The Cranberries were an Irish rock band formed in Limerick, Ireland, in 1989. Initially named The Cranberry Saw Us, the band consisted of singer Niall Quinn, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan, and drummer Fergal Lawler. Upon the arrival of Dolores O’Riordan as the lead singer in 1990, the group adopted the name The Cranberries. Known as an alternative rock group, their music incorporated elements of indie rock, jangle pop, dream pop, folk rock, post-punk, and pop rock, showcasing a diverse and unique sound.
Signing with Island Records in 1991, The Cranberries released their debut album, ‘Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?’ in 1993, achieving commercial success. Their second album, ‘No Need to Argue’ in 1994, propelled them to international fame, featuring the iconic single ‘Zombie.’ Subsequent albums like ‘To the Faithful Departed’ (1996) and ‘Bury the Hatchet’ (1999) continued their success. After a hiatus from 2003 to 2009 and the release of albums like ‘Roses’ (2012) and ‘Something Else’ (2017), the unfortunate passing of Dolores O’Riordan in 2018 led to the band’s decision to disband. Their final album, ‘In the End’ (2019), marked the end of an era for the beloved band.
The Cranberries left a lasting legacy in the music industry, being one of the top-selling alternative acts of the 1990s with almost fifty million albums sold by 2019. Throughout their career, they received several prestigious awards including an Ivor Novello Award, a Juno Award, an MTV Europe Music Award, and a World Music Award. Additionally, they were nominees for a Brit Award and a Grammy Award. Notably, the music video for ‘Zombie’ achieved a significant milestone by making The Cranberries the first Irish band to surpass one billion views on YouTube.