The music world was shocked yesterday at the news of Cranberries frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan's death at the age of 46. Now comes word that her death came just hours before she was scheduled to enter the studio to lay down vocals on a cover of "Zombie" for Bad Wolves.

"We are shocked and saddened at the news of Dolores’s passing, mere hours before she was to record vocals on our upcoming version of 'Zombie,'" Bad Wolves frontman Tommy Vext posted on the band's official Facebook page last night (Jan. 15). "We have always had deep respect for her as an artist and a vocalist and she was never afraid to bare her soul in her music and lyrics."

"Zombie" was the lead single from the Cranberries' smash 1994 effort No Need to Argue. Perhaps the Irish alternative rockers best known song, "Zombie" was Top 10 hit worldwide. O’Riordan penned the emotional track as a dedication to the victims of an IRA bombing which took place in England the year prior.

"'Zombie' is an incredibly personal song and although we are a hard rock band, we always felt the rawness and honesty she projected on stage and in her recordings was something to which all bands should aspire to, regardless of genre," Vext continues. "When we heard she liked our version and wanted to sing on it, it was the greatest compliment a new band, or any band for that matter, could have received. Our hearts are broken that we were not able to see this collaboration through and our deepest condolences go out to her family, friends, loved ones and fans in Ireland and around the globe. We hope we can still make her proud by sharing our version of 'Zombie' with the world."

Bad Wolves are set to release their debut album this year on Eleven Seven Music, whose CEO Allen Kovac used to manage the Cranberries.

“From the very first time I met Dolores, I knew she was a great talent," Kovac says in a statement. "Managing the Cranberries and being part of making 'Zombie' one of the biggest records of its time was a great professional honor. So when Dan Waite called me suggesting a collaboration with Dolores and Bad Wolves’ on 'Zombie,' I was excited to once again be a part of the magic she was able to create. My heart goes out to her children, I hope they can find some peace despite this tragic event.”

Waite is the Eleven Seven International Managing Director, a long-time friend of O’Riordan’s who coordinated the recording session, which was to take place yesterday in London. He says, "The news that my friend Dolores has passed deeply shocked me. I worked with the Cranberries at Universal Records and have kept in touch ever since."

“Dolores left me a voice message just after midnight last night stating how much she loved Bad Wolves version of 'Zombie;' she was looking forward to seeing me in the studio and recording vocals," Waite adds. "She sounded full of life, was joking and excited to see me and and my wife this week. The news of her passing is devastating and my thoughts are with Don her ex-husband, her children, and her mother."

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