Sinéad O’Connor Passes Away At 56 Billy Corgan And Flea Bid Her Farewell

Irish musician and singer Sinead O’Connor recently passed away at the age of 56. In a statement, her family members announced:

“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.”
Upon the announcement, musicians worldwide and from all genres paid her tribute. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea tweeted, explaining how Sinead represented the ‘street kids’ and ‘wildlings’:

“For all us street kids, for all us wildlings, when Sinead got huge, it felt like one of us made it. It was incredible. I’m not trying to compare myself or anyone else to Sinead, she is one of a kind, but that’s what it felt like to me. Like she was one of us. She was like Billie Holiday to me. All her pain, all her beauty, those incredible songs. She deserves sainthood.”

Massive Attack mentioned the time they collaborated with Sinead on their album ‘100th Window’ in their tribute:

“Devastated. How do you eulogise someone that you never know well but were blessed to have the honor of working with? Honestly, to bear witness to her voice intimately in the studio. On the road, every single person stopped-dropped their tools during soundcheck. The fire in her eyes made you understand that her activism was a soulful reflex and not a political gesture. ‘Don’t be afraid/Open your mouth to say/Say what your soul sings to you.’”

Rapper Ice-T shared a photo of her on his Instagram and wrote:

“Respect to Sinead… She stood for something… Unlike most people… Rest Easy…”

Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan complimented the late singer’s voice, and shared the respect he has for her:

“I knew Sinead a little, having met her at a show of hers and then later when she was living at the Walker’s home outside of Chicago. Fiercely honest and sweet and funny, she was talented in ways I’m not sure she completely understood, but Sinead stands alone as a figure from our generation who was always true to the piercing voice, within and without. And for that, I will always admire and respect her and never forget that she was once canceled for an act of simple resistance. Her crime? Tearing up a photo.”

The ‘canceling’ incident Corgan mentioned refers to 1992, when O’Connor joined Saturday Night Lives and tore up Pope John Paul II’s photo while singing an acapella version of Bob Marley’s ‘War,’ finishing her song with the words ‘Fight the real enemy.’
Sinead’s 17 son Shane took his own life in 2022, for which she wrote:

“Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul. We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him.”

Below, you can watch Sinead O’Connor’s 1992 SNL performance, singing Bob Marley’s ‘War.’