the official race results from the marathon, which took place this past Saturday, shows that Noel was not among the 36,000 runners that finished in this year’s event. (There is a match for “Mike Hogan,” although it is not the Cranberries’ bassist.)

The Cranberries are currently rehearsing new material at home, which may have prevented Noel from entering the marathon, though no official word has been given.

Source: Flora London Marathon

Cranberries Recording at Olympic Studios in London

April 7, 2003  |  Comments Off on Cranberries Recording at Olympic Studios in London  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Official Cranberries Website noted weeks ago that the band has been recording new material in London with longtime producer Stephen Street. Zombieguide has now learned that the site of these recordings is the lavish Olympic Studios in the Barnes district of London.

The tidbit comes out of a short press release by Aiken Promotions, who are promoting the band’s upcoming May 29th gig in Belfast. This marks the first time that The Cranberries have recorded at Olympic Studios.

The Olympic Studios website has also been recently updated, listing The Cranberries as one of the studio’s recent clients. The listing also shows that The Cranberries have been using Studio 2. According to the site, the Studio 2 room is “the perfect studio for a band… The acoustic of the room can be altered to suit the session by means of variable wall panels. Isolation booths also add flexibility and further options to session layouts. A Classic Bosendorfer Grand Piano is available for use in the studio.” The lavish studios are additonally outfitted with a separate lounge, restaurant, garden, tennis court, and soccer field. Photos of the studio are available on theOlympic Studios website.

When approached, an Olympic Studios representative declined to comment, telling Zombieguide, “We do not give out information on any clients that use our facilities apart from which room they worked in.”

But this isn’t the first time The Cranberries have had a relationship with the studio. “Bury the Hatchet” was mixed at Olympic Studios (and also at Sarm West) in late 1998 by Mike Plotnikoff.

In related news, the short press release by Aiken Promotions quotes Noel Hogan on the upcoming Belfast gig as saying, “After many years away, the band is looking forward to returning to a place we all love. We have had some great shows in Belfast in the past.”

Source: Aiken Promotions

Zombieguide Just Got a Whole Lot Bigger

April 6, 2003  |  Comments Off on Zombieguide Just Got a Whole Lot Bigger  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Something incredible happened today. Ever since our original hosting serverwent offline in mid-March, we’ve been looking around for options as to how we could get Zombieguide as close to “normal” as possible. One of the people that approached us with an idea was Diego, who you may know as the webmaster of ChocolateBrown.com.

In case you’ve wondered how Diego has managed to host gigs of downloadable Cranberries media at his site, it’s because he co-founded his own hosting company in Spain (called Metropoliglobal). Diego offered us some hosting space for Zombieguide, and since the site is bigger than our current server’s capacity, we accepted.

Anyone who’s made a serious attept at hosting a full-fledged website will know that things like server size and bandwidth can be a restraint on how much content you can have. For example, a year ago when we first put up the Watercircle MP3’s, our bandwidth spiked up quickly, and we were stuck with a $350 bill from our server company for the excess.

Now here comes the fun part. The new media server (separate from the one that hosts the actual site) now gives us unlimited space and unlimited bandwidth! This means that we no longer have to be stingy with our downloadable media — videos, MP3s, scans. We can host downloads without fear of overusing any quotas. What does this mean for you? Bigger scans, more videos, and lots more audio here on Zombieguide!

As you can see, Diego has made a major contribution to the site, one which gives Zombieguide quite alot of room for growth for the future, both immediate and distant. He definitely deserves our thanks — you can drop Diego an email here.

The first fruits of this space will be getting resource-consuming sections like the Magazines Gallery and the Complete Discography (still in progress!) back online. Other parts of the site should follow within the coming days.

Requests for downloads to be posted on Zombieguide (new or old) can be made in the Zombieguide Forums. With all this space, a genuine Media section of the site would be the natural course of action, although how soon that will come is hard to say. Now, instead of having an MP3 of the Week, we could have a Full Bootleg of the Week. The possibilities are almost endless at this point.

This is definitely an enormous gain for the site, and one that we will try our best to optimize in the near future. Thanks Diego!!

More “Blue Jean” Cranberries Booklet Scans

April 3, 2003  |  Comments Off on More “Blue Jean” Cranberries Booklet Scans  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Zombieguide reported weeks ago that the March issue of the Turkish magazine “Blue Jean” contains a bonus Cranberries booklet, which includes a biography, lyrics, photos, and bonus Cranny stickers.

We now have yet more scans of the oddly-timed bonus. Included in today’s scans is a year-by-year biography (in Turkish) plus several photographs. Among these are the delectable Andy Earl Bury the Hatchet-era photographs of the band against a pale blue background, one of which is Zombieguide’s Picture for the Moment (right menu bar). Also included is a rare live shot of Dolores with fruit-punch-red hair, circa 1995. Another rare one shows Dolores and Fergal backstage at the MTV Europe Awards in November 1998, the two’s first public appearance in over two years.

Many thanks to Haluk for the scans!

In related news, Zombieguide’s Magazines Gallery, Discography, Biography, etc., will be back online as soon as we can get them back up, as we continue moving to our new server.

Source: Exclusive

New Songs Have Fergal “Over The Moon”

April 2, 2003  |  Comments Off on New Songs Have Fergal “Over The Moon”  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

After just two weeks of recording, Fergal is thrilled with the progression of The Cranberries’ new studio material. On March 14th, Fergal posted a note to fans on The Cranberries Official Web Site stating that the band has nearly finished seven new songs for The Cranberries’ upcoming sixth album.

Fearing that the breaking point was approaching, Fergal announced that the band has decided to put further touring plans on hold (after the completion of the already confirmed tour dates throughout Europe in support of The Rolling Stones) to concentrate on their work in the studio. As the small tour progresses, The Cranberries plan to continue writing and recording new material. Fergal revealed that thus far, the new material is quite “impressive”, describing it as “different from anything [they’ve] done before; but still recognizable as The Cranberries.”

On a saddening personal note, Fergal announced that his youngest son has been battling complications with glaucoma and has undergone several surgeries on both eyes. Fergal says that he’s now hopeful that his son is near a full recovery and that time on the road and in the studio has helped him cope with his worries and concerns at home.

Fergal’s note to fans concludes optimistically as he states that the band is in positive spirits and that he, personally, is “looking at the glass as half full.”

Source: Cranberries Official Site

AC/DC to Open Alongside Cranberries at Oberhausen Rolling Stones Gig

April 2, 2003  |  Comments Off on AC/DC to Open Alongside Cranberries at Oberhausen Rolling Stones Gig  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

It was announced yesterday that ’80s big-haired rockers AC/DC will be added to the list of opening bands for the Rolling Stones’ European leg of the Forty Licks World Tour this summer. The first of the three dates where AC/DC will play is O-Vision Park in Oberhausen, Germany on June 13th, where they will be playing alongside The Cranberries as the opening acts.

The addition of AC/DC to the billing was said to have been done in order to “boost ticket sales.” As a result, the time table for the Oberhausen concert had to be modified, with The Stones’ concert now starting later in the evening. Tickets for the Oberhausen show are still available from online box offices like Getgo.

Thanks to Norbert of Zombieguide Europe for the tip.

Sources: Getgo, It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll

Breaking: “Zombie” Censored from Aiwaves by British Government

March 29, 2003  |  Comments Off on Breaking: “Zombie” Censored from Aiwaves by British Government  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The British television control agency, the Independent Television Commission, or ITC for short, has issued a statement to media outlets that war-related content which many stir up public sentiment should be taken off the air. Several media groups are complying with the decision, most notably MTV Europe, drawing up lists of songs and videos which will temporarily be removed from broadcast. Not surprisingly, The Cranberries’ “Zombie” is among the list.

In an internal memo released a week ago by MTV Europe’s Broadcast Standards Manager Mark Sunderland reads, “In the light of the outbreak of war in Iraq in the last 12 hours… there will be heightened public sensitivity to representations of war, soldiers, bombing, destruction of buildings and public unrest at home. The ITC Programme Code requires us not to broadcast material which offends against good taste or is offensive to public feeling. We therefore recommend that videos featuring the following are not shown at the moment: war, soldiers, war planes, bombs, missiles, riots and social unrest, executions, [and] other obviously sensitive material.” Anyone who has seen the video for “Zombie” will know well that it violates several of the qualifiers in this list.

Other artists and videos specifically mentioned are below. Many of the songs, like Tom Jones’ “Sex Bomb” or videos by the B-52s are being censored simply on the basis of their title alone.

»  “Boom!” by System of a Down
»  “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith (contains footage from the movie “Armageddon”)
»  “So Why So Sad” by Manic Street Preachers
»  “Miss Sarajevo” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2
»  “This Ain’t a Love Song” by Bon Jovi
»  “Corruption” by Iggy Pop
»  “19′′ by Paul Hardcastle
»  “Lucky” and “Invasion” by Radiohead
»  “Hot in the City” by Billy Idol
»  “Koochy” by Armand van Helden
»  “Thug Holidy” by Trick Daddy
»  “B.O.B. [Bombs over Baghdad]” by Outkast
»  “Holy Wars” by Megadeath
»  “You, Me, and World War Three” by Gavin Friday
»  Any videos by the B-52’s, who share a name with the war plane
»  “American Life” by Madonna
»  “Sex Bomb” by Tom Jones

“It’s not a ban,” says a spokesman for MTV’s international divisions. “It didn’t come from programming. We’re complying with ITC guidelines on good taste, to avoid offending public feeling.”

“Like any other broadcaster we feel it is important to reflect current sensitivities. Any changes to the playlist will be temporary,” said another spokesperson. MTV Europe implied that the censorship will be lifted once the Iraqi conflict is over.

But it is apparent that the list of taboo songs is only being used currently by MTV Europe. “We’re not banning anything,” said a representative for MTV in the United States. “We’re being sensitive to the situation, in general and on a case-by-case basis.”

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum, MTV Italy is paying no heed to the actions of its UK sister station. They kicked off a day-long focus dedicated entirely to the Iraqi conflict, playing pacificst videos and showing clips of celebrities speaking to the audience about the war. “Zombie” has been played several times throughout the day.

American radio stations employed a similar blacklist of songs immediately after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was also included in that list.

Other UK media outlets, like the behemoth Radio One and rival station Xfm, are also toning down the amount of music played that contains “sensitive content.”

Sources: Cranberries Videography, TV Barn, Times Online, Rolling Stone

Details on Secret Hot Press Gig

March 27, 2003  |  Comments Off on Details on Secret Hot Press Gig  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

You’ve no doubt read by now on the Official Cranberries Website that this past Friday, The Cranberries played a secret, unannounced 3-song set for the launch of the “Hot Press 2003 Yearbook” in Dublin. Zombieguide has some of the nitty-gritty details from that event.

The Cranberries played at Dublin’s intimate Sugar Club this past Tuesday, the 25th, performing “Chocolate Brown,” “Dying in the Sun,” and “Linger.” Other entertainers for the night included Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club, Think, Maria Doyle Kennedy, and the D1 DJs.

Guests included members of Altan, Skindive, Blo.tooth, The Chalets, Blink, Skyjack, The Jimmy Cake, Sack and The Saw Doctors. Woodstar was also there for the party, who opened for The Cranberries at The Point Depot on December 6th in Dublin. Also in the audience were artists Paddy Casey, Mary Stokes, Roesy, Mary Coughlan, Neosupervital, La Rocca and Perry Blake. Plenty of industry heads were also present for the private party.

We only have one shot of the concert, below, courtesy of Hot Press. Dolores can be seen with quite possibly the longest naturally dark hair that we’ve seen her have during her entire career! Will she keep it that way? Only time will tell.

The Hot Press Yearbook is an annual “who’s who” in the Irish music industry. The 2003 version includes info on record sales, radio plays and other vital stats on the Irish music industry.

Thanks to Jessica van Kessel for sending the news details.
Seen any other info about The Cranberries’ ultra-intimate gig at The Sugar

Club this week? Send it to Zombieguide!

Image Source: Hot Press

“Música Sí” Up to Their Old Tricks Again

March 27, 2003  |  Comments Off on “Música Sí” Up to Their Old Tricks Again  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

You may recall when in January of last year, Spanish live music show “Música Sí” set The Cranberries up for something bordering on public humiliation. The studio sound was overwhemlingly low quality, as could easily be heard on the broadcast. The band, Dolores in particular, had just finished an argument with the show’s producers over the generic sound system. Halfway through “Zombie,” Dolores, giving up trying to compromise with the faint prerecorded instrumentals, put the microphone, and said, “I can’t do this, this sounds like crap.” With that, she walked off the stage. To add insult to injury, the show mistranslated her words in the subtitles by writing, “I’m stressed and I can’t sing” — while the rest of the show’s dialogue was properly subtitled. And all this after comes after an incident in 1999 when the “Música Sí” audience reportedly boo’ed the band while they were on stage.

April Fools came early this year.

Now, even while the band is at home in Ireland, “Música Sí” is causing trouble for The Cranberries. Weeks ago, reports began popping up around Spanish Cranberries forums that the show had played a “new song” by The Cranberries called “Theme Banshis In Heaven”. Needless to say, those who had posted the information were slaughtered by unbelieving fans who had not seen the actual show.

But the truth is, “Música Sí” did in fact play this song and did claim it to be The Cranberries. In fact, only days ago, the show played the song again on their “Top Dance” part of the show. “Música S픑s hosts, Jennifer Rope and DJ Neil introduced the “surprise” song for a second time by saying:

“Now comes something that’s causing an uproar… a song characterized by the precious voice of the singer for The Cranberries, Dolores O’Riordan! ‘In Heaven!'”

Finally, on Saturday’s broadcast, “Música Sí” put their own false rumor to an end. The hosts ashamedly told the audience that the “surprise song” had absolutely nothing to do with Dolores or The Cranberries. They then related that the song, “In Heaven” is actually by a band called Them Banshis. Reviews of the song have made heavy comparisons to The Cranberries’ own “Zombie.”

Click here to listen to a Real Audio clip of Them Banshis’ “In Heaven”
(LINK NO LONGER AVAILABLE!!)

Source: Cranberries Star Page

US Congress May Pay $3.5 Million for Irish Music Rights

March 27, 2003  |  Comments Off on US Congress May Pay $3.5 Million for Irish Music Rights  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

In 2000, the Irish Music Rights Organization brought a case to the World Trade Organization stating that United States had not paid Irish artists the full amount of copyright royalties due to them. The complaint stemmed from a law passed by Congress in late 1998 that stated that small businesses — such as bars, restaurants, and small shops — were not obligated to pay for the royalties of broadcasting TV and radio in their business. That law, said the World Trade Organization, was in violation of international copyright treaties. The Irish Music Rights Organization, or IMRO, claimed that Irish aritsts and songwriters alone were losing millions due to their massive popularity in the United States. In late 2001, the US and the WTO agreed on a temporary solution, and now is nearing a finalized compensation agreement.

Last week, members of the United States Congress strongly pushed for an overdue payment of $3.5 million to be given to the WTO as compensation to European artists. The money, if allocated, will be used to fund up-and- coming struggling musicians in Europe.

One source cites that The Cranberries’ “Linger” is one of the most popular “pub” songs by an Irish group, often being played in bars without compensation. Van Morrison’s “Moondance” is cited for the same reason.

The Cranberries themselves are registered members of the Irish Music Rights Organization, alongside other notables like Samantha Mumba, Westlife, and The Corrs. Surprisingly, rock heavyweights U2 are not part of the rights protection group.

Sources: ArtScope.net, European Trade Union, Taipei Times

Dolores is Back – In a Terrific Piece of Art

March 12, 2003  |  Comments Off on Dolores is Back – In a Terrific Piece of Art  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

And then there was one. Despite the break-up of The Cranberries, many fans are celebrating the return of Dolores, who along with “the lads”, had been somewhat tucked away since the summer of 2003. One exceptionally talented fan, whose artwork has been frequently featured on Zombieguide, Maurizio di Bona, appropriately known as “The Hand.” Last year, The Cranberries commissioned The Hand to design cartoons for several pieces of official merchandise, which is available for purchase on the Official Site’s shopping section. This time, he has taken pen to paper to create a stunning piece of artwork showcasing the strength of Dolores’s personality as represented at Italy’s recent Sanremo Festival.

Encouraging fans to have “No Fear”, The Hand has detailed the excitement of Dolores’s future. Below, is The Hand’s most recent artistic tribute to Dolores O’Riordan.

Source: Exclusive
Thanks to The Hand for the contribution.

“Linger” Included On New Café Rock Compilation CD Set

March 12, 2003  |  Comments Off on “Linger” Included On New Café Rock Compilation CD Set  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Cranberries are among solid company on a new “as seen on TV” two- disc music compilation entitled Café Rock. With “Linger” opening the set, Café Rock is a blend of music from artists like Shawn Colvin, Ani Difranco, 10,000 Maniacs, and fellow tour mates Collective Soul and Toad The Wet Sprocket, among others. Described as music from artists who have “changed music forever”, Café Rock is available now, priced at $26.99 US for two CDs or two cassette tapes.

For a complete track-listing and to order online, logon to MusicSpace.com

Source: Exclusive

Thanks to Lionel A.Vasquez

A Letter from Dolores on Official Web Site

March 11, 2003  |  Comments Off on A Letter from Dolores on Official Web Site  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Wondering what’s been going on in the Burton household lately? Dolores gives all the details (and we mean ALL the details) in a letter posted today on the Official Web Site. Dolores shares an important disclosure about the sixth album’s material being “really experimental”, and laments about the cold and flu season.

In Dolores’s letter to fans, she also reveals a few of her St. Patrick’s Day plans, including plans to attend Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day parade with her kids dressed as “little leprechauns”. And speaking of the Burton children, Dolores tells fans that her stepson Donny, now eleven and a half years old, is venturing out into the world of rock ‘n roll for himself through the music of Avril Lavigne, who Dolores describes as “kinda cutesy”.

Still, “cutesy” or not, Dolores compliments the kindheartedness of young musicians like Dido and Westlife’s Brian McFadden. McFadden and Dolores worked together on the live performance of “The Little Drummer Boy” during the 2001 Vatican Christmas Concert for the Pope in Rome; and recently, with a seat next to McFadden on a plane headed to Dublin, the young boy-band singer gave Dolores a ride to her hotel where she met her mom and children. The experience prompted Dolores to comment on what “a really nice guy” Brian McFadden is, and how she is feeling like the “grandma of rock” with her inspiration to younger musicians. Dolores’s update on the Official Web Site even includes an interesting photo sent in from Litsa Derekenary (Litsa’s Zombieguide Forums profile) that perfectly embodies the “grandmother of rock” theme.

Want to see more pictures of Litsa’s drool-inducing Cranberries-deco bedroom? Check out the CranFanatics section for more!

Source: Cranberries Official Site

Italian Cranberries-Only Concert Scheduled

March 11, 2003  |  Comments Off on Italian Cranberries-Only Concert Scheduled  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Reputable Italian online ticket vendor TicketOne posted a listing today thatThe Cranberries will be performing their own concert — apart from the Rolling Stones — in Bolzano, Italy on June 8th, 2003. The date is two days before the June 10th concert where The Crans will be opening for the Rolling Stones in Milan, which gives much credibility to the date and location. TicketOne is one of Italy’s largest ticket sellers and deemed to be extremely reputable. Tickets are not yet on sale, but a notice reads that they will be “out soon!”

Weeks ago, The Cranberries Official Website promised that several “warm up dates” were on tap (including one in Belfast), all of which should be announced shortly.

Another date, June 6th at the Cirkus Krone Bau in Munich, Germany with the Rolling Stones, reported by US-based tour resource PollStar has also yet to be confirmed by the band.

Thanks to Mattia for the tip.

Source: TicketOne

Cranberries Concert Part of BBC6’s St. Patrick’s Day

March 10, 2003  |  Comments Off on Cranberries Concert Part of BBC6’s St. Patrick’s Day  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

From TV concerts to online polls, The Cranberries are no strangers to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations when they involve music, and this year is no different. Next week on BBC 6 Music’s “Dream Ticket” concert broadcast, The Cranberries will be part of an All-Irish Rock special on St. Patrick’s Day.

“Dream Ticket” showcases past concerts from five notable artists daily in a gala that lasts for several hours. The Cranberries will be joining Sinead O’Connor, among others on next week’s billing. It is unknown which of The Cranberries’ past recorded concerts will be used, but British festivals are favorite choices, so something along the lines of the all-acoustic Fleadh Festival 1994 performance can be expected.

For those not in the UK, the concert will be streamed live from BBC 6 Music’s website. The show begins Monday, March 17 at 10:00 PM local time (5:00 PM EST). For those fortunate enough to be in the UK, the audio channel can be heard on Sky Digital. If you miss the broadcast, don’t worry, an archived on-demand version of the stream will be available on BBC 6 Music’s websitethe following week.

Thanks to Irish Phil for the news!
Heard of any other St. Patty’s Day festivities that include The Cranberries?

Send Zombieguide a news tip!

Source: Exclusive

Japanese “Stars” DVD to Release Next Week

March 7, 2003  |  Comments Off on Japanese “Stars” DVD to Release Next Week  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Despite doubts that the DVD of “Stars: The Best of The Cranberries” (as the Japanese release is titled, as opposed to “Best of Videos”) would be delayed yet another time in Japan, it has finally been locked into a release for next Wednesday, March 12th. This past Monday, Universal Music Japan sent out updated release information on the Japanese edition of the DVD to retailers and online merchants, who responded by removing the ominous “Release Pending” notices found on listings for the DVD. Additionally, online retailers like Amazon Japan and the English-friendly CD Japan have now begun taking pre-orders for the new release, which wasn’t the case less than a week ago.

Zombieguide also reported previously that there was no reported cause for the DVD’s delay, but now we know at least a partial explanation: Japanese subtitles have been added to the release. This is unique to the Japanese release, since the original release of the “Stars” DVD carried no subtitles anywhere in the world, making things like the “Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll” documentary difficult to understand for those who don’t speak English as a primary language.

While the “Stars” DVD was released in most regions of the world (including America) in November, “Stars” originally was slated for a December 11th release in Japan. This date was then moved back to Christmas Day, then to January, and finally back to its current date of March 12th.

Aside from the new subtitles, no other new bonus features or extras have been announced for the Japanese release. The Japanese version of the DVD (cat. number UIBO-1006) will be released on March 12, 2003 with a retail price of 4,200 yen ($35 US, almost double the $20 retail price in America). A tiny shot of the cover, which includes a large Japanese sticker, can be seen below. The disc will be encoded in NTSC format and Region 0 (all region) coding, making it playable on American DVD players.

In related news, The Very Best of MTV Unplugged 2, featuring “Zombie,” will be released in Japan on April 9th with a retail tag of 2,400 yen ($20 US). Still no word yet on a US release.

Source: CD Japan

MTV France to Air MTV Unplugged This Tuesday

March 7, 2003  |  Comments Off on MTV France to Air MTV Unplugged This Tuesday  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Lately, Zombieguide has been telling you a lot about the recent release of The Very Best Of MTV Unplugged Volume 2, featuring “Zombie.” So now, after all of this talk of The Cranberries 1995 MTV Unplugged performance, it’s completely understandable that you’re juiced up to see it again. And this Tuesday, your wish is MTV’s command… well, at least the MTV French Channel.

This Tuesday, March 11th, those with access to MTV France can tune in to catch a repeat of MTV Unplugged featuring The Cranberries. Those of us without access to MTV France will have to do what we always do when we get a craving for The Cranberries on MTV Unplugged… pop in our home- recorded videotape.

Source: Cranfrance

“Very Best Of Unplugged 2” Released in Germany

March 4, 2003  |  Comments Off on “Very Best Of Unplugged 2” Released in Germany  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

In 1995, The Cranberries’ MTV Unplugged performance featured a captivating acoustic version of “Zombie”. Now, that version is being included on The Very Best of MTV Unplugged Volume 2. First released in the UK, The Very Best of MTV Unplugged 2 was released yesterday in Germany, selling for approximately $16.00 online. Cover art in higher quality than our last news story can be viewed below.

As the album is released in more countries around the world, Zombieguide will keep you updated.

Source: Amazon.de

Blue Jean Magazine Includes Cranberries Booklet

March 4, 2003  |  Comments Off on Blue Jean Magazine Includes Cranberries Booklet  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Turkish music magazine Blue Jean has a very special Cranberries bonus packed in with their March issue, which has just hit newsstands. Apart from the magazine itself, the issue carries a 18-page bonus Cranberries mini booklet filled with the usual suspects: biography, lyrics, and a discography. Also included are eight Cranberries stickers that you can pull out and stick onto your favorite stuff. Best of all, the bonus booklet includes previously- unseen photos, claimed to be exclusive to Blue Jean.

The timing may seem strange for such a lavish promotional item, but Blue Jean is no strangers to such unexpected releases. In late 2000, while The Cranberries were in the studio recording “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee,” Blue Jean issued a promotional CD/CD-Rom entitled “Greatest Hits,”seemingly out of nowhere. (The Blue Jean “Greatest Hits” promo is not related to “Stars.”) The magazine has given equally good treatment to the Limerick quartet since then, giving them a cover article with the release of “Wake Up” in 2001, and a 2-page interview this past December.

The booklet does not bear any marks of licensing from Universal Music, which would only make sense after January’s announcement that The Cranberries were terminating their contract effective immediately.

Below is a shot of the cover of the booklet, showing an alternate photo from the “Stars” cover.

Huge thanks to Yagiz for the news. If you live in Turkey (or by some other act of God have managed to obtain a copy of the newest Blue Jean) and can make more scans of the new booklet, please send them to us! In the meantime, Zombieguide will have new scans posted as soon as they are available.

Source: Exclusive

The Cranberries Back With Stephen Street (And Other Official News)

February 26, 2003  |  Comments Off on The Cranberries Back With Stephen Street (And Other Official News)  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Cranberries Official Web Site was updated February 26th with some important announcements regarding the band’s current state of affairs. Most newsworthy, The Cranberries announce that new material will be recorded this week in London with hit producer, Stephen Street (‘Everybody Else…’, ‘No Need To Argue’, ‘Wake Up And Smell The Coffee’). The band is planning to use this new material to finalize distribution arrangements for the forthcoming album, and announce that one of these new songs may be included in an upcoming film or television production. Concertgoers may also be able to hear some of the new material prior to its release during The Cranberries tour with the Rolling Stones.

Also, The Cranberries are still interested in discovering the origin of a mysterious “Salvation” remix. Dolores first caught wind of the version while watching a UK-based “reality” television program on Sky Digital Satellite at her home in Ireland. Now, the Official Site has been anonymously tipped with an .MP3 of what may be the song, available for download. If you’ve ever wondered what a metal version of “Salvation” might sound like, this is your chance to find out!

European fans awaiting the confirmation of additional dates will be pleased to know that the Official Site plans to post confirmation for a show in Belfast as well as one or two “warm-up” performances.

And finally, The Cranberries are seeking input from fans regarding styles and colors of upcoming T-shirt merchandise. Providing modeled pictures of each style, the Official Site is hosting a survey in which fans can e-mail their preferences.

Source: Cranberries Official Site

Crans to Play Cirkus Krone Bau in June

February 26, 2003  |  Comments Off on Crans to Play Cirkus Krone Bau in June  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

According to a listing updated today on Pollstar, The Cranberries are slated to open for a sixth date for The Rolling Stones this coming June.

The date is for June 6th at the Cirkus Krone Bau in Munich, Germany. Tickets for the June 6th gig have been sold out, and an allotment of special tickets reserved for the Rolling Stones fanclub have all been distributed.

Although the Cranberries’ Official Site has yet to confirm the date, an update today reveals that “one or two other ‘warm-up’ date(s) will be confirmed shortly,” possibly referring to the Rolling Stones tour dates. As of late, Pollstar has been very accurate with their Cranberries listings, confirming the June 10th Milan date several days before The Cranberries Official Site.

Source: Pollstar

“Zombie” On MTV’s Very Best of Unplugged Volume 2

February 24, 2003  |  Comments Off on “Zombie” On MTV’s Very Best of Unplugged Volume 2  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

What happens when you pull the plug on “Zombie”? You get one of the finest MTV Unplugged performances ever… and we’re not the only ones who think so! Today, February 24th, the Very Best Of MTV Unplugged 2 has been released in the UK. This compilation features The Cranberries hit Unplugged rendition of “Zombie” from February 1995. Though this information comes from the UK’s HMV, Very Best of MTV Unplugged 2 will most likely follow its predecessor (which included “Linger”) and end up as a worldwide release.

TV commercials currently airing in the UK show a brief clip of The Crans’ performance on MTV Unplugged in promotion of the new CD. The classic gig was recorded on Valentine’s Day 1995 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City.

Very Best of MTV Unplugged 2 is made up of the following memorable Unplugged performances:

1. Sting – Every Breath You Take 2. Chris Isaak – Wicked Game
3. The Cranberries – Zombie
4. R.E.M – Imitation Of Life
5. Eric Clapton – Layla
6. Crowded House – Four Seasons In One Day
7. Tori Amos – Cornflake Girl
8. Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately (That I Love You)
9. Bob Dylan – Like A Rolling Stone
10. Björk – Human Behaviour
11. Seal – Crazy
12. Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning
13. Sheryl Crow – Run Baby Run
14. Bryan Adams – I’m Ready
15. Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight
16. Elton John – Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Very Best of MTV Unplugged 2 is available for online purchase now fromHMV.co.uk for approximately $22.00. Thanks to IrishPhil for the tip!

Source: HMV.co.uk

All Music: Dolores O’Riordan – Double Life of a Star

February 23, 2003  |  Comments Off on All Music: Dolores O’Riordan – Double Life of a Star  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Earlier, Zombieguide promised you an English translation to this month’s Italian ‘All Music’ interview with Dolores, taken last December during her stay in Rome. Never going back on our word, or at least trying not to, here it is:

Dolores O’Riordan: Double Life of a Star
The singer reveals herself after the end of the “Stars” tour.

I phone Dolores in her suite of a Roman hotel (the singer had just returned to Italy after the last stop on her tour for a special exhibition in Vatican for the Pope.) You may recall that recently, the prestigious Irish magazine “Hot Press,” dedicated an entire issue of their publication to the rock foursome from Limerick. Now, despite thousands of engagements and a hectic schedule, Dolores’s voice is calm and relaxed. She receives my phone call with a sigh of relief after leaving her children in another room.

It occurs to me that speaking with her is not at all like speaking with someone who boats six or seven costume changes in a single concert and can hold the unwavering attention of tens of thousands of people. Instead, I find her in an intimate moment of her life: the double life of a mother and a female rocker with an awareness of being successful in two fronts: a woman raising two children and an artist in a ten-year career, with five albums, selling millions each, and a new compilation, “Stars,” to mark the end of the first 10 years of their artistic life. It’s as if the celebrity must balance between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; and my interview is my chance to discover what is real and what is a facade.

Q: Dolores, after ten years of hit records, what prompted you to release your “best of” compilation?
A: We had to show the fans and ourselves that 10 years of success has meant a lot. So we asked the fans to vote on the only non-single of the compilation; and they chose “Daffodil Lament” from No Need To Argue.

Q: If you had to choose a non-single, what song would you choose? A: Difficult. I’d ask the other members of the group to do it.

Q: Is your compilation a way to declare the end of a cycle?
A: More or less, it is the end of a cycle. We can’t linger on what we’ve done up to now, running over and over again with the songs that made us famous.

Q: So “Stars” is not a marketing ploy?
A: Absolutely not. We’ve just finished an exhausting tour that we could have avoided if we didn’t believe in “Stars”.

Q: What sensations did you get from the tour here in Italy?
A: Big energy and big love. Our shows in Italy have been quite sold-out. Playing live is the most emotional part of a singer’s life, but also the most devisive. You’re far from home, from your children, from the things you love most.

Q: You said that ‘Stars’ is like the end of an era. What can we expect from a new beginning?
A: These 10 years have been as much generous as they have been intense. I don’t know what we have to expect from the next 10 years. I’m not sure that the Cranberries’ sound will change very much. Maybe it’s just time to pull the plug for a while and see our families and the world from a different side than a hotel room.

Q: Speaking of your views on the world, if I simply follow the track list of ‘Stars’ with my finger, it’s evident that the subjects of your songs have gone from a local, more specific dimension, to topics that are now broader, and more world-wide. For example, “Salvation” is perhaps the division between “Zombie,” where ‘No Need To Argue’ seemed to contain more Irish themes, and songs like “Time Is Ticking Out,” where it’s as if you are thinking in more global terms with ‘Wake Up And Smell The Coffee’.
A: Before, we saw the world from a particular perspective, I mean geographically as well. We saw it from Limerick. Now, my perspective on things comes from the window of a hotel room or from the seat of an airplane. What has remained in our songs is the spontaneity in talking about important themes, both personal and collective. In that way, there isn’t that much difference between “Ode To My Family” and “Analyse.” Maybe the biggest change has been in our feeling more mature in talking about problems that pertain to everyone, everything from love to the future of our children, with a soft touch.

Q: There was an evolution within your music that resulted in “pop” melodies…
A: That was a natural movement to melodies that made us feel good while we were playing them. In ‘Stars’ there is an unpublished track which sounds very heavy, not “pop” at all.

Q: “New New York”. What kind of feelings did you have in seeing the new New York?

A: I didn’t see it just after the Towers were brought down, instead I got there for the first time in May 2002, when the pain inside the hearts had already changed into the wish of rebirth. Everything is in that song that I think about the new New York: pain that generates energy

Q: The change in your music hasn’t anything to do with the economic boom in Ireland?
A: The boom changed the appearance of our nation, but it also brought forth advantages. However, that’s not the reason for a change in the music; during the last years I haven’t really had the chance to experience the changes in Ireland because I don’t really live there anymore.

Q: Where then, do you live? A: Hotels.

Q: Are you tired of hotel rooms?
A: They are the other side to the warmth of the being with the people we meet on Tour. Hotels are the cold and sterile side; it’s what makes me start thinking that I should be at home getting ready for Christmas celebrations. When a tour is over you feel happy but very tired.

Q: Are you going to still be an on-stage musician in twenty years?
A: I really don’t know. Maybe yes, perhaps my children will be grown-up and they won’t need me so I’ll keep on playing.

Q: When you were speaking about the upcoming changes in The Cranberries’ music, were you referring to a solo project?
A: That’s what everybody has been waiting for, for ages. It’s possible; but for now I am enthusiastic about being a member of The Cranberries.

Q: Of course, but as a soloist, you could vent any artistic ideas repressed by the group, and do something completely different.

A: In that case, I would do something extremely different than The Cranberries’ style, maybe a sort of sound track for a film. I really like film sound tracks, the sound of a warm atmosphere inclined through a crescendo. Lately, I’ve listened to Marconi’s soundtracks (he’s a film-music composer), and generally I listen to David Lynch’s films soundtracks with pleasure. But for now, my favorite pop band is Travis.

My conversation with Dolores continues on for several minutes. She talks about her impressions from various gigs, Ireland, music… and then, there’s a Christian good-bye from the rocker-mom. And that’s when we see the synthesis of the two halves of Dolores’s nature: the thoughtful one, and the angry one:

“God bless you, man!”.
Thanks to Mattia and Eva for help with the translation!

Source: Exclusive

Filipino Fashion Show Interprets British Celebs

February 23, 2003  |  Comments Off on Filipino Fashion Show Interprets British Celebs  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Earlier this month, a fashion show put on in Manila, Philippines, “showcased a hodgepodge of classic and experimental British fashion.” Part of the gala, entitled “Through the Looking Glass,” showcased designer’s interpretations of British icons, including Catherine Zeta-Jones, David Beckham, the fictional James Bond, and none other than The Cranberries’ own Dolores O’Riordan.

O’Riordan’s look-alike model was handled by two award-winning fashion designers. Willy de la Vega, champion of Hair Asia’s Salon Spectacular competition, designed the hair in tribute to Dolores’ distinctive look. De la Vega collaborated with noted designer Lito Perez, former President of the Fashion Designers’ Association of the Philippines, who is currently a designer for Camp Suki, which specializes in costumes and exotic clothing.

“Through the Looking Glass” was held earlier in February at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manila. The fashion show was part of a celebration of the “UK Fortnight,” a two-week long festival held by Filipino British Council to showcase “all things British.”

Source: Manila Times

Official Site Update: Touring, Recording, and Release Date Info

February 21, 2003  |  Comments Off on Official Site Update: Touring, Recording, and Release Date Info  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Official Cranberries Web Site has recently revealed more of The Cranberries plans for the summer and the release of their sixth album. Four more dates will be added soon to the band’s European Tour in support of The Rolling Stones. And though The Cranberries had opportunities to tour with Live and Matchbox 20 in North America, they have decided to continue writing and rehearsals in preparation for the recording of their sixth album.

Currently, the band expects to have the recording completed by September 2003 and the album released in early 2004. Once The Cranberries finish recording, they plan to begin their World Tour in support of the album’s release, with South America possibly being the band’s first stop.

Source: Cranberries Official Site

Dolores Wants To Know: Is There a Dance Remix of “Salvation”?

February 21, 2003  |  Comments Off on Dolores Wants To Know: Is There a Dance Remix of “Salvation”?  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

If you’re a UK Cranberries fan who watches the occasional “reality” TV show, you may be able to solve a mystery for Dolores. At her home in Ireland on Monday, February 17th, Dolores came across an episode of a reality television program where she believes she heard a dance remix of The Cranberries 1996 hit, “Salvation.” Catching only a few seconds of the show, Dolores has been unable to determine the show’s title, or even verify whether or not she did indeed hear a version of her song. Now, Dolores is asking UK fans to help her collect more information.

If you know of a reality television program that follows holidaymakers from the UK to a “getaway” destination, possibly Jamaica, Dolores asks that you help her discover the program’s title. The series airs on a Sky digital channel at approximately 9:30 pm Irish time. Those of you in the UK with any information are asked to e-mail The Cranberries’ Webmaster.

Source: Cranberries Official Site

MP3 of the Week: “Analyse” Acoustic Version from Brazil “TITO” Promo

February 21, 2003  |  Comments Off on MP3 of the Week: “Analyse” Acoustic Version from Brazil “TITO” Promo  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Awhile ago, Zombieguide reported on a Brazilian “Time is Ticking Out” promo CD that included one very interesting track: an acoustic version of “Analyse.”

At the time, due to its scarcity, we didn’t know if it was a new version or simply an official release of a radio performance — however, now we know that it is in fact a radio performance, although we do not know the date or venue. What we do know — and what you can tell for yourself — is that the recording has supurb quality.

This version of “Analyse” has only been officially released on this Brazilian promo. This isn’t the first time that Brazilian promos have gotten exclusive tracks either — the Brazilian “I’m Still Remembering” promo CD is the only place where the “Radio Edit” version of that song can be found.

Download: (LINK NO LONGER AVAILABLE!!)
· “Analyse” (Acoustic Version) (MP3, 128k, 3.0 mb) Taken from the Brazilian “Time is Ticking Out” promo CD

Many thanks to Michael for the track and scan and sending them to us for this week’s MP3 of the Week. Be sure to check out his site, Forever Stars.

Source: Exclusive

Japanese “Stars” DVD Delayed Again

February 16, 2003  |  Comments Off on Japanese “Stars” DVD Delayed Again  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Japanese release of The Cranberries’ Stars: The Best of Videos 1992- 2002 looms in uncertainty, as the Japanese release has just been delayed for the second time.

The Japanese release, which is being handled by Victor Entertainment, was originally slated for December 2002, but was delayed for unknown reasons. The DVD was then given a second release date of March 12, 2003, but it seems that even that date will not be met, and a new release date has yet to be determined.

The situation is eerily reminiscent of the original 2001 release of “Beneath the Skin” when releases in regions like Spain were continually pushed back until ultimately cancelled. However, shortly after their cancellations came the announcement of a “new version” of the DVD, which came a year and a half later in the form of “Beneath the Skin Version 2.”

Nothing extra has yet been announced for the Japanese release (if it does in fact release), but Asian releases of any kind tend to carry bonuses. Since this Japanese release seems to be the only Cranberries release on the radar in the immediate future, you can be sure to expect more coverage of it here on Zombieguide.

Source: CD Japan

Official Web Site Update

February 14, 2003  |  Comments Off on Official Web Site Update  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Responding to electronically submitted requests of fans around the world,The Cranberries Official Web Site has started to add extra features to the site. The Official Site will now link directly to Amazon.com, assisting global shoppers in finding back catalog audio material. The inability to shop locally for many of the Cranberries’ releases has been a consistent challenge for many fans around the world.

Additionally, the site is in the process of updating its ‘Merchandise’ section; and will soon offer discounted prices on many clearance items available for purchase online.

The Official Site’s February 13th update also mentions that Dolores and Noel are continuing to write material for the upcoming album and that the rehearsal process, in preparation for their sixth album’s recording session, remains steady and active.

Source: Cranberries Official Site

MP3s of the Week: On the Edge (Westwood One) 1993 Performance

February 9, 2003  |  Comments Off on MP3s of the Week: On the Edge (Westwood One) 1993 Performance  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

“Ooooh, you little white poodle!!”

“My eyes are goin’ crazy!”

“You ruined the whole ‘ting! Ahh! I’m gonna cry!”

Those are just some of the bits of random out-of-context goodness to be found in this week’s MP3s of Week: the all-acoustic performance on the On the Edge radio show (1993). The broadcast was put out in June 1993 by the nationally syndicated radio network Westwood One for their Flag Day slash D-Day “festivities.”

It takes a total of four attempts to properly start “How,” much to the audible disgust of whoever was attempting to run the sound booth — it’s worth the download just to get a good laugh!

1. False (MP3, 3.8 mb)
2. Away (MP3, 3.8 mb)
3. Linger (MP3, 6.4 mb)
4. How (MP3, 6.1 mb)

(LINKS NO LONGER AVAILABLE!!)

Source: Exclusive

Dolores Interview in Italian “All Music”

February 9, 2003  |  Comments Off on Dolores Interview in Italian “All Music”  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The February issue of the Italian magazine “All Music” has published a new interview with Dolores, done via telephone while she was staying in Rome in December for the Vatican Christmas Concert.

To start the Interview, Dolores answered basic questions about “Stars” (which we’ve all read plenty of times), and then later reiterated her perspective on how the “Best of” marks the end of a period of the band’s evolution, while also marking the beginning of a new one.

Dolores also acknowledged the possibility of future solo side-projects, but assured that any such projects would be radically different from the style of music associated with The Cranberries. She says, “In effect, in that case, I would do something extremely distant from the Cranberries. [Maybe] even create a score for a film. I adore film scores, those warm or stiff atmospheric sounds that build up towards a crecendo. Lately I’ve been listening a lot to soundtracks by Marconi, a composer who does music for film, and… [also] those by David Lynch [Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet]. I’m even listening to a little bit of the pop group Travis right now.”

Visit the Magazines Gallery to check out scans from the interview. We should have a full translation available shortly!

Thanks to Mattia for the scans and info!

Source: Exclusive

The Cranberries Featured On Two More Compilations

February 7, 2003  |  Comments Off on The Cranberries Featured On Two More Compilations  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

In the mid-1990’s, The Cranberries’ alternative yet subtle style in songs like “Linger” and “Dreams” grouped them in the same categories as artists like the Gin Blossoms. But at the same time, The Cranberries were also being played alongside artists like The Violent Femmes and Smashing Pumpkins. And now, if you’re not sure which is the more logical combination, you’ve got two various artist compilations to help you decide.

Radio Waves of the 90’s: Alternative Rock Hits a ten-track compilation CD from MCA Special Projects, was released last Fall. With “Linger” offered as The Cranberries’ contribution to the “alternative” sound of the nineties, Radio Waves… also includes tracks by milder rock bands such as Semisonic and Amitri. By contrast, JJJ Hottest 100 Vol.1 , a two-disc Australian import includes “Dreams” and “Linger” mixed with tunes from both harder rocking bands like Radiohead as well as pop artists like Ace of Base.

Radio Waves… is available at Barnes & Nobles for $6.98. The thirty-one tracked JJJ Hottest 100 is available for $27.99 online at www.jpc.de

Sources: JPC and Barnes & Noble

Cranberries Among Most Pirated in Mexico

February 6, 2003  |  Comments Off on Cranberries Among Most Pirated in Mexico  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

In a study released by the The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) (the international equivalent of the RIAA), the organization reports that The Cranberries are one of the most bootlegged artists in Mexico. The IFPI estimates that nearly 40% of the music sold in Mexico is pirated, making it a “priority country” for the organization. Unlike the commercially-produced live bootlegs so sought after by collectors (most of which originate from Europe), the overwhelming majority of these sales are copies of normal studio albums, like the recent “Stars.”

“I went to the Zocalo which was the downtown part of the city and they were having a little market and there are booths were you can buy pirate copies of CDs,” reports Mummbz, a Cranberries fan back from a recent trip to Mexico City. “And they had ‘Stars,’ but they were sold out. They were really cheap copies too, $1.50 a copy. Granted it’s illegal but, hey, people bought the CD for its music right?”

Other international artists hit hard by the widespread copies include Santana, the Backstreet Boys, and, unsurprisingly, U2. Local top-selling Mexican artists are also heavily pirated.

“Here in Mexico we do love the Cranberries but, about the pirate copies, that’s something we are not proud of,” says Mau, a resident of Mexico. “I’m sure you realized that you can get almost any CD you like for even less than $1.50 USD each (and if they don’t have it, they can get it), but that’s going against the artists themselves. If people buy original CDs instead of pirate ones, I’m sure The Cranberries would have sold 3 or 4 times more original CDs than they have so far. This is also why some artists don’t come to Mexico or Latin America, they think that they’re not selling well here, but that’s because people prefer the cheaper prices of piracy.”

Bootleg markets, like the one seen here, are common in Mexico, parts of Europe, and in Asia (Photo: AP)

The IFPI estimates that legitimate music sales in Mexico comprise about 2% of the total retail sales of music in the world.

Source: IFPI

Official Tidbits: No US Tour in April, More Euro Shows, Possible New Contracts

February 3, 2003  |  Comments Off on Official Tidbits: No US Tour in April, More Euro Shows, Possible New Contracts  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

As posted today on The Cranberries Official Site April will not see The Cranberries touring with Matchbox 20. Instead, the band will continue to make progress on their sixth album until the end of May. North American tour dates will likely come later in the year.

Additionally noteworthy is the possibility of new recording contracts for The Cranberries. It seems that as the word has spread about the band’s split with MCA/Universal, several labels have expressed their interest in working with The Cranberries. Negotiations are beginning to take place; and at this time, it is still the band’s desire to hold individual contracts per market, avoiding a single, global recording contract that can often limit the amount of promotional support the band receives worldwide.

The Cranberries Official Site also announced today that three more shows have been added to their tour with The Rolling Stones in Europe. As reported days ago here on Zombieguide, fans in Milan, Italy will have the opportunity to see The Cranberries on June tenth. German fans in Oberhausen can look forward to June thirteenth; and those in Berlin should mark their calendar for the fifteenth of June.

Here’s an overview of the confirmed shows to-date in which The Cranberries will be supporting The Rolling Stones:

June 4: Munich, Germany at the Olympiahalle June 6: Munich, Germany at the Olymnpiahalle June 10: Milan, Italy at the San Siro Stadium June 13: Oberhausen, Germany at O-Vision Park June 15: Berlin, Germany at the Olympiastadion

In addition to tour and recording news, an Official update also congratulatesthe winner of The Cranberries first online auction, a project in support of the Chernobyl Children’s Project and Amnesty International. More charitable auctions, which offer opportunities to win Cranberries memorabilia, will more than likely come in the form of a lottery. The Cranberries Official Web Site hosted an online poll in which fans voted as to the manner in which the auctions should be featured. The notion of an online lottery was preferred by voters. Opportunities to participate in future auctions within The Cranberries series of online charitable events will come during the second half of 2003 and will likely come in “raffle” or “lottery” form rather than an auction.

Source: Cranberries Official Site

Autographed Guitar Fetches $3500+ For Belgium Charity

February 3, 2003  |  Comments Off on Autographed Guitar Fetches $3500+ For Belgium Charity  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

An autographed Cranberries guitar which was auctioned off in December in Belgium has fetched €3300 (nearly $3560 US) for the Levenslijn Kinderfonds (Lifeline Child Fund). The focus of the recent auction was to promote road safety for children. The guitar was sold in a live 10-hour day-long auction held by the radio station Q-Music.

Other items auctioned off included a signed poster from Joe Cocker, a self- portrait in marker by Moby, autographed vinyl singles from Celine Dion, and a pair of meet-and-greet tickets to meet Tiger Woods. The biggest money- maker was a gold-pated record of David Bowie’s “Scary Monsters” (1980), which brought in €4500. In total, the auctioned items totalled over €25,000 for the charity, matched with another €25,000 donated by the Belgium radio station Q-Music.

“Hi, we’re The Cranberries, and we’d just like to say that we’ve been made aware of the fact that the number 1 cause of death in Belgium is car accidents among young people,” says Dolores in a short promotional clip that can be found on the auction’s website. “And basically it’s really worth slowing down, and you know, if you go out and you party and you want to get out of your head, absolutely fine, just make sure the person who’s driving is not out of their head.”

Rather, Dolores recommends the driver remains “in their head, in their heeeaadd.”

She continues with due seriousness, saying, “And make sure that things are in control because life can be short and nobody wants to end up like that, OK?”

“We’re gonna sign this guitar and hopefully it’ll make some money toward this worthy cause,” Fergal added.

Source: Q-Music

Cranberries “Charmed” Episode to Re-air on TNT

February 1, 2003  |  Comments Off on Cranberries “Charmed” Episode to Re-air on TNT  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Just in case you missed it in it’s first run, on Thursday, February sixth, TNT will be airing the syndicated version of “She’s A Man, Baby, A Man!”, the episode of the supernatural one-hour drama, Charmed, featuring The Cranberries. Originally broadcast in 2000, this episode of Charmed includes a brief, yet interesting segment with The Cranberries “performing” the ‘Bury The Hatchet’ single, “Just My Imagination” for a ficticious animal rights benefit concert in the episode.

The WB’s Charmed airs in syndication Monday through Friday at 6:00 pm on TNT.

Source: RockOnTV

Dolores’s Shoes Going Once… Twice… SOLD!

February 1, 2003  |  Comments Off on Dolores’s Shoes Going Once… Twice… SOLD!  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Cranberries auction on Ebid.ie ended yesterday with a price tag of over $3000. In support of the Chernobyl Children’s Project and Amnesty International, The Cranberries donated the pair of shoes that Dolores wore in the Sam Bayer music video, “I Can’t Be With You”.

Yesterday, the shoes, along with an assortment of signed Cranberries memorabilia and CDs, went to Ebid’s high bidder, cranbmexfan, who was willing to spend €2,875 (roughly $3096 US) to become the auction’s winner. That may sound like a lot of money to spend on a pair of shoes; but viewers of The Cranberries’ “I Can’t Be With You” video know that these are no ordinary shoes. And better still, every penny of the high bidder’s payment will benefit both the Chernobyl Childrens Project and Amnesty International.

So congratulations to Cranbmexfan! And to the rest of us, remember that The Cranberries will be participating in more charitable auctions to come… and who knows what could be put up for grabs next! (Maybe… even… dare we suggest… a replica of the couch?)

Source: Ebid.ie

EXCLUSIVE: 5-track Demo Download

January 31, 2003  |  Comments Off on EXCLUSIVE: 5-track Demo Download  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

“A new five-track demo of superior quality was cut, a showcase gig was set up at O’Henry’s Club in Cork, and an eager audience of A&R men (music biz speak for talent scouts) assembled to run the rule over the latest hopefuls to emerge from Eire.” –Michael Heatley, The Cranberries: The Unauthorized Edition

Solid information on The Cranberries’ untitled 5-track demo, circa 1990, is sparse, despite the stir that it caused within the industry. We know for certain that it was cut shortly after the commercial release of the first “Nothing Left At All” tape and was subsequently sent to record companies. However, some evidence (specifically, Stuart Bailie’s In Your Head citing that one “Nothing Left At All” tape had 5 tracks) may even suggest that this is in fact “Nothing Left At All” 1991. However, we have little to confirm or deny that fact.

But what’s important now is that the entire demo is here for your downloading pleasure exclusively on Zombieguide.

As with nearly all of The Cranberries’ early releases, the demo is a compilation of old and (at that time) new demo tracks. For example, the recording of “Nothing Left at All” that appears on “Uncertain” is the same one used in the earlier “Nothing Left at All” demos; the tracks used in the Dave Fanning Sessions consisted of both new (“False,” “Like You Used To”) and old demo recordings (“Linger,” “Take My Soul Away,” released earlier as “Shine Down”). The same goes for this untitled 5-track demo. As a result, four of the five tracks have all been previously to savvy Cranberries fans via the Internet, especially since many of these recordings appeared first here on Zombieguide, thanks to Fergal Lawler himself.

Speaking of the Xeric demos, it seems that many of the tracks that we had labeled as “Xeric Demos” are actually taken from this 5-track recording. (“Xeric Demos” was not the title of any actual demo release; the tracks were labelled as such when we received them, and we had no knowledge of which actual release they came from.)

As for the second-generation copy of the 5-track demo that we received, its original sat in the hands of Island Records in Australia for several years before it was finally given away.

The tracks below are linked to their respective cross-linked releases:
(LINKS NO LONGER AVAILABLE!!)

1. Put Me Down (MP3, 4.3 mb) (same version as Dave Fanning Sessions)
2. Dreams (MP3, 6.1 mb) (previously labelled as “Xeric demo”)
3. Nothing Left at All (same version as on “Uncertain”)
4. Linger (MP3, 7.1 mb) (same version as on “Watercircle”)
5. Them (MP3, 5.0 mb) (demo version with different drums/effects)

These MP3s are now available in the Zombieguide MP3 folder.
But now with all that said, there is a new gem to be unearthered in this find, namlely a demo version of “Them,” the track which concluded the Uncertain EP and was used as a B-side for “Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?” The most crucial elements of the track are the same: both the vocals and guitars are essentially the same as the “Uncertain” version. But to veteran fans who are familiar with the “Uncertain” EP version of the track (the same version used as a B-side for “EE…”), the differences will stand out immediately. Both the sound effects and percussion are noticeably different. While there are still the defining water-like effects, these effects are different from the ones used on “Uncertain.” In addition, the sound of a howling wind has been added to the introduction of the song and carries through to the end, an element which was cut from the “Uncertain” version of the song. The drums are also different — the demo version heard here includes a rather loud, resonating tom-tom (or possibly bongo). The beat in the later “Uncertain” release, although similar, is much more sedated. All of this would suggest that although the basic elements of the song (vocals, music) were re-used, the song underwent several edits before the song saw a commercial release in 1991.

Below are scans taken from the original demo tape. As can be expected, the cover is hand-written in the same handwriting which appears on most of The Cranberries’ other early releases, probably belonging to Pearse Gilmore himself, or possibly Noel Hogan, who had by that time quit his job reparing cash registers in order to spend time mailing out demo tapes. As plain as the sleeve is, sans a serial number and bearing only the band and producer’s name, the tape itself is even plainer — no writing whatsoever, only a blank label on one side. What more could be expected of one of dozens of tapes which were painstakingly labelled by hand and sent to record companies?

Thanks to Bruce for help with the scans.

Source: Exclusive

Cranberries Confirmed for Milan Date with The Stones

January 30, 2003  |  Comments Off on Cranberries Confirmed for Milan Date with The Stones  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Concert megasite Pollstar has confirmed the third of five concert dates in Europe where The Cranberries will be opening for one of the biggest bands in the world, The Rolling Stones. The site confirms that The Cranberries will be opening for The Stones on June 10th at the Stadio G. Meazza in the San Siro district of Milan, Italy.

Tickets for the venue, which seats nearly 150,000 people, have not yet gone on sale. This is good news for Italian fans, since tickets for the massive venues are selling at a ridiculously fast rate. With the arenas at near full capacity, the upcoming Rolling Stones tour could easily shatter The Cranberries’ record for largest audience at a single concert, which currently stands at over 100,000 at Woodstock ’94.

The two already announced dates at The Cranberries Official Website, for Munich, Germany on June 4th and 6th have already been sold out.

The Cranberries Official Website has not yet confirmed the date, but is likely to do so very soon. Also be sure to keep an eye on RollingStones.com for the latest ticket information.

Keep it tuned to Zombieguide for the latest developments!

Source: Pollstar, RollingStones.com

Got Room For Another Compilation CD?

January 27, 2003  |  Comments Off on Got Room For Another Compilation CD?  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Think you’d never see the day when The Cranberries and Lionel Richie would share billing on the same CD? The soundtrack for SABOR DA PAIXÃO (“The Flavor of Passion”), a Brazilian soap opera, has brought them together along with a number of various artists for a compilation soundtrack available online. Now, whether you’re in the mood for a little Enrique Iglesias or Dolores and company, Sabor da Paixão Internacional , can satisfy your craving for The Flavor of Passion. The full track listing is as follows:

1. Help Me – Nick Carter
2. Goodbye – Lionel Richie
3. My Love – Fab
4. Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
5. Stars – The Cranberries
6. Undeniable – Paulina Rubio
7. Don’t Ask – Rick Astley
8. Alone Again – Craig Mc Clean
9. Quizás – Enrique Iglesias
10. En el Muelle de San Blas – Mana
11. The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling) – Atomic Kitten
12. Barenaked – Jennifer Love Hewitt
13. Heaven – Giselle Haller
14. Sex Baby – Kasino

Select song clips can be downloaded and the soundtrack can be purchased online at Somlivre.com

Thanks to Sigma from Zombieguide Mexico and Jordan for the tips.

Source: Somlivre

A New Year = A New Tour

January 27, 2003  |  Comments Off on A New Year = A New Tour  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Cranberries want fans to know that they “feel great” and “excited about the new year”. Already, Dolores and Noel have recorded new material for album six; and in 2003, the band will be supporting well-established rockers, The Rolling Stones, for a number of shows throughout Europe.

The two confirmed live performances with The Rolling Stones in Munich, Germany for June 4th and June 6th have already sold out. Dolores told RTE Radio “it’s an honor to be able to open up for such a legendary band, life is good”. Dolores told RTE earlier this week that there were five confirmed tour dates, which leave three left to be announced

Life is good indeed because 2003 will also mean more opportunities for fans to see The Cranberries live on-stage at various festival shows throughout Europe; and later in the year, the band will tour Asia and the Americas. Part of the US tour may even partner The Cranberries with US radio-favorites, Matchbox 20.

Currently, specific dates and venues for the 2003 tour, other than the two confirmed shows in Germany, await official confirmation; but you can count on finding all the details right here on Zombieguide as they become available. So start ironing those Cranberries t-shirts because this year may be the year you find yourself singing along from the front row!

Source: Cranberries Official Site

A Walk In Dolores’s Shoes

January 25, 2003  |  Comments Off on A Walk In Dolores’s Shoes  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Ever wonder what it would be like to take a walk in Dolores’s shoes? Well, now you can…sort of! In an effort to support the Chernobyl Childrens Project and Amnesty International, The Cranberries are putting the shoes that Dolores wore in the infamous “I Can’t Be With You” video up for auction. If you can spare an extra €1,511.50 ($1,640 US) or more, you could be the winner! (That’s the winning bid as of January 25th at 3:30 pm EST.) And as if this pair of Dolores’s shoes aren’t enough to prompt a trail of drool on your chin, the winner of this charity auction also gets the Beneath The Skin – Live In Paris DVD; the Stars – Best Of Videos DVD; the lastest tour poster— signed, nonetheless; both “Wake Up And Smell The Coffee” and “Stars – Best of 1992 – 2002” — on CD and also signed by the band; AND a copy of the “Treasure Box” 4 album set! It’s enough to make a Cran fan cry. Suddenly sixteen hundred bucks doesn’t sound so bad, does it? And after all, it is for charity! To place your bid, or simply find out more on the Cranberries charity auction on Ebid, visit the Official Site. And hurry… these shoes were made for walking so on January 31st, the auction comes to a close!

Source: Cranberries Official Site

Cranberries on New Compilation CD

January 25, 2003  |  Comments Off on Cranberries on New Compilation CD  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

You take Big rock stars of the 1990’s and add some Shiny happy singles, and you get Big Shiny 90’s, a new two-disc compilation featuring some of the biggest radio releases of the 1990’s! And of course, where would the 90’s be without the Cranberries?

Big Shiny 90’s, a Canadian compilation from WEA Records in association with Canadian music channel, Musique Plus, was released on January 12th, 2003. It’s packed with tunes reminiscent of our last decade and includes the Cranberries biggest single to date, “Zombie”.

If you’re not sure whether or not Big Shiny 90’s is something you want to add to your Cranberries collection, here’s the full track listing to help you decide:

Disc 1:
1 Dammit – Blink-182
2 Been Caught Stealing – Jane’s Addiction
3 Mysterious Ways – U2
4 Wonderwall – Oasis
5 The Rockafeller Skank – Fatboy Slim
6 Cowboy – Kid Rock
7 Indestructible – Matthew Good Band
8 Fake Plastic Trees – Radiohead
9 What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? – R.E.M.
10 Lightning Crashes – Live
11 The Oak (My Luck Is Wasted) – Big Wreck
12 3 AM – Matchbox 20
13 Tomorrow – Silverchair
14 Zombie – The Cranberries
15 Everything Zen – Bush
16 Friday I’m In Love – The Cure
17 Sex And Candy – Marcy Playground

Disc 2:
1 No Rain – Blind Melon
2 Santa Monica – Everclear
3 The Impression That I Get – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
4 Shine – Collective Soul
5 What It’s Like – Everlast
6 Never Let You Go – Third Eye Blind
7 Only Happy When It Rains – Garbage
8 Pets – Porno For Pyros
9 What I Got – Sublime
10 Volcano Girls – Veruca Salt
11 All That You Are – Econoline Crush
12 Epic – Faith No More
13 Push – Moist
14 In The Meantime – Spacehog
15 Stutter – Elastica
16 Enjoy The Silence – Depeche Mode
17 Someone Who’s Cool – Odds

If these 90’s hits are some of your favorites…or if you’re just a Cranberries completionist who can’t say no, you can order your copy of Big Shiny 90’s online at www.archambault.ca (French) for about $20.00 US dollars.

Source: Thanks to Danny Kronstrom of Gaisetlesbiennes.com for the tip.

The Cranberries to Start Independent Label

January 23, 2003  |  Comments Off on The Cranberries to Start Independent Label  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

“What we’d like to do now really is to be independent and start our own label, I mean, we’ll go off and look for distribution deals,” Dolores O’Riordan told Pat Kenny via telephone earlier this morning on the Today with Pat Kenny radio show on RTE’s Radio One in Ireland.

“At the end of the day, we decided that we’d be better off just to walk away and do our own thing, and we were kind of advised (by our lawyers) to walk away” from what Dolores felt was a very neglectful relationship at Universal, she told Pat Kenny.

Dolores stated that the band would be putting their own personal funds into establishing their own new label. She says that the band isn’t concerned about the expense, since they consider it an investment in themselves. “I know, I mean, when you think about it, in the long term, down the road, at the end of the day, it’ll come out better yourself. You know, when you’ve made your record deal anyway, you only get a percentage as an artist. At the end of the day, we believe in ourselves and we have a very strong fanbase around the world that have been with us for years. And since the birth of Molly two years ago, we’ve sold over three million albums between ‘Wake Up and Smell the Coffee’ and the greatest hits. I mean, that’s a lot of albums, so we believe in ourselves and our fanbase are very loyal. So we want to do it our way… And it means being the captain of your own ship and it means not having to put up with somebody who doesn’t give a toss and being stuck in a situation where you feel like you’re there for security.”

Dolores also implied that although the material itself will be produced under the new label, the band will look for several different distribution companies to manufacture and distribute the new material, separated by regions of the world. “Our problem is that we were signed to Universal New York, so that was it, you know? We didn’t have a record deal in Italy, we didn’t have a record deal in France, we didn’t have a record deal in Asia. You see, our deal was with America and that was that. So that was kind of a problem as well, ‘cos most of our success three or four years has been, like, in Asia, the album went #1 in the Asian charts, and it went Top 10 in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, places like that, you know? But if you don’t have a label there, working, representing you, you’re kind of out there on your own doing it. You’ve got the big guys back in New York just sitting there, not doing anything, and we’re out there working really hard and we just feel like they’re not supporting us.”

“So at this stage, it’s not a situation of ‘them’ and ‘us,’ or ‘they’re all bad guys,’ a lot of them are good guys, you know what I mean, but it’s just such a mess on the inside that we decided that at this stage, that we decided we’d be better off just to walk away. I mean, we’re not compatible anymore.”

Talking specifically about the music scene in the United States, Dolores admits that she has ben consciously concentrating on Europe in the past few years. “We still sell out big audiences (in America), we still sell ten, fifteen- thousand seaters, or maybe even twenty, but since the birth of the kids and stuff, I’ve been concentrating more back on Europe and stuff. And like I said, there’s such a kind of a major weird thing happening over there with hip- hop and stuff that the rock-and-roll bands aren’t really being pushed over there. I know we’re not the only band that feel like this, there’s a lot of other bands that feel kind of like, ‘What’s going on?'”

Dolores said that the band had made several written attepts to MCA to state their interest in leaving the company. MCA’s first response, months after the first letter, stated that they wanted to hold on to The Cranberries. After yet more letters and poor response on MCA’s part, The Cranberries’ management sent their last letter on Monday (the 20th), stating the band’s resolute intent to leave company. MCA has still not sent an official reply.

Finally switching subjects after discussing the break with Universal, Dolores additionally revealed that the tentative summer dates with The Rolling Stones have been confirmed. “It’s an honor to be able to open up for such a legendary band,” she commented. The Cranberries will open for a total offive of the Stones’ tour dates this summer in Europe. Dolores also revealed that there are currently unconfirmed plans for The Cranberries to tour with Matchbox 20 in the United States, but those plans have not yet been confirmed.

“So life is good, it’s looking good, I mean, it might look bad from some people’s point of view, but from my point of view, it’s brilliant, it’s a new day and it’s a new start,” she concluded, and we think most fans who have been following this situation will certainly agree.

To listen to the full interview, click here to go to RTE’s Today with Pat Kenny site and click on Thursday’s show. Dolores’ interview begins at the 1:48 mark.

Zombieguide will have more on this developing news as we know it — watch this space!

Source: RTE’s Today with Pat Kenny

Two Soundtracks for “The Passion of the Christ”

January 21, 2003  |  Comments Off on Two Soundtracks for “The Passion of the Christ”  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

A film as notably intense as The Passion of the Christ will likely rely heavily on the use of music to convey its dramatic moments. This is great news for those of us waiting to own all, or nearly all, of the music from the film…but bad news for those of us who had hoped to own Dolores O’Riordan’s contribution to the soundtrack on February 24th.

According to billboard.com, February 24th will feature the release of the film’s score – not the release of the film’s songs that were performed by various artists. All’s not lost, however, because billboard.com does state that Sony Music intends to release a “Music Inspired by The Passion of the Christ” album that will contain the multi-artist tracks, including [presumably] Dolores O’Riordan’s “Croatia”. According to Billboard, distribution for the multiartist CD is currently being finalized.

Of course only time can confirm Dolores’s work in the film and further release information for the second soundtrack. Big answers for inquiring minds, however, will be available and definite on February 25th, when the film opens in theaters everywhere.

Source: Billboard.com

Thanks to celticyodels for the information

Breaking News: Cranberries Terminate Universal Contract Effective Immediately

January 21, 2003  |  Comments Off on Breaking News: Cranberries Terminate Universal Contract Effective Immediately  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

After last June’s somewhat vague press conference in Mexico City, where The Cranberries displayed some implicit displeasure at the state of affairs at MCA/Universal, fans have been waiting for a solid follow-up announcement to come — but no one knew when. That announcement came today.

“The Cranberries today announced that they have terminated the remainder of their recording contract with MCA Records, a division of Vivendi Universal, effective immediately,” reads the first line of a press release posted today on the band’s official website.

The Cranberries originally signed a 10-year six-album contract with Island Records America in the summer of 1991. In 1998, Island was engulfed by the mammoth Vivendi Universal. “Bury the Hatchet” was the first Cranberries album released after the massive shift and its effect was apparent.

A solid example of this was seen in Dolores’s 1999 interview with Craig Kilborn, where she said Bury the Hatchet was, “going pretty good, it’s just that alot of fans are coming up, going, ‘Oh, Dolores, have you guys got a new album coming out?’ And I’m like, ‘It came out six months ago!’, so it’s that kind of thing.”

She further continued with her dissent, “It’s [Bury the Hatchet] doin’ OK, like, but alot of people don’t really know it’s out and stuff, ’cause our record company [Island] got bought out, so at the moment it’s a bit messy over here [in the United States].”

Hoping that MCA Records, another American-based company, would give them more of the personal touch that the post-merger Island Records lacked, The Cranberries silently hopped labels in the fall of 2000, although it was not made known to fans until May of 2001. However, the change was not a dramatic one since MCA too was under Universal’s giant corporate umbrella — the band was simply moving from one part of Universal Records to another.

Jay Boberg, President of MCA, with Stephen Street and The Cranberries

Although both the band and MCA’s representatives were optimistic at the new relationship, things began to go sour months after the release of “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.” Fergal Lawler wrote shortly after embarking on the American tour in spring of last year that, “We weren’t sure what to expect as some (not all), members of our record company informed us that in their eyes, ‘Wake Up And Smell The Coffee’ is ‘over’ in America, and they have moved on to other things. Not exactly the words of encouragement you would like to hear as you are about to embark on a U.S. tour!!! But thanks to you, our incredibly supportive fans we say F*** ’em!!! We are here to play music and enjoy every minute of it, and thankfully that’s the way it’s been working out!”
Last June in a press conference held in Mexico City, The Cranberries made it clear that they were looking forward to ending their contract with MCA, although no specifics were given at the time.

After the release of “Wake Up,” The Cranberries put out their “Treasure Box: The Complete Sessions” boxed set and “Stars: The Best of The Cranberries 1992-2002” later in the year, both on Island Records. However, this may have been more for simplicity’s sake, since the overwhelming majority of the material in both releases was owned by Island.

“Since we were signed in 1991 by Island Records, we have gradually seen our label dissolve from a pioneering independent spirited label into a corporate monolith that completely lost touch with the group’s creative vision” stated singer Dolores O’Riordan in today’s press release. “All of the people we have worked with over the years (in America and England) have been fired or left the company, so the band felt it was time to move on to new opportunities.”

“The Cranberries have released two albums in the past 15 months selling in excess of 3.2 million albums worldwide. Despite the current downturn within the music industry and little support from MCA in North America, the band have also performed 82 concerts to 600,000 people during that time.

The release continues saying, “‘We have had great fan support throughout the world for many years,’ added guitarist Noel Hogan. ‘With little effort from our label, we have been pleased to see top 10 sales in many countries. The band is excited about the prospect of a new beginning, starting fresh, and looking forward to another ten years in the music business. We expect to have a new album released by the end of 2003.’

“The Cranberries are in the midst of celebrating their 10th Anniversary as a professional group. Career sales now exceed 38 million albums. The band are planning a tour later in the year, which they hope to confirm in the coming weeks”

No matter how you look at it, this is big career-changing news on the half of the band. At this point, no indication is known of whether the group will look to another label, or (more likely, it seems) will take their own approach, so to speak, whatever that may be. Zombieguide will have more on this developing news as we know it — watch this space!

Source: The Cranberries Official Website

The Passion of The Christ Soundtrack Release Date Revealed

January 20, 2003  |  Comments Off on The Passion of The Christ Soundtrack Release Date Revealed  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

Looking to feel the love this February, your favorite music retailer may just have a little belated Valentine for fans of The Cranberries with the upcoming release of the original motion picture soundtrack for Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. The forthcoming film features the first taste of Dolores O’Riordan’s solo material; and the movie soundtrack will most likely contain Dolores O’Riordan’s Latin acapella for the movie, with the possible title “Croatia”. According to grassroots.com, the soundtrack for The Passion of the Christ will be released on Tuesday, February 24th. That’s one day prior to the film’s theatrical release, and ten days after Valentine’s Day for those who crave the sweet sound of Dolores’s voice in lieu of traditional chocolates. Zombieguide will keep you posted as more details about the film and its soundtrack begin to surface.

Contrary to previous reports, the final score was done primarily by John Debney (Spy Kids, The Princess Diaries) with help from Lisa Gerrard and others. Zombieguide will have more on The Passion of the Christ: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack when we know it.

Source: grassroots.com

Cranberries on “Best of All Time” Charts

January 14, 2003  |  Comments Off on Cranberries on “Best of All Time” Charts  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Cranberries (or, more accurately, their songs and albums) have been recently named to several “best of all time” lists around the globe. With the band’s first greatest hits album just put on store shelves, what better time to report this?

Dutch radio station 3FM has compiled a list entitled the Top 715, an appropriately-titled compilation of the 715 most popular songs of all time (don’t ask us why it’s 715, it’s a Dutch thing!). The annually revised list places The Crans’ hits as follows:

· #407. Ode to My Family
· #148. Linger
· #36. Zombie

Next on the list, a recently revised version of The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums put the band’s first two albums in the top 1000 British albums of all time, despite the rather odd handicap that The Cranberries aren’t even British in the strict sense. Semantics aside, check out how the albums fared:

· #631. Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?
· #321. No Need to Argue

Not bad considering the all-too-often underrated response that the British press in general gives to the band.

Last on our list today is the American based Slant Magazine, which has named “Linger” as one of the 100 Greatest Music Videos ever created. “Linger” and Madonna’s “Secret” are tied for the #24 slot, both directed in black in white by Melodie McDaniel.

Says the site, “Photographer and commercial director Melodie McDaniel hit pay dirt with the release of two black-and-white gems, one for The Cranberries breakout single ‘Linger’ and one for Madonna’s ‘Secret.’ McDaniel’s images are less body-horrific than those of Cindy Sherman’s yet they’re every bit as consumed with the way femininity is represented in modern art. McDaniel channeled the spirit of Sherman and John Cassavettes for ‘Linger,’ an abstract video diary that follows Dolores O’Riordan through a seedy hotel with two lookalikes by her side. O’Riordan codifies and displaces her ‘self’ via her doubles, no doubt as a reaction to the way the males in the video choose to consume her.” A very interesting take indeed.

Thanks to Luc Levesque, Irish Phil, and little dolores for the news tips!

Partial Source: Slant Magazine

Writing for 6th Album Going Smoothly

January 14, 2003  |  Comments Off on Writing for 6th Album Going Smoothly  |  by Zombieguide Archives  |  The Cranberries

The Cranberries Official Website put up a note today to inform readers that The Cranberries “are now back in full swing writing new music” to be eventually be used on the band’s next album. The Cranberries hope to record demos of the new material over the next few weeks. “After that the band will record the songs for their 6th album,” says the site.

The site also notes that there will likely be no live concert dates scheduled until the latter half of 2003. Weeks ago, drummer Fergal Lawler wrote that the band was considering a trip to the United States this spring. However, with this latest revelation, it seems that it won’t be a proper tour as such (that is, if the plans haven’t been changed entirely!).

Lastly, Dolores’s promise to clean out her closet for some famous bits of clothing hasn’t been forgotten (even if it is a bit too late for the original plan of a Christmas contest). The first item, the pair of thick-heeled boots worn in the “I Can’t Be With You” video, will be auctioned online. Proceeds will benefit Adi Roche’s (better known as the wife of U2’s Bono and Ireland’s unofficial “First Lady”) Chernobyl Children’s Project and Amnesty International, two charities that The Cranberries have actively supported in the past.

Source: The Cranberries Official Website

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