Music Industry Remembers Sinéad O’Connor

Following the death of Sinéad O’Connor on Wednesday (July 26) at the age of 56, an outpouring within the music industry has flooded social media. An earlier statement from O’Connor’s family, confirming her death read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

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O’Connor’s death comes 18 months after the death of her son Shane, who took his own life in January 2022 at age 17. Just days after his death, O’Connor was hospitalized after she posted a series of disturbing tweets.

“There are no words,” wrote Michael Stipe, sharing a photo of him and O’Connor.

Artists across all genres in the music industry have flooded social media to pay their respects to the late singer. Read responses from Cyndi Lauper, Ice-T, The Afghan Whigs, Garbage and more below.

Along with a black and white image of O’Connor, Cyndi Lauper shared “Remembering Sinead O’Connor. A unique talent who made an indelible mark on pop culture. Outspoken and brave. A lot of trials and tribulations. A great artist with an incredible voice. She will be missed.”

“Respect to Sinead,” wrote Ice-T. “She stood for something, unlike most people. Rest Easy.”

Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs shared verses from O’Connor’s 1990 song “Black Boys on Mopeds”: These are dangerous days / To say what you feel is to dig your own grave / Remember what I told you / If you were of the world they would love you.

Regina Schock of The Go-Gos added, “Such a sad loss at only 56. Sinèad O’Conner RIP. Nothing Compares to you. Thoughts are with your family and friends.”

“I’m heartbroken,” posted Garbage. “This disgusting world broke her and kept on breaking her. Godspeed dear fragile dove. Thank you for all the beauty and all the wise teachings you offered up to us. I wish you nothing but peace. I will love you for all of time.”

“I hope there’s peace for Sinéad at last,” wrote Jason Isbell along with lyrics to O’Connor’s 1997 song “This is a Rebel.”

Anton Corbijn, who photographed O’Connor over the years, posted a black-and-white photo of the Irish singer that he shot in 1988. “Very sad news,” wrote Corbijn. “Can’t quite believe that this beautiful person with this angelic voice has gone. RIP dear Sinead.”

More reactions from musicians are below.

Susanna Hoffs
Peace and love, Sinéad

Thurston Moore
Leaving Dublin this morning (July 26) my eyes set upon Sinéad’s memoir in the magazine/book shop at the airport. I considered buying it even though I have a copy from when it was initially published. Sinéad’s spirit and beauty was sentient from just about every photo taken of her and I felt the desire to have the words and image near, particularly in this beautiful country of Ireland where her voice, energy and principles lived and rang soaring and true. Landing in London a few hours later and seeing the news on our phones was like being hit with that soul wrenching feeling of mercy and loss when a star vanquishes beyond the veil of any reason. I can only realize that the devastation of losing a child has to be the most unfathomable horror any mother or father could ever experience. Sinéad played the first couple of shows of Lollapalooza 95 and when meeting her I held my one yr old daughter Coco in my arms. Sinéad, touching her own tummy, said, “I have one of those in here.” I laughed at this sharing of personal news and told her how much magic was going to come into her world. She gave me a small smile then moved to the solace of her dressing room. After a couple of gigs she would bail from the tour, the enterprise possibly too ridiculous to entertain while pregnant. We all missed her, her presence fleeting, inscrutable, mysterious. An artist, feminist, thinker, seeker, someone in this generation which we have all been coexisting with all these decades – someone we hoped, in whatever aspects of fragility their lives were challenged, if not ravaged by, could survive the propensity of this continuously maddening reality of sexist, racist oppression and war infesting the Earth. The planet itself ready to combust in protestation. I can see from everyone’s writings today how we are completely blessed to have been sharing the pathways with such a remarkable person. We need to look out, take care of each other, always – sometimes it seems impossible and sometimes it may well be. But it’s always worth trying. If only to dignify ourselves as sisters and brothers. Sinéad O’Connor…Shuhada’ – rest in holy peace – and music.

Slash
RIP

Billy Corgan
RIP, Sinéad O’Connor

Kathy Valentine
I wish her life was a little easier and filled with peace and contentment.

Peter Murphy
In memory of Sinead O Connor. May she rest in the lap of Compassion.

Tim Burgess
Sinead was the true embodiment of a punk spirit. She did not compromise and that made her life more of a struggle. Hoping that she has found peace.

Magne Furuholmen
Rest in peace amazing rebel. You were so unafraid and hugely inspiring. Nothing compares.

Wendy James
Goodbye Sinead. I hope you’re relieved. I hope the weight your heart and mind and soul carried has lifted somehow. You and I shared a lot, a lot of our 20’s together, privately and publicly — and we were still up for a few laughs last year. Take care, I think it was too much for you here.

(Photo by Lindsey Best for the Washington Post)

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