Bad Wolves have just released a video for their cover of the Cranberries' classic "Zombie," from 1994. The band was set to record their version with vocals by Cranberries' front woman Dolores O'Riordan, who died just before those sessions were scheduled. The video is filled with references to O'Riordan, the original song and the original video.

The video, directed by Wayne Isham, opens with a message, with the band sharing, "On January 15, 2018, The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan was set to reprise her iconic vocals on Bad Wolves' cover of 'Zombie.' That day she tragically left the world. In her memory, Bad Wolves released the song, donating proceeds to her children."

From there, we see performance shots of the band interspersed with body parts being covered in gold. Eventually, the pull back on the body shows a beautiful young woman covered in gold in a look inspired by what O'Riordan wore in The Cranberries' original "Zombie" video over two decades ago.

The woman approaches the band, but just as she and singer Tommy Vext are to meet, they are separated by a glass window. A gold covered handprint seals their bond, as she begins to cover the glass with golden paint.

In an press statement, O’Riordan’s UK Publicist Lindsey Holmes said, “Dolores was excited about plans to guest vocal on a cover version of her all-time classic 'Zombie' by American rock band Bad Wolves. Although very different in style to the original, Dolores said she thought that the cover 'was killer' and she was intrigued by the simple but effective couple of lyric changes that make the cover version as relevant to current world events as the original was to the events that inspired her to write the song in the early nineties.”

“For me Dolores was the strongest female voice in Rock for the past three decades,” explains Dan Waite, Managing Director Europe for Eleven Seven Label Group and the artist’s personal friend. “I have very bittersweet feelings about the last two voice messages Dolores left me on the day she passed about recording 'Zombie' with Bad Wolves. She was telling me Bad Wolves version was 'awesome' and she could not wait to get into the studio, however ultimately her voicemails have brought comfort to her Mother Eileen and her family as they heard her messages joking and talking passionately about music, her children, and future plans."

Bad Wolves’ Tommy Vext explains what compelled him to cover the song; “Her lyrics, confronting the collateral damage of political unrest, capture the same sentiment we wanted to express a quarter-century later. That is a testament to the kind of enduring artist Dolores was, and will remain forever.”

Bad Wolves are working toward their debut album and will open for Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown on their co-headlining tour starting in May. The band also has a number of festival appearances this spring, starting April 20 at Las Rageous. See all of their tour dates here.

 

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