Listen to Bad Wolves’ Cover of the Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’
The metal band Bad Wolves have released their cover of the Cranberries' "Zombie," the song Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan was in London to record vocals for earlier this week before she was found dead.
The band said its version of the Cranberries' hit song is being released in O'Riordan's honor and that all proceeds will benefit her three children.
After Bad Wolves -- a recently formed band made up of former members of DevilDriver, In This Moment and God Forbid -- recorded the song for their upcoming debut record, Dan Waite, an executives at the band's label and a friend of O'Riordan's, sent her the tape. She reportedly loved their take on it and wanted to contribute vocals. "It made my year just to have that kind of validation," Bad Wolves frontman Tommy Vext told Rolling Stone.
Even though the band was unsure what O'Riordan would add to its recording, or how it would be arranged, the members were eager for the session that was scheduled for the afternoon of Jan. 15. O'Riordan, who lives in New York City, had flown into London the night before, but when she didn't show up for the recording, they soon learned she'd been found dead in her hotel room.
Bad Wolves just released their cover of the song in her memory and is offering some support to her family. "You never know if that's going to help. But hopefully it does some good," said Vext, who added all artists should strive for the "honesty, transparency and vulnerability" that O'Riordan showed in her performances. "It was the greatest honor to know she liked our version and wanted to sing on it. We’re deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Dolores and by the fact that she’s leaving behind three children, so we are donating the proceeds from the song to her kids."
Their cover, which is louder and more harsh without the softer touch O'Riordan's voice gave it, makes a notable change in the lyrics that she apparently appreciated. "The original lyrics include the line, ‘It’s the same old theme since 1916 / In your head, in your head, they’re still fighting’. It’s a reference to the IRA bombings during the Irish Rebellion," Vext noted. "We changed that lyric to say ‘2018,' and she was really excited about that, because the nations may have changed but we’re still fighting the same battles today. Humanity is still fighting to assert itself despite all the conflicts."
Vext, who said he wasn't even sure if "Zombie" would make it onto Bad Wolves' album, wanted to release their cover as soon as possible. "Now the song has a weight and a depth to it that no one outside of being this close to it could possibly imagine," he said. "It almost feels like we had to do it. It feels like we're compelled to have her work continue on through us."