Ireland’s Sunday Mirror must have a tracking device implanted in Noel Hogan’s body.

After spotting him buying CDs in Dublin last month, The Sunday Mirror has found him yet again. In yesterday’s issue of the tabloid, the Mirror ran a photo of Noel and his wife Catherine talking to Cranberries ex-manager Lewis Kovac at Limerick’s Trinity Rooms club.

Hmmm. And so the mystery grows. While Lewis Kovac has officially parted ways with The Cranberries, Hot Press hinted in September that Kovac will be working on a project with Noel, Mike, and Fergal, without Dolores. Or else, the meeting could have been related to Noel’s solo project. On another note, after hearing of Catherine Hogan’s sickness, it’s good to hear that she’s out and about with her husband.

Source: Sunday Mirror

According to a short blurb from the November 9th issue of the Irish newspaper “The Sunday Independent,” Dolores will be flying home to Limerick on December 12th, just in time for her mother Eileen’s birthday. The O’Riordan clan (that’s Dolores, Don, Taylor, and Molly) are currently in Toronto. Dolores is recording solo material at Metalworks with co-producerMatt Vaughan and engineer Mike Plotnikoff.

Sounds like the O’Riordan family will be spending Christmas at home this year. What, no third Pope performance? Dang it.

Source: Sunday Independent

Trying to find new interviews with The Cranberries this year has been a bit like hunting Yeti. But luckily, a new interview with Fergal Lawler is being published this week in book form, thanks to author Alan Swan. Alan has been working on his new book “From the Cradle to the Stage” for the past year and a half, and it’s turned into quite an impressive project with interviews from over 70 Irish musicians, including Damien Rice, Damien Dempsey, The Frames, Mundy, David Kitt, Christy Moore, The Corrs, Relish, Ronan Keating, Westlife, Bellefire, Six, and oh-so-many more.

Perhaps the best part is that it’s all for a good cause: all profits from the book will be donated to Irish charity Fighting Blindness. According to their press release, “Fighting Blindness has been in existence since 1983. It is a small but dynamic charity made up of families and individuals affected by progressive blindness. The charity is determined to investigate every avenue where a realistic hope of finding a cure exists. The projects it funds are at the cutting edge of international research and have become global leaders in the search for treatments for blindness. 65,000 Irish adults and children are currently losing their sight to progressive blinding conditions known as retinal degenerations. Funds raised through the sale of this book will ensure this vital work is maintained and developed, bringing hope of a bright future to those currently affected by blindness and to future generations.”

“From the Cradle to the Stage” will be released on Wednesday, November 10th for €14.99 ($15 US). You can order the book now from the publisher,Poolbeg (direct link to the book) or from Fighting Blindness.

A full review of the book will come soon, but in the meantime, Alan Swan sat down with Zombieguide’s Alex Kraus to talk about his interview with Fergal, Fighting Blindness, and the current state of Irish music…

Zombieguide: First of all, when did you come up with the idea for this book?

Alan Swan: It was brewing around in my mind for a long time but it
wasn’t until March of 2002 that I sat down and started the ball rolling
on the project. I was presenting a breakfast show on CKRfm, a
commercial station for counties Carlow and Kildare, at the time, so I was up early in the morning, in for work at 5 am, on air at 6 am, finished work at 11 am. I was getting into the habit of sitting down at home pottering around at this and that and not really making use of the time that I had in the afternoons. So one day I just switched on the laptop and got going.

Zombieguide: What was the idea behind the book?

Alan Swan: The creative idea behind the book was very simple. I’m a massive fan of music, always have been. I wanted to put together a book where the artist, speaking in their own words could talk about there younger years and why they choose the road they travel. I’ve always been fascinated about what lights the spark. I wanted all original material. So I set about interviewing over 70-75 acts either face to face, by phone or by e-mail. Hoping that I could get little snippets of information that would give the book a little edge. Because I only had space for 80,000 words myself and my editor felt that we would have to give each artist around 800-1000 words each. Looking at the book now I feel we have a nice mix, some chapters run a bit more, some are short and get the message across. I’m happy with the finished product and extremely proud. I hope that someday someone might pick it up and that it might inspire them to take up music.

Zombieguide: How many pages will the final book have?

Alan Swan: Well it comes in at around 80,000 words, so 200 words a page, 400 pages. To tell you the truth, I have no idea. I still haven’t seen the finished product yet… I have seen the cover and it looks great. It has lots of different shots of different acts, including the Cranberries.

Zombieguide: Nice… when did Fighting Blindness come into the picture?

Alan Swan: Fighting Blindness came in from the start. I wanted a charity involved because I knew it would the perfect vehicle for them to promote themselves. I am good friends with one of there chief fund raising managers in Fighting Blindness and out of courtesy I asked him first before I pitched the idea to other charities. His Chief Exec. liked the idea, got the board to approve it and here we are. I’m thrilled the proceeds of this book is going to charity, Fighting Blindness are an incredible organization and quoting their Chief Exec. Micahel Griffith “Its flagship project in Trinity College is a world leader in the development of gene therapy for dominantly inherited retinopathies and the contribution of this group to the global research effort to find treatments for blindness has been truly outstanding by international terms.” I knew by having the charity on board that it would make it a lot easier to have all the other pieces to come together. The result is that from all of us combined, ie., from publishers to record companies, from artists to me, all our efforts will result in the proceeds from this book going to charity.

Zombieguide: I would assume then that not only was it easier to publish the book once you got a charity sponsor, but that it was a lot easier to get artists to jump in once you told them that it was for

charity?

Alan Swan: It was in a way – but there was an awful lot of work and presentations to do. Our publishers are great, like myself they are very passionate about the book and have put so much effort into it. The artists have been great too – a few due to work commitments weren’t able to contribute (which I totally understand) but I would hope they would make the second edition which I would love to put together in a few years time. Those who did contribute in fairness gave up there time to take part, for example Donal Lunny wrote a beautiful piece from Japan which he e-mailed to me. A lot of artists really took the project to heart and were very generous.

Zombieguide: It looks like the book has gone under a few changes since the first press releases were put out. Originally, the press release stated that Dolores wasto appear in the book, but now it’s Fergal who will appear in the final version. Was Dolores originally supposed to be interviewed? What happened?

Alan Swan: It was a simple case of crossed wires. Nothing more. It was a really early Press Release that wasn’t really finalized before it went out into the public domain. We are delighted to have Fergal on board and I think you will like his contribution. I honestly think that all our contributors have great little stories to tell.

Zombieguide: Yeah, can’t wait to check it out. This question comes from Brad from the Zombieguide Forums… What makes this book unique and not just a mini-biography? I mean, a lot of us diehard fans have already read many, many biographies already, especially about the band’s early days. Just last year, Niall Quinn published his own story online about the earliest days of The Cranberry Saw Us in his own words. Can you promise us something new?

Alan Swan: To be honest I can’t promise anything.

Zombieguide: Then can you give us a little taste of what to expect?

Alan Swan: Each chapter contains small snapshots of the artists life. In Fergal’s case he talks about his first gig, listening to the radio, singing songs in his father’s rocking chair and so on. It would be unfair of me to say “Ah yeah, it’s full of so much new info, lots of it, go out and buy it.” I wouldn’t lie to you, it’s only when you read through the whole book that you get a sense of Irish life and how these stories compare. I found Fergal’s chapter really interesting and I hope whoever buys the book finds this too. Remember too it’s in his own words like all the chapters in the book. I would hope that whoever buys the book would enjoy the other artists stories too, and go, “Jaysus did that happen to Jim Corr, or I never knew that about James Galway or Damien Rice, was THAT the first ever song he learned?” It’s really a celebration of Irish music and that we as a small country have such an array of different styles and singers. I think it’s unique in the way that I don’t think there has been a book that gives such a broad taste of Irish music through the artists own words.

Zombieguide: Oh, really? So the chapters are in first-person monologue style, like an autobiography? Dolores did something very similar for Liz Evans’s book “Women, Sex, and Rock ‘n’ Roll” in 1994, only Evans had to turn the interview into a monologue on her own, since Dolores was in a hospital bed from her skiing accident in the Alps.

Alan Swan: Yes they are. I felt it would be more personal to the reader if it was written like that. I tried to have it flow like a natural conversation, snippets here, snippets there. I hope it works.

Zombieguide: When exactly did you get to interview Fergal? Was it a face-to- face interview or by phone or…? What were your overall impressions of him?

Alan Swan: Because the band where busy, I conducted Fergal’s interview via e-mail and he was very open and obliging. He also wished the project the very best of luck.

Zombieguide: Wow, so did you get Fergal’s personal email address? If you did, I think you just captured the envy of everyone reading this.

Alan Swan: Actually, I have a good friend who acted as a third party for me. E-Mails were then just forwarded to me through that address. I was delighted Fergal had the time to do it because he was on tour at the time. He also left a lovely good luck message for me at the end which was very kind.

Zombieguide: We know that “Cradle to the Stage” covers artists’ roots and early days, but what other subject matter is in the book? Did Fergal get the chance to talk about The Cranberries’ current or future projects?

Alan Swan: No I’m sorry he didn’t, because we asked the artists to focus so much on the past we tended not to get so much info on the future, In some cases we did, but in Fergal’s case we didn’t. Sorry…

Zombieguide: It’s alright. Dolores has been quoted as saying that she doesn’t like to incorporate “trad” elements into The Cranberries’ music because she feels that it’s too much of a cliché for an Irish band. In a sense, its one distinction that separates The Cranberries from other modern Irish, particularly female acts like Enya and The Corrs. Do you feel that a lot of new bands agree with Dolores’ sentiment, or are there still a number that have that “Irish” sound?

Alan Swan: Not to be arguing with Dolores, but in my honest opinion and in a sense I think Dolores’s main instrument, her voice, has a massive Irish traditional Sean Nos sense to it. Her voice is sensational and much of their early material had an Irish feel to it. Recently it has shifted away from that. I can see her point though; some Irish acts do go with the trad element. I don’t think it’s a cliché, I think if it works for Enya and The Corrs and the fans like it well then it works. There are a lot of Irish acts that don’t go with the Trad slant — JJ72, Ash and The Frames. I think it’s great for the Irish sound to be still around, it’s what makes us distinctive, different.

Zombieguide: About the Irish elements, I think everyone would have to agree that Dolores’ voice has a very inherently Celtic quality. But what she means to say is that she’s very much against incorporating stuff like the fiddle or the tin whistle unless it’s absolutely necessary…

Alan Swan: I know exactly where you’re coming from. With regards to Enya and so if it works it works. What the Cranberries do also works and works incredibly well.

Zombieguide: On a broader scale, there is this fear among some cultural purists that Ireland is losing a lot of its ethnic identity and “Irish charm.” (Not to be confused with Lucky Charms, of course.) A hundred years ago, it was a fear of Ireland becoming Anglicized, but today, there’s just as much of a fear of becoming Americanized, or even just “globalized” in general. Do you feel this social trend is having a large impact on music?

Alan Swan: It is in a way. A few years back, and to some small extent now, an awful lot of bands were trying to sound like Radiohead, singer- songwriters were trying to sound like David Gray, and many would follow what was the in sound at the time. I think you will get that in every country though and not just in Ireland. I don’t think Irish music is dying though, I think it’s stronger the ever and a lot of acts are going back to basics and bringing an Irish folk kind of feel to there music. In that I mean that many of our best artists have always been unique story tellers. We have a new generation of artists such as Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, David Kitt, Mundy and so on who all have there own unique sound and bring something fresh to Irish music. I’ve always said it but for a country as small as Ireland we really do produce amazing things. On the other side Trad music is as popular as ever and seems to have lost the stupid stigma that was attached to it. Acts like Altan, Donal Lunny, Dervish and as always The Chieftains are leading the way.

Zombieguide: One radio-related website that I ran across said that “From the Cradle to the Stage,” is your first book but that you have “several others in the pipeline.” Is that right?

Alan Swan: It is, I’m going to take a bit of break from writing for a while, maybe six months or so. I want to write a book about my grandmother, it’s a personal story and really a celebration of her life, she was an amazing woman and I’m really looking forward to sitting down and starting the research work on that. I also want to work on some other biogs but that’s a long way down the road.

Zombieguide: Any chance of another Cranberries-related book?

Alan Swan: Who knows, maybe some day… never say never!

Zombieguide would like to thank Alan Swan for his time and wish best of luck to him and Fighting Blindness.

Source: Exclusive!

Before they appeared on the show “Absolutely Fabulous,” British comedy duo Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French carried their own series called “French & Saunders,” which is now getting a flurry of releases on DVD. Their newest DVD release, Living in a Material World has something to offer which will amuse — or infuriate — Cranberries fans.

“Living in a Material World” includes one skit that impersonates Dolores O’Riordan. DVD Talk laments that the parodied lyrics are tough to make out, but hilarious none the less. “Bjork and the Cranberries… also get intricate send-ups… although the musical tributes are a bit less effective as the jokey lyrics are a bit tough to make out. Still, these skits are all awesomely funny.” Björk and Dolores aren’t the only ones getting a jab; Madonna also gets the shaft.

“French and Saunders – Living in a Material World” is now available on DVD in the US for a retail price of $14.98.

Source: DVD Talk

The Irish rock documentary “From a Whisper to a Scream” has been picked up by Eagle Vision USA for a re-release this week on DVD. The new version, entitled “Out of Ireland: From a Whisper to a Scream” was originally released by Fox Lorber under the title “From a Whisper to a Scream: The Living History of Irish Rock” in March 2001 on DVD and a VHS set. The documentary was produced in 2000 and was originally aired on national network RTE in Ireland. The documentary includes a brief segment on The Cranberries and an exclusive interview with Dolores O’Riordan as she comments on Sinead O’Connor, Thin Lizzy, and Irish traditional music.

The new version boasts new packaging (including a shot of Dolores on the cover), but the content appears to be the same as the original release.

Check out Zombieguide Europe for scans of the original release and screen captures.

(IMAGES NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Source: Eagle Vision USA

It’s too bad the album title “Rumours” has already been done (snatched up by Fleetwood Mac in 1977), because lately, it seems that this would be the ideal title for the Cranberries’ sixth album. Amidst all of the mayhem of “will they or won’t they” ever return to the studio, fans are left wondering: how are The Cranberries coping with the allegations, insinuations, and the ever popular out-of-context publications?

Well, for a little poetic answer to that question, Zombieguide presents an astonishing creation by mesmerizing cartoonist, Maurizio di Bona aka The Hand. Cranberries fans may remember that it was The Hand who, earlier this year, was asked by The Cranberries to produce artwork for official band merchandise. Created in an attempt to portray The Cranberries’ struggle to balance personal with professional, this one-of-a-kind illustration, entitled “Stop Rumours” was submitted to Zombieguide in an effort to help stifle the whirlwind of conclusions and remind fans that The Cranberries remain individuals with significant responsibilities that lie beyond the group itself.

Special thanks to the astonishing artist, The Hand, for kindly allowing Zombieguide to post this terrific piece of art!

Source: Exclusive

What do The Cranberries have in common with Chopin? How about a top- ranked spot in the personal favorites list of Norwegian actor, Dennis Storhøi! In an IGN Filmforce online interview, actor Dennis Storhoi (The Thirteenth Warrior) named The Cranberries, alongside Chopin, as his personal favorite musicians…as odd of a combination as it might seem.

The accomplished actor has performed in numerous on-stage productions as well as silver screen projects. In IGN Filmforce’s brief ten questions spanning everything from favorite film to greatest influences, his reference to The Cranberries as favorite musical artist took first line in the interview.

Source: IGN Filmforce

As if quirky tunes such as “Yellow Submarine”, “Rocky Raccoon”, and “I Am the Walrus” aren’t enough of a novelty for Beatles fans, there is now a new three-volume compilation that exalts the music industry’s fascination with the Fab Four. We Want the Beatles is an eclectic compilation that’s turned up on eBay. The strange set features both well-known and obscure tracks that include virtually any reference to John, Paul, George or Ringo. So what has this to do with The Cranberries you ask? Think hard. Yes, you’ve got it. To The Faithful Departed’s rocking tribute to the late John Lennon, “I Just Shot John Lennon” is included in the smorgasbord of songs about The Beatles. As long-time fans of The Beatles, The Cranberries were bound to pay homage to the mop-topped music legends somehow; and a savvy bootlegger out there didn’t overlook The Cranberries contribution to Beatle Mania.

We Want the Beatles appears to be an unofficial collection of songs; yet it certainly does deserve credit for baring a painstaking appearance. Zealot bidders currently have the unofficially-released six-disc set priced at over $90.00 on eBay.com

Source: eBay.com

Universal Music has released a brand new limited edtion 2CD set in Colombia entited, “Master Collection.” The set consists of the full “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee” and “No Need to Argue” albums housed in a special cardboard sleeve. The limited edition set appears to be aimed at new fans, offering both the most recent album and what some consider to be the “best” album in one package. The officially-released set is currently available in Colombia; it is unknown if Universal plans to release the set in other areas as well. For reference, the full tracklising is:

Wake Up & Smell The Coffee:
1. Never Grow Old
2. Analyse
3. Time Is Ticking Out
4. Dying Inside
5. This is The Day
6. The Concept
7. Wake Up & Smell THe Coffee
8. Pretty Eyes
9. I Really Hope
10. Every Morning
11. Do You Know
12. Carry On
13. Chocolate Brown – bonus track
14. Salvation – Live In Paris
15. In The Ghetto

No Need To Argue:
1. Ode To My Family
2. I Can’t Be With You
3. Twenty One
4. Zombie
5. Empty
6. Everything I Said
7. The Icicle Melts
8. Disappointment
9. Ridiculous Thoughts
10. Dreaming My Dreams
11. Yeat’s Grave
12. Daffodil Lament
13. No Need to Argue

Thanks to Vincent for the tip!

Source: Esprit

Author Alan Swan sent us a note yesterday to say that his upcoming book,”From the Cradle to the Stage,” will be released on November 12th with a cover price of €14.99 (€5 lower than the anticipated price). The book contains an interview with The Cranberries’ Fergal Lawler, as well as a host of other Irish musicians like Ash, Devlins, The Corrs, Samantha Mumba, Christy Moore, Chieftains, and others, 70 in total. “From the Cradle to the Stage” contains a forward by Gay Byrne and commentary by Dave Fanning and Tom Dunne. All proceeds will benefit Irish charity Fighting Blindness.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase from the publisher’s website, Poolbeg.com, upon release.

Zombieguide has interviewed Alan Swan about his book (and about Fergal’s contribution!), and we will publish that interview as the release date draws near.

Source: Exclusive

The Limerick Post reports that members of The Cranberries were in attendence at the recent launch party for the Red Room, a new nightclub in downtown Limerick. The venue was formerly known as Doc’s Bar, but has undergone massive renovations to turn the building into a more modern, trendier nightclub and bar. Guests’ attendence at the party was by invitation only and the list included a large number of local personalities.

Members of The Cranberries were seen “rubbing shoulders” with fellow Limerick musicians Woodstar at the revamped venue. Woodstar opened for The Crans last December in Ireland, while Fergal gave them a name-check in an Official Site post this past May. All the crossovers aren’t coincidental; Woodstar’s lead singer Fin Chambers tells The Limerick Post that The Cranberries have been among their biggest supporters:

“They [The Cranberries] have been absolutely fantastic with their support for us. We know that if there is any help we want, anything we need such as getting someone to listen to our stuff, then all we have to do is ask. Some of the band have been to three of four of our gigs. They wouldn’t be very vocal people, but they seem to like our stuff and we know if we need anything they will oblige us, so it is fantastic to have their support,” Fin says.

Source: The Limerick Post

A new factory-produced Cranberries bootleg has appeared on the streets of Europe under the title “Go Your Own Way.” The new bootleg consists mostly of audio from professionally-recorded shows, primarily ARTE’s Music Planet 2Nite show from 2002 and the Vicar Street concert from 2000 (officially released on the “Stars” DVD). Due to the professional sources, the audio quality is said to be “excellent.”

“Go Your Own Way” has been released on the pseudo-label “Salavation Records” with the catalog ID “CRANBERRIESLIVE 2000/02.” The tracklisting is:

Arte TV Show, Sept 8, 2002, Gloria Theatre, Cologne:

1. Linger
2. I Can’t Be With You 3. Free To Decide
4. Salvation
5. Animal Instinct
6. Zombie
7. Interview 1
8. Interview 2

Vicar Street, Ireland, Nov 11, 2000:

9. Intro Irish Show
10. Time Is Ticking Out
11. Linger
12. In The Ghetto
13. Ode To My Family
14. Shattered
15. Animal Instinct
16. Loud And Clear
17. I Can’t Be With You
18. Analyse

Paris Bercy, Dec 9, 1999:

19. Go Your Own Way

Astoria, UK, Jan 22, 1994:

20. Daffodil Lament 21. Empty

Thanks to Vincent of My Cranberries Discography for the info.

Source: My Cranberries Discography

From Shannen Doherty (“Friends ‘Til The End”) now to Kathryn Morris (“Minority Report”), you can hear The Cranberries’ 1996 single “When You’re Gone”, lofting through the background of television drama after drama. On Sunday night’s episode of the new CBS series Cold Case, starring Kathryn Morris and John Finn, approximately ten seconds of “When You’re Gone” was used to help create the mood of dramatic television. Though it was just a clip, and a small one at that, it’s a rare treat to have the opportunity to savor a Cranberries moment on network television.

Thanks to Michelle for the news.
Cold Case airs Sunday nights at 8:00 pm ET/PT on CBS.

Source: Exclusive

Reports out of France indicate that art designer Storm Thorgerson is resting in a Paris hospital after suffering a stroke last Friday. Thorgerson has been in Paris for the last few weeks for a Pink Floyd art exhibition which runs from October 10th, 2003 until January 25th, 2004.

Thorgerson has designed the covers of nearly all of The Cranberries’ recent releases (aside from “Stars”). We all pray he has a swift recovery!

Thanks to Echoes In Babylon for the news.

Source: N/A

In her first commercially-released video performance since the announced 2-year hiatus for The Cranberries, Dolores O’Riordan appears on the new DVD companion to this year’s CD release, “Zu & Co”. As a part ofa collection of duets with Italian vocalist, Zucchero, Dolores’s performance of “Pure Love” will be included on the singer’s live DVD. The concert footage was taken from a performance held on May 6, 2004 at London’s Royal Albert Hall – a stage familiar to The Cranberries.

The region 2 DVD, currently scheduled for released on October 18 in most European countries, November for France, will most likely hit stores in November and will include a backstage documentary, a photo gallery, the making of the ZU & Co album (presumably the same as on the ZU & Co special edition), Dunne Mosse with Miles Davis and “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” live at the 46664 concert in South Africa with Queen’s Brian May as well as Roger Taylor and Sharon Corr. Plus, the disc has a teasing collection of “Hiden Extras”. Currently, only a Region 2 release is planned for “Live at Royal Albert Hall.”

The main event of the DVD, however, is the show itself, boasting this tracklisting:

Dunne Mosse (featuring Miles Davis ‘in spirit’)
Dindondio
Rossa mela della sera
Il grande baboomba (featuring Mousse T.)
Like the sun (featuring Irene Fornaciari)
Everybody’s got to learn sometime (featuring Jenny Bae)
I’m in trouble (featuring Tina Arena)
Baila Morena (featuring Maná’s Fher)
Ali D’Oro (featuring John Lee Hooker ‘in spirit’)
Senza una donna (featuring Paul Young)
Pure Love (featuring Dolores O’Riordan)
Diavolo in me (featuring Solomon Burke)
Il volo (featuring Ronan Keating)
Cosi Celeste (featuring Cheb Mami)
Madre Dolcissima (featuring Brian May)
Il Mare… (featuring Brian May)
Hey Man (featuring Eric Clapton)
Wonderful World (featuring Eric Clapton)
Miserere (featuring Luciano Pavarotti)
Solo una sana…
Shake
Diamante
X colpa di chi?
Hai scelto me

Zu & Co is not the only upcoming DVD release for Dolores. Universal is re- releasing 1994’s The Cranberries “Live” on DVD, November 29th throughout Europe.

Source: Un Po’ di Zucchero

Today’s issue of the Irish tabloid “The Sunday Mirror” has spotted The Cranberries’ Noel Hogan in Dublin this week. Photographers for the tabloid followed Noel around while he was shopping for CDs at the Tower Records on Wicklow Street.

The tabloid published a photo of their encounter with Noel. Unfortunately, since we only have the text version, we don’t have a scan to share. If anyone (Phil?) has access to today’s issue to make scans for us, please send it toZombieguide!

Source: Exclusive

Zombieguide’s own Shannon Sankar took the initiative today in contactingThe Cranberries Official Website regarding the recent lack of updates in the past month, sorely needed in the light of Irish reports that the band is taking a two year break. Shannon wrote, “And because the official web site continues to include, as its last update, a title that reads: ‘Cranberries quietly working away…’, I feel like this is starting to not only become frustrating for fans who have been left out of the loop of the truth, but is also becoming misleading, if in fact The Cranberries are NOT ‘working away’ right now. I write you because I know that you have always strived to be especially appreciative of the connection your band has with its fans. You have taken initiative in the past to communicate with your fans; and I have a great respect for that. … I am asking that you please clarify the information released on Sept. 17th from your publicists stating a vague reference to what could either be a two-year break or an indefinite break up.”

To her surprise, unlike most fans’ inqueries to the page, she received a reply! The response read, “Hi Shannon, an update will come soon!” Though no time frame was given, we should be able to hope for some kind of official announcement soon.

I know, I know. We said the same thing a month ago, but that statement from the official site had no promise of “soon.”

Zombieguide will have the absolute latest on The Cranberries’ hiatus status as we know it.

Source: Exclusive

“What’s in your head?” For Brazilian students learning the English language, educators at Yazigi Internexus, a leading educational facility in Brazil, are hoping to put a little English grammar in the heads of their students. Recently, Yazigi Internexus chose to incorportate clips of The Cranberries’ videos for both “Zombie” and “Salvation” to help students learn about and discuss controversial topics as conveyed in English. In classes with topics such as “Drugs” and “Violence,” students studied the lyrics to each song in depth, their meanings, and how they apply to society. With a little help from a gold-painted Dolores, students are debating the effects of violence while learning to communicate in English. And thanks to a drug-pushing psycho clown, Brazilian students are learning how English-speakers “just say no”. And to think, you’ve laughed at Dolores’s “one, two, tree, four” before kicking into “Salvation” live in concert. Look who’s the English language role model now!

Thanks to Daniel for the information!

Source: Exclusive

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, MTV Latin America is continuing to run more video countdowns, much like “Linger” in the Top 20.

This week, MTVLA has been running a new special entitled “MTV 10 Años: 100 Videos,” which encapsulates some of the most influencial music videos of the past decade. The series began on Monday and will conclude tomorrow, October 3rd.

The Cranberries’ “Zombie” placed at #67 on the list. During the video, a clip of Argentinian alternative rock singer Leo Garcia was shown, where he commented on the song and video. After doing his best imitiation of the chorus (“in your head, in your head”) Gracia said, “I really like the crucifix, the gold [kids], and her too. It’s a good anthem but the video is much better than the song. I like the fusion of the biblical and the mythological, not to mention a chick singing grunge — that’s great!”

Thanks to I Can’t Be With Them for the news.

Source: Cranstar Forums

Litsa just sent us a quick tip that CNBC Turkey will repeat the Istanbul concert on October 29th at 10:30 (unknown if AM or PM). If you live in Turkey, be sure to record and share if at all possible!

Turkish site Daffodil Lament reports that the Turkish CNBC television network will be broadcasting The Cranberries’ Istanbul 2002 concert later today. The network filmed The Cranberries’ concert last year for television broadcast. CNBC Turkey will be airing the concert today (September 20th) at 18:00 local time. The concert marked The Cranberries’ first concert in Turkey.

Last month, Turkish radio station Radyo Eksen broadcasted the audio from the concert, which was available streaming live over the station’s website.

Source: Daffodil Lament

Universal Music Japan has announced that The Cranberries’ “Stars: The Best of The Cranberries” DVD (as “Best of Videos” is called in Japan) will be part of a November-December campaign of specially priced Limited Edition re- releases. The campaign consists of a total of 84 titles, 29 of which are Western (non-Japanese) music titles.

Although content of the “Stars” DVD will remain the same, all of the titles in the new campaign will receive small packaging changes (new stickers, etc) and a new low price. The new low-price limited editon DVDs will only be available for purchase from November 1st until December 29th. All of the titles in the campaign will have a finite number of printed copies, so once they are sold out, they will not be replaced. Other artists’ DVDs in the promotion include Björk, Eminem, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Jimi Hendrix, Blink 182 and Sting.

The “Stars” DVD was first released in Japan this past March with an expensive retail price of 4,200 yen ($35 US, nearly double the US retail of $20). The new limited editon re-release (catalogue number UIBO-9006) will be marked down to 3,200 yen ($28 US).

The new Japanese version of “Stars” will release on November 1st. Zombieguide will try to have images of the new packaging as its release date nears. If there are any Japanese Cranberries fans who can help us out in locating scans and info, please email us!

Sources: CD Japan, Watch Impress

In another quiet business-related update on The Cranberries’ Official Website, the contact page has been changed to show Curtain Call Limited as the band’s management group.

This revelation strikes us as strange since, at least on paper, The Cranberries’ Official Website is run by employees at Timeless Music and not Curtain Call. Perhaps this too will change soon.

This change comes just on the heels of contact info being removed from the Timeless Music website. However, the new “Curtain Call” listing on the contact page still links to Timeless.

All of this leaves us wondering if The Cranberries are planning to merge both companies into one? After last week’s news of the band parting ways with longtime manager Lewis Kovac, it is obvious that The Cranberries are undergoing some large management changes as they embark on their two- year hiatus.

To see the changes made on the official and Timeless websites, check out the current “contact” page vs. the Google cached version and the current Timeless Music page vs the Google cache.

For the record, Curtain Call, Ltd. is based in Limerick and is owned jointly by the four members of The Cranberries, each holding an equal number of the company’s shares. Timeless Music, Ltd., is (or at least was until this point) based in Dublin and is owned half by Dolores O’Riordan, half by Curtain Call jointly, so the lads have less control over Timeless, but some control none the less.

Source: Exclusive

They may be on hiatus, but The Cranberries are still creating a buzz. Brazilian-based music station Universo do Rock is hosting another poll with your chance to vote for The Cranberries. Ironically, the poll is asking fans: “Which bands would you like to see come to Brazil in 2004?” Despite the reality that a 2004 tour with The Cranberries doesn’t look very likely at the moment, the poll is a fun way to help The Cranberries maintain a little “top of mind awareness.”

To cast your vote for The Cranberries, logon to Universo do Rock
Thanks to: Emerson Erc.Josh for the information

Source: Exclusive

After waiting nearly a year, patient Cranberries fans in Turkey have finally gotten their hands on the DVD of “Stars: The Best of Videos 1992-2002.” The DVD was released in most regions of the world last October. The Turkish version of the DVD is identical to the European version released late last year.

When contacted earlier this year for comment, a representative for Universal Music Turkey cited “serious import problems” as the cause of the delay. The representative promised that the DVD would be shipped to stores in September, and Universal Music Turkey has made good on their promise.

Turkey hasn’t been the only country to receive the DVD late; Japan only received the “Stars” DVD this past March, although that version included added Japanese subtitles and a new Japanese sticker on the cover.

Thanks to Haluk Uslu for the news.

Source: Exclusive

Forget MTV…at least as far as Cranberries videos go. Here in the U.S., a Cranberries fan has just about as much chance of seeing the video for “Analyse” on MTV as seeing Dolores drive by in her gold BMW. It’s just not going to happen. But here’s a glimmer of encouragement: U.S.-based WAM Network, part of the Starz/Encore package, is airing promos of their “Get Reel” program airing on Thursday nights at 8:00 pm. The program showcases pop-rock music videos; and guess which video was included in the promo clip! Yes, it’s true. “Analyse” got approximately 0.10 seconds of air-time on U.S. television with the suggestion of a whole lot more.

Though the channel is dripping with pre-teen programs and off-the-wall movies, “Get Reel” takes an inside look at the world of entertainment and throws out the occasional music video. And if the promo is any indication of what to expect from the new season, this could be one of the few chances U.S. fans get to catch post-1996 Cranberries music videos on television without the need for a VCR. New episodes of “Get Reel” is currently slated to air on Thursdays at 8:00 pm, but may be shuffled around with WAM’s habit of haphazard scheduling.

The WAM Network is available through satellite television providers including Direct TV and Dish network, and through select cable companies as part of the Starz/Encore Superpak.

Source: Exclusive

Yesterday, music channel VH1 premiered their newest addition in their line of countdown specials, “The 50 Greatest Album Covers.” For the special VH1 interviewed Storm Thorgerson, considered one of the greatest album art designers of all time, working some striking pieces for Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Mike Oldfield, Phish, and perhaps most famously, Pink Floyd. Thorgerson, half of the team known as Hypnosis, was responsible for two of VH1’s top ten covers, with Led Zepplin at #6 and Pink Floyd at #4.

Of course Cranberries fans will know him best for the surreal dreamscapes that grace the covers of “Bury the Hatchet,” “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee,” “Beneath the Skin,” and all related singles. So of course we were on the lookout for a Cranberries nod during the segment, and sure enough, Thorgerson was interviewed while seated in front of two of his own pieces for The Cranberries and Pink Floyd. Apparently Storm Thorgerson enjoys his work for The Cranberries so much as to put it on the walls in his own office.

Thanks to our own Saeed Ali for the tip.

Source: Exclusive

While contemplating the possibility of a no new live Cranberries experiences in the near future, at least there’s the vicarious thrill of a “re-run”. Today, the Turkish CNBC station re-aired The Cranberries concert performance recorded live from Istanbul on November 5, 2002. Though the actual show boasted a full set list with a whopping 22 songs including an interesting blast from the past with “Put Me Down” and a look into the more recent era of “Stars” and “New New York”, the abbreviated televised version that aired today contained only 5 songs from the show. “Zombie”, “Animal Instinct”, “Empty”, “Promises” and “Dreams” were the songs that made the cut.

And if the abridged version doesn’t quite capture the full concert experience for you, feel free to do what we did, read the fan reviews, including an image of the full set list from the show, posted on the Official Site.

Thanks to Yaðýz Murat Aksu for the news.

Source: Exclusive

Just days ago, it looked as though both Dolores and Noel were each working on collaborations with outside artists: Dolores with Germany’s Jam & Spoon, and Noel with Indian artist Nishat Khan. Today, however, in a rather low-key update on the Official Site, it’s been revealed that Noel’s collaboration with Nishat Khan will not take place as suggested earlier. The Official Site cites Khan’s touring schedule as the reason for the change of plans.

Editor’s Note: Pay no attention to that “Latest Update September 1” on the Official Site’s main page. Updates on the Official Site are happening. And Zombieguide will keep bringing you the latest.

Source: Official Site

Just hours ago, the website for The Cranberries’ self-owned management company, Timeless Music, contained a phone number, a fax number and an email address for the band’s Limerick-based offices. The page, which was minimalist to begin with, has today been stripped down to only a logo and an email address in another quiet update.

No word on why the contact information just simply “disappeared.” We learned on Wednesday that along with the band’s hiatus, they have parted ways with head manager Lewis Kovac and will now be doing the largest portion of their business through Timeless Music Limited. (No word on how these changes will effect their other self-owned company, Curtain Call Limited, if at all.)

Source: Exclusive

Hoardes of anxious fans have emailed The Cranberries Official Site over the past two days regarding a press release which states that The Cranberries will be taking an extended official break, much like they did after the release of “To the Faithful Departed.” Today, all inqueries received the same response: “We will update the site once we have confirmed information, as always. Thanks for your inquiry. Webmaster.” Fans have been anxiously waiting for an Official Site statement.

It’s been nearly three days since Cranberries publicists Lindsey Holmes Publicity sent out a press release to all major Irish news outlets on Tuesday evening, according to The Irish Times, national network RTE, and others. Up until now, the Official Site has been quick to squash any false rumors, but their current delay is just another inidication that an unusual situation is taking place.

Thanks to many fans for the notice.
More news coming very soon. If you’ve heard a report that we haven’t posted

yet, please send it to us!

Source: Exclusive

Despite Dolores’s less than enthusiastic reaction to ADAM’s dance cover of “Zombie”, she’s now lending a hand to the club-based music scene as guest-vocalist on German dance group Jam & Spoon’s upcoming release. Currently scheduled to hit stores on October 26th, Jam & Spoon’s new album contains a track featuring vocals by Dolores O’Riordan. How will Dolores’s rock ‘n roll style blend with the techno/trance sounds of Jam & Spoon? Find out October 26th.

Currently, very little is known about the album (not even its title), nor have any press materials been released on the CD. Expect those details soon here on Zombieguide.

Source: Official Site

Despite their headline, it was Cranberries publicist Lindsey Holmes who spoke with Hotpress.com today, not Dolores O’Riordan herself. (Dolores was only quoted from yesterday’s press release.)

Holmes tells Hot Press, “She’s also recorded a song for Mel Gibson’s controversial new film about Christ, The Passion. Noel (Hogan), meanwhile, has been working on some demos of his own with the Indian sitarist Nishat Khan. There’s no word on where and when they’re going to come out yet, but I imagine you’re looking at sometime in the New Year.”

Dolores, meanwhile, remains in Canada with her husband’s family. “Dolores is staying on in Canada for longer than planned because her husband Don’s step-mum hasn’t been well.”

Holmes maintains that although the band are taking an official break, she believes that they will reconvene at some time. “They’re still on good terms and in regular contact with each other, so I think fans can take the contents of the statement on face value.”

The most shocking news to come from Hot Press — aside from Dolores’s contribution to the film “The Passion” — is that Noel, Mike, and Fergal may take up their own project under a new name without Dolores as singer. We kid you not. Here’s what Hot Press says:

As part of their “temporary shutdown in activities”, the Cranberries will no longer be represented by co-manager Lewis Kovac. Kovac will, however, continue to work with Fergal Lawlor and Noel and Mike Hogan who are planning an album together under a new name.

HUGE thanks to Jessica van Kessel for the news, we will have more news as we know it.

More news coming very soon. If you’ve heard a report that we haven’t posted yet, please send it to us!

Source: Hot Press

Earlier today, Dolores O’Riordan spoke directly to hotpress.com to refute the Irish press’s claim that The Cranberries are permanently breaking up.

She assures that the next two years will be used for “a temporary time-out to experiment on solo projects,” and not as an excuse to quit the band.

We will have the full article with quotes as soon as the lovely Jessica van Kessel can get them for us.

On a completely editorial note, The Cranberries need to seriously consider changing their PR staff. This “splitting up” / “not splitting up” chaos has been going on for a full year now and it has yet to cease. The band’s main publicity company, Lindsey Holmes Publicity, has no website and no email address, despite the fact that The Cranberries have a strong online fanbase. Something is seriously wrong with this picture. The fact that HotPress.com has had to publish three news stories within the past few months with the headline “Cranberries NOT Splitting Up” should be a clear sign that The Cranberries and their promotional staff need to be better equipped to handle such potentially lethal publicity. True, The Cranberries themselves are partially to blame for the chaos, since their own quotes have been used against them. However, to issue to a press release that can be construed to mean that The Cranberries are “no more” is simply a PR catastrophe.

More news coming very soon. If you’ve heard a report that we haven’t posted yet, please send it to us!

Source: Hotpress.com

A spokesperson for The Cranberries was quoted in today’s “Irish Times,” saying that the band’s two-year hold on group projects is “just a break and that nothing was ruled out for the future”.

Dolores has been in Canada since mid-June. The family illness previously mentioned on the Official Site is that of Don Burton’s mother, Dolores’ mother-in-law. Dolores has been working in Toronto with progammer Matt Vaughan on several new solo songs.

“The Irish Times” adds that Noel Hogan is working on what they describe as “a solo album.” Of course we will await further confirmation of this (since the term “solo album” has been thrown around quite a lot lately). The Official Site reported on September 1st that Noel was working with world-renowed sitarist Nishat Khan on an undisclosed project.

Dolores continues to work on her autobiography with RTE producer Paul Russell, which is still on track for release next year.

More news coming very soon. If you’ve heard a report that we haven’t posted yet, please send it to us!

Source: The Irish Times (Ireland)

It is very possible that September 17, 2003 will forever be known as the day The Cranberries officially announced their breakup. The press release is very open-ended as to the future of the band. Whether or not The Cranberries will continue even in (gulp) 2005 is still undecided. They will take a break and “see what happens.”

The irony is, seven years ago, TO THE DAY in 1996, the three Limerick lads and a lass said almost the exact same thing. The conditions are different now, however. They are not bowing out due to stress, they are bowing out due to personal and family obligations which came, ironically enough, as almost a direct result of their first hiatus from 1996 until 1998.

Unfortunately, most of the Irish press is not taking such an “open-ended” approach to the news, proclaiming that The Cranberries are dead and that Dolores will embark on a solo career. Truth is, they could be right.

An unnamed insider quoted in The Mirror stated, “They just aren’t the music power they used to be and people have moved on to new bands. Dolores is a realist and she knows when the game is up. She didn’t see the point in taking the band any further. Without their lead singer the band simply can’t carry on because she is the one that everyone goes to see live. They had a meeting about it and decided it was best to call it a day and see what the future holds.”

Other Irish stars have immediately chimed in with their own thoughts on what they believe to be the band’s dissolution.

Famous Irish DJ Dave Fanning, who has continually supported The Cranberries throughout their career said, “They were a lovely bunch of people and I wish them all the best in the future. It will be interesting to see what they do next and I think Dolores can make it as a solo artist.”

Mickey Joe Harte, winner of Irish reality show You’re a Star commented that, “I think they were a great band and they did a lot for Irish music. They are a big loss to the Irish music industry.”

However, Westlife dicta-, er, manager Louis Walsh slammed the group when he heard the news. “It’s the best news I have heard all day. I never liked them. I admired their success but I didn’t like Dolores’ voice. It sounded like she was wailing like a banshee.”

As if a boyband manager would know anything about music. It’s only natural that he would admire the profit, but not the talent.

Comedian Deidre O’Kane, who often incorporates a Dolores O’Riordan impersonation into her act, professed her liking for the band. “I definitely am a fan of them. I think they’re great, they had two amazing albums. Dolores’s voice is fantastic and I’m gutted. It’s a sad day for Limerick. Her family came to some of my gigs and they all took it great.

DJ Ryan Tubridy added, “I’m sure she’ll have a great solo career. I used to listen to them in college. Dolores has a unique voice. The band were ridiculed for pretentious lyrics, but they were a pop band and were allowed to do that. They will never be at the same level as U2, but they were a great band. Goodbye The Cranberries, Hello The Frames.”

More news on the so-called “temporary shutdown” of the Cranberries coming in the next few minutes here on Zombieguide.

Source: The Mirror (Ireland)

Today’s issue of the Irish tabloid “The Mirror” has reprinted excerpts from yesterday’s press release from Lindsey Holmes Publicity, which states that The Cranberries — as a group — will be taking a break from the music industry for at least two years. Excerpts are below.

“Dolores is also keen to be a regular mum for her two young children, preferring to be at home with them and not always on tour as was the case last year.”

“As part of the temporary shut-down in activities, The Cranberries have parted company with co-manager Lewis Kovac who is currently setting up his own entertainment agency.

“The band will continue its business dealings through the Irish based Timeless Music company.”

In the statement, Dolores says, “I’d prefer to be at home with them [my family] and not always aways on tour.”

More news on the so-called “temporary shutdown” of the Cranberries coming in the next few minutes here on Zombieguide.

Source: The Mirror (Ireland)

In a shocking press release released last night by Cranberries’ public relations company, Lindsey Holmes Publicity, Dolores O’Riordan regretfully revealed that the band is about to go on two-year break from their careers. In the release, Dolores states, “We’ve been together for 13 years and it’s a much needed break. It was getting predictable and lacking in a challenge and now it’s time to experiment.”

The jaw-dropping announcement comes after months of rumors flying about the band’s break-up. The Irish press — particularly tabloids like The Mirror — are having a feild day with the story, pronouncing the band as DOA. Quotes have popped up from Irish personalities all over the country.

We at Zombieguide are rushing to gather all the reports that we can and will have more reports in the coming hours.

Sources: RTE, The Mirror

In an article published in Ireland’s “Sunday Tribune” this past June, the newspaper claims that touring in recent years for The Cranberries has not been very profitable — in fact, the article claims, the band has lost money in tour expenses.

Public accounts for Curtain Call Ltd., the band’s in-house money management company, for the years 2000 and 2001 show that touring in 2000, which consisted mostly of European summer festivals, generated a gross profit of €3.7 million.

However, the hefty costs for travel and lodging, a whopping €1.3 million, quickly wiped out over a third of that touring profit. Crew expeses during the 2000 tour were €609,000, while the comparatively smaller 2001 promo tour drained another €224,000 in crew costs. Sound and lighting equipment costs totalled €308,000, while trucking came to €145,000. The band lost an additional €308,000 for the two years due to foreign currency exchange.

The band’s management received nearly €1 million in commission for the two years. The band paid €189,000 in other wages and an additional€436,000 to video directors. The article also notes that production costs for the “Beneath the Skin” DVD totalled €375,000.

In all, The Cranberries accumulated €3.86 million in touring expenses with only €3.7 million profit. Some simple math will show that the band lost approximately €160,000 on their 2000 and 2001 tours.

But the news is not all bad — after all, the band makes a healthy profit off their album sales. “The Sunday Tribune” cites that the band received a €3.9 million recording advance as part of their 2000 contract with MCA Records. Studio costs came to €276,000 while recording “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.” No word on how much the band received as commission from actual sales of the CD.

“The Sunday Tribune” cites promoter Peter Aiken as saying, “It is the bands who make off with the lion’s share of the cash from concerts.” Aikenpromoted the band’s concert in Belfast this past May, and was spottedhanging out with Dolores and Don at a Bruce Springsteen concert in May.

Source: The Sunday Tribune (Ireland)

Zombieguide has learned that The Cranberries participated in yet another charity event over the summer, this time to the benefit of Ciara’s Crusade, a Limerick-based charity founded this year by The Irish Sun newspaper to fight cystic fibrosis. Dolores O’Riordan donated the wine-red jacket worn in the “Just My Imagination” video, while all four members of The Cranberries contributed an autographed Certificate of Authenticity and a copy of the 4CD “Treasure Box.” The band also donated tickets to the Killarney Summerfest concert, where they played with Counting Crows.

Mr. Kieran Murray is now the proud owner of the designer-brand “Just My Imagination”
jacket, a copy of “Treasure Box,” and autographs from the entire band.

The auction, held in Limerick’s Brazen Head Sports Bar on April 24, attracted a large crowd. The winning bid for what was touted as Dolores’s “favourite jacket” was placed by businessman Kieran Murray. Murray also won two other lots up for auction that night, a rugby ball signed by the Munster squad and a Majorca, Spain vacation package. His winning bid amount for the JMI jacket was not disclosed. Meanwhile, music lover Caroline Hayes won the pair of Killarney Summerfest tickets, the main raffle of the night.

Ciara’s Crusade was founded by The Irish Sun newspaper on January 21, 2003, named after cystic fibrosis sufferer Ciara Kelleher, a 10-year-old Limerick girl who died while waiting on a lung transplant. Proceeds from the aucion will be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and the children’s Sunshine Unit in Limerick Regional Hospital, where Ciara was treated.

The Cranberries were planning to visit Ciara, but she died before it could be arranged. Dolores told The Irish Sun, “The band was really touched when we heard about Ciara’s story in the Irish Sun. Being parents ourselves, we felt compelled to help out. We really hope that this campaign will encourage others to learn more about this dreadful disease.” When Ciara’s grandmother, Joan Kelleher, found out about the band’s donation, she remarked, “It’s a wonderful thing to do. Ciara just loved the band. They were among her favourites.”

Earlier this year, The Cranberries Official Website auctioned off the shoes worn in the “I Can’t Be With You” video for nearly $3000. Dolores plans to hold more clothes auctions for charity in the near future.

Source: The Irish Sun (Ireland)

The Cranberries have done very little press this year, as they’ve spent most of their time at home with their families and writing new material. Today, however, Zombieguide has learned of one low-profile interview that Dolores did for the UK tabloid The Mirror this past April in promotion of the band’s short summer tour.

Dolores has some very interesting quotes on the effects of fame on her personal life and how she has no plans to return to the media spotlight, pitying younger stars like Samantha Mumba and Westlife. It is clear that she has reached a level of almost zen-like happiness, one which she seems unwilling to let go of, no matter what the consequence — or reward.

The full article is below.

FAME WAS A LIVING HELL..I HAD TO GET OUT BEFORE IT DROVE ME TO SUICIDE; CRANBERRIES STAR TELLS OF HER STRUGGLE WITH CELEBRITY

April 1, 2003
BYLINE: PAUL MARTIN

BACK ON SONG: Dolores and band decided to play a few select gigs after years away SPEC-TACULAR: Dolores O’Riordan; JUKEBOX STAR: At home during the height of her fame with the Cranberries in the mid-1990s; REMOTE: Dolores lives near Dingle, Co Kerry, with her husband and three children

DOLORES O’Riordan has tasted glory and despair in equal measures over the years.

She has hit immense lows, suffering a nervous breakdown and vowing to turn her back on music for ever.

But for the first time since she burst into the pop charts as a wide-eyed teenager, the 31-year-old Cranberries singer is truly happy.

She may not sell the enormous number of albums that she did in her heyday, and she may not be one of the prominent faces on the showbiz circuit.

But after suffering a level of fame and intrusion on her private life that, she admits, could have driven her to suicide, being a No1 mum instead of a chart-topping pop star is a million miles better.

She spoke for the first time in nearly a year as the band prepare to hit the road for a small number of concerts.

Dolores explained: “I’m 100 per cent content, and that’s the first time I can honestly say that since I became famous.”

When we met, Dolores had just finished her daily five-mile ride through the countryside.

She is chirpy, relaxed and looks as if she doesn’t have a care in the world – and why should she? After all, she’s amassed an estimated pounds 30million over the years.

Rather than the madness and mayhem of tours, promotions and video shoots, Dolores says her life now is an idyllic blend of family days out and the odd live concert.

She added: “I have been there and done that as far as the whole rock star madness thing goes.

“I’m never going back there, I’m relieved to be out of it all to be honest.

“No, people don’t recognise me as much anymore and the papers don’t hassle me.

“But that’s a good thing, not something that I feel I am missing out on.

“Fame is great for a while but when it robs you of who you really are then that is a different game altogether.

“I don’t think I was the easiest person to be around when I was at a real low.

“I would’ve been unhappy about doing interviews and making appearances in public. It’s not a great way to be but that’s life.

EVENTUALLY all the pressure of fame gets to you and you aren’t acting like yourself anymore. That’s exactly what happened to me.”

Dolores admits she was completely out of her depth when fame and fortune landed on her 18-year-old lap.

She said: “Suddenly money was rolling in and the fame was huge, I’m talking about going anywhere in the world and people know who you are.

“At first it was great fun and I loved it, gradually it become a living nightmare and I didn’t know how to get out.

“At my worst moment I was having a nervous breakdown so I left the band for a year and went and lived on a tropical island.

“That did more for my sanity than hours of counselling could ever have done. It was so important for me.

“After that I finally got my head together and started moving my life forward the way I wanted it to be.

“I look back on old photographs of me and it brings back a lot of memories. It was great fun for a while and we were all very naive and innocent going into the music business.

“But after a while you start to go into the self-destruct mode and that can be scary.”

Dolores has kept the doors to her private life closed for the most part over the years.

In a rare insight into her family life she revealed how she has spent the past five years building a strong family unit, rather than concentrating on band commitments.

She said: “I have three kids and a great husband. We have been together nine years and are still going strong.

“My home is like a sanctuary to me. The kids run around the grounds and play to their hearts content.

“We go out on long walks, picnics, just normal family things. “It gives me a great sense of satisfaction.

“About five years ago I had the choice of touring for a couple of years with the band or raising my family. I made the right decision.

“I’m a very healthy person and have always been into eating a good diet and keeping fit in a big way.

“I go out on the bike for about two hours each day and cycle around five miles.

“Sometimes I go out and get completely lost among the hills and scenery around where I live and I have to ring my husband to come and get me.

“I’m much happier just sitting up on a grass verge watching the world around me as I am going to a big showbiz party or something.”

Dolores is relieved of the heavy burden that success placed on her life.

She looks at other young Irish pop acts like Samantha Mumba and Westlife and is glad to be out of the game.

“I feel sorry for them because there is this huge media spotlight constantly on their lives,” she said.

“Like happened to me. They will eventually hit a crisis point where they will feel like they can’t go on. I’m lucky in the fact that I got my head together and didn’t go down the whole road of self- destruction.

YOU can end up in some very lonely places when you are famous, and at the end of the day there are very few people who can offer you a way out.

“Being a celebrity now is even more intense than it was when I first became a star so I’m glad I’m not just coming into the game now.

“I think everyone is under a huge amount of pressure to keep an act going the whole time.

“With all these TV shows that create pop bands the whole standard of music is getting much worse. It’s just not my cup of tea.

“My advice to any young stars is that they should enjoy it as much as possible but not get carried away with all the bulls**t that goes with it.

“It’s easy to forget when the pressure is on that you are doing something that is meant to be fun.”

With the success of albums like No Need To Argue and Bury The Hatchet, the Cranberries have amassed 33 million album sales over the years.

Dolores recalled: “When I got my first pay cheque it was like a dream come true. I was in LA for a few months and I did the whole splashing out on designer clothes thing.

“I had every fancy item in my wardrobe for a while. I almost became addicted to it.

“But that’s just not me anymore.

“Now I’m content just running around like a real scruff.

“But you know what? At least I’m happy now.”

THE Cranberries will be launching their tour of Europe at the Ulster Hall in Belfast on May 29.

An article published on July 31st in the high-profile British tabloid (we emphasize “tabloid”) The Mirror reveals that Dolores has already written five songs for Brian Johnson’s “Helen of Troy.” Brian Johnson is, of course, the lead singer for rock greats AC/DC.

The Mirror quotes an unnamed insider from the show as saying, “It’s going to give the whole thing a real rock dimension and Dolores has a great talent for writing all kinds of music. She has really thrown herself into the work and has been having a ball. It’s given her a chance to do something away from the Cranberries material that she has been doing for 10 years.”

The article goes on to quote Dolores on her upcoming solo material. Aspreviously stated by the Official Site, the method of release for these side- project solo tracks are still unknown; they may be released as an album, part of a soundtrack, or some other means.

“It’s going to be totally different to the stuff I have done with the band,” Dolores is quoted as saying. “I want to experiment a bit and push the boundaries more. Hopefully it will appeal to all sorts of different music fans.”

According to the article, “Helen of Troy” is set to open in London’s West End at the end of the year.

Source: The Mirror (UK)

A singing Dolores O’Riordan is on the cover of a pack-in promo CD included with yesterday’s issue of Ireland’s “Sunday World.” The promotional CD, entitled “Dave Fanning’s Best of Irish Rock Vol. 2,” includes “Linger” as its sixth track. The CD was issued as a one-day-only promo for the September 7th issue of the “Sunday Times” and is not likely to be available through other means.

Tracklisting:
1. “Follow Me (Live)” by Rory Gallagher
2. “This Is” by Aslan
3. “Something for the Weekend” by Divine Comedy
4. “Mad Pit” by Horslips
5. “We Don’t Need Nobody Else” by The Whipping Boy
6. “Linger” by The Cranberries
7. “Some People Smile” by Paul Cleary
8. “Mary” by The Four of Us
9. “Bone Deep” by The Walls
10. “Sweet Suburban Sky” by Paddy Casey
11. “100 Boys” by The Golden Horde

The live cover image of Dolores is also silkscreened onto the CD itself. The back of the case shows a photo of the band taken last year during the “Stars” videoshoot in Wicklow, Ireland.

Source: Exclusive

In 1973, Dolores O’Riordan was only two years old. Who’d have thought then that she’d someday write what would become nominated as one of the best songs of her first thirty years?

French music channel M6 is selecting the best singles of the past thirty years and The Cranberries’ “Zombie” is in the running in the top 60 nominees. From punk rock of the early nineteen eighties to grunge rock in the nineties, even the pop rock of today, M6 is tracking down the best of the best from the last three decades of music. And in all of its political-angst glory, “Zombie” may be included in M6’s final pick. There’s a huge varitey of other songs chosen, such as the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe,” Tom Jones’s “Sex Bomb,” Michael Jackson’s “Thiller,” and a long list of French artists.

French fans can guess what song was picked as of the past 30 years via their mobile phone by dialing 08 92 683 583 or by SMS service by dialing 61888 (fees may apply). A vacation is awarded to the winner. “Zombie” is ID #060 on the list. Check out the magazine scan below for more details.

The list that makes the final cut will air on M6 this Saturday, September 6th at 20h50 local time. If you have access to the French channel, tune in to view the final results. If not, check back here at zombieguide.com to find out how “Zombie” fares in the end.

(IMAGES NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Source: Lescranberries.fr.fm

Even more signs are now pointing to the possibility of Dolores O’Riordan taking up a full acting part in AC/DC’s Brian Johnson’s “Helen of Troy.” An article published yesterday in the UK’s “The Sunday Times” had this to say:

Helen of Troy is tipped to make its UK debut in November and Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer with Irish group the Cranberries, may play Helen, who is kidnapped on her wedding night by Paris, with the help of Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

Although this still isn’t a confirmation, it does appear to be fresh information. The rest of the article carries new quotes from Johnson and others involved with the play, which suggests that the information above may have been given by someone working first-hand on the project.

Click here to read the full article. (LINK NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

Source: News.com.au

The Cranberries Official Site has been updated today for the first time in nearly a month with news of several new Cranberries projects in tow.

The most surprising of which is that Dolores has contributed vocals to an upcoming album by German electronic/dance duo Jam & Spoon. The official site notes that Jam & Spoon’s new album could be out within a month, but after a bit of researching, Zombieguide could find no definite release date other than “autumn/winter 2003,” and very little detail beyond that. It’s our guess that you won’t be seeing it quite so soon as September.

Dolores contines to record at Metalworks in Toronto (where much of “Bury the Hatchet” was conceived), presumably with Matthew Vaughan in her company. She has just completed a “new recording” (no specification if that is a song or more than a song) for “for a possible soundtrack, which is scheduled to be released around the Spring of 2004,” the site reads. “Once we have confirmed details, we will give another update.”

Meanwhile, the rest of The Cranberries — Noel, Fergal, and Mike — remain at home in Limerick, also working on new material. Noel has also enlisted the help of Nishat Khan, a sitar player, “for a new composition Noel has just written for an undefined outside project.”

The official site promises to have “more news soon” and so do we.

Source: The Cranberries Official Site

The Cranberries have been nominated for a ‘Las Lunas del Auditorio’ 2003 award, a special program recognizing the finest artists who have played at Mexico’s prestigious Auditorio Nacional within the past year. The Cranberries are nominated in the “Rock in a Foreign Language” category and are facing some tough competition with 12 other big names up for the same award, including Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Cypress Hill, Garbage, INXS, Lenny Kravitz, Papa Roach, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, and The Strokes, just to name a few.

The awards cover the best entertainment that Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional has had to offer in the past year, including all genres of music, dance, and theater. A panel of 324 arts experts from around the country selected the final nominees from all of the performances between March 2002 and April 2003. The Cranberries played the Auditorio Nacional on June 25th and 26th of last year.

Public online voting for the awards ended on August 8th. The winners will be announced in an awards ceremony on September 10th, to be broadcasted on television by Televisa, TV Azteca and Canal 22. Luis de Llano, vice- president of programming for Televisa, said that, “It is always a challenge to unite efforts with other companies, especially now that the music industry is undergoing a crisis. We do this so that Mexico continues to be a launch pad for speading music at the international level.”

For much more on Las Lunas del Auditorio Awards or to check out the other nominees, you can check out the program’s official website.

Source: Las Lunas del Auditorio Awards

Zombieguide reported weeks ago that RTE TV presenter Alan Swan has been finishing up his first book entitled “From the Cradle to the Stage: A Complete History of Irish Music,” the proceeds of which will be given to Irish charity Fighting Blindness. Zombieguide got the chance to talk a little bit today with Mr. Swan about the progress of his upcoming book and some changes that have occurred with its content.

“Just one or two things you should know about; It will be Fergal that is featured in the book and not Dolores. Also there was a mistake in the press release and Larry Mullen Jnr won’t be featured,” Swan told Zombieguide earlier today. Although the news might disappoint U2 fans, no “Complete History of Irish Music” would be complete without extensive mention of the band, and the book is certain to include them, even without Mullen’s direct involvement.

Of course the book is much more than just U2 and Cranberries; he noted that the “other acts that will be featured include Ash, Devlins, The Corrs, Samantha Mumba, Christy Moore, Chieftains and many more — 70 acts in all.”

Aside from the book, which he considers a side project, Swan is currently busy with his day job at Ireland’s largest media network. “I am currently a TV presenter for RTE but have worked in commerical radio outside of RTE for a number of years,” he says.

Swan told us that “From the Cradle to the Stage: A Complete History of Irish Music” is currently on tap for a November release with an anticipated price of €19.99. Copies will be available for purchase from Fighting Blindnessupon release, and no doubt retailers as well.

“You certainly have your finger on the pulse,” he tells us. “It’s great to know that Cranberries fans will be able to pick up and copy and that they know about it… It would, I’m sure, help raise much needed funds for the charity.”

Zombieguide will have more on “From the Cradle to the Stage” as its November publication date nears. Keep it here for the latest!

Source: Exclusive

The website for the US magazine “Mix”, which focuses on the technical side of studio recording, reports that Olympic Studios have just finished buiding two brand new studios, a programming room and a small studio. The first to use the new facilities are none other than Cranberries producer Stephen Street and engineer Cenzo Townshend. From the Mix website:

Olympic Studios Adds Two New Rooms
London’s Olympic Studios has continued its expansion plans at the Barnes facility by adding one new programming/pre-production room and a small studio, increasing the total number of client suites to six.

Top record producers Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths/Morrisey, The Cranberries) and Cenzo Townshend (Skin, Lightning Seeds and U2) have moved into the larger suite, which boasts an adjacent overdub booth for vocals or guitars. Working on an Audient desk and recording to RADAR and Pro Tools|HD, they have also incorporated a host of vintage outboard equipment.

The second suite, dubbed “The Green Room,” is available for lease and is currently housing a few short-term projects.

Siobhan Paine, Olympic Studio’s manager, said, “We are thrilled that Stephen and Cenzo are joining us here, and with the multitude of studios and mix rooms available at Olympic, the two new rooms add an extra dimension to the services we offer. Projects can make an easy transition from programming to production all under one roof.”

For more, visit www.olympicstudios.co.uk.

Last month, Dolores told Hot Press that she and the band were indeed making use of the more high-tech programming technology, which the band has shyed away from in the past. “I’ve come up with these piano-driven songs that I’m recording using Pro-Tools and all that other computer-y stuff,” she said.

With both Stephen and Cenzo in the same room, there’s no question of who’s performing there with them…

Source: Mix Online

Think female vocalists are pretty powerful? Well not even their commanding voices can compete with the strong opinions of fans from around the world. Poll after poll has challenged music listeners to cast their votes on favorite female artists; and now Brazilian music channel Universo Do Rock is asking for your vote in a poll that asks you to choose your favorite female-lead band. The Cranberries are in the running, positioned in the company of Hole, The Gathering, Kittie, Evanescence, and Nightwish. To help The Cranberries come out on top and prove their fan base in and around Brazil, cast your vote online at Universo Do Rock.

Thanks to: Daniel Chirzostomo for the information