The Cranberries talk about what happens when fame stops being fun and learning to find a work life balance.
Ahead of the release of their fourth studio album ‘Bury the Hatchet’, Limerick band The Cranberries, singer Dolores O'Riordan, drummer Fergal Lawler, guitarist Noel Hogan and bassist Mike Hogan appear on ‘The Late Late Show’.
The band always dreamed of being successful and in pursuit of this goal, worked non-stop recording their first three albums and undertaking a gruelling touring schedule.
Following the release of their third album ‘To the Faithful Departed’ in 1996, the band signed up for a two year tour. However six months into the tour they realised they were not happy and missed having personal lives.
The tour was cancelled and The Cranberries took a six month break, coming close to splitting up.
Noel Hogan says after six months of not seeing each other they slowly got back in touch again. He and Dolores O'Riordan exchanged tapes and discussed doing some demos, but had no plan to do a new album. The demos turned out well and six months later they had a finished album.
Dolores O'Riordan talks about the impact of fame on her life,
We set out to make music and we all love music, but nothing can prepare you for the fame aspect of life.
She is amused that so many journalists are fixated on her wealth. She did build a house in Kerry, which not work out but recently has moved to a house where she is treated like a normal person.
The Cranberries are about to go on tour again, but this time they will have a balanced schedule where they can keep in touch with family. Dolores O'Riordan's mother Eileen will also be joining her daughter on tour to help look after her young son Taylor.
That way you get to have a life, you get to have love and happiness, and that what makes you happy.
This episode of ‘The Late Late Show’ was broadcast on 12 March 1999. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
