Biography
Sinéad O'Connor (8 December 1966 – 26 July 2023) was an Irish singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist who rose to international prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Born in Glenageary, County Dublin, Ireland, O'Connor had a troubled childhood that led her to seek solace in music at a young age. After leaving school at 15, she eventually found her way into Dublin's music scene, joining the pub-rock band Ton Ton Macoute in the mid-1980s, where her powerful and expressive voice quickly became the band's standout feature. Her performances caught the attention of Ensign Records, leading to her signing with the London-based label in 1985.
O'Connor's debut album, The Lion and the Cobra (1987), established her as a critical force in music, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female, and selling over 500,000 copies worldwide. However, it was her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990), that catapulted her to global superstardom. The album's lead single, "Nothing Compares 2 U"—a Prince composition that O'Connor reimagined—became a phenomenal international hit, reaching number one in America for four weeks and earning her four Grammy Award nominations including Best Album and Best Female Vocalist. The album itself sold over seven million copies worldwide, making it her biggest commercial success.
Beyond her musical achievements, O'Connor became known for her activism and controversial public stances. She famously tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on live television during a 1992 Saturday Night Live performance, sparking significant controversy. In 1999, she was ordained as the first-ever priestess of the Latin Tridentine Church, a dissident Catholic group, taking the clerical name Mother Bernadette Marie. Throughout her career, O'Connor continued to release albums across diverse genres, including reggae-influenced work (Throw Down Your Arms, 2005) and traditional Irish music (Sean-Nós Nua, 2002). Her later albums, such as How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? (2012) and I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss (2014), received critical acclaim. O'Connor's memoir, Rememberings, published in 2021, became a bestseller. She passed away on 26 July 2023, at the age of 56, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most distinctive and influential voices in modern music.
Fun Facts
- O'Connor recorded the first-ever single via the Internet in a BBC studio as part of the 'Tomorrow's World' program in 1998, covering Bob Marley's 'Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)' for the War Child charity.
- She was married four times, including a marriage in Las Vegas to drug counselor Barry Herridge that lasted only a few weeks.
- In 2013, Arsenio Hall filed a $5 million defamation suit against O'Connor after she posted on Facebook suggesting he was Prince's drug dealer; she later apologized and Hall dropped the suit.
- O'Connor appeared as the Virgin Mary in Neil Jordan's film 'The Butcher Boy' (1997), based on Patrick McCabe's novel, following the controversy surrounding her SNL performance.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Fachtna Ó Ceallaigh - Experienced manager who signed O'Connor after her work with Ton Ton Macoute; former head of U2's Mother Records (Career management and guidance) [1985 onwards]
- The Edge (U2) - Collaborated with O'Connor early in her career on songwriting (Co-wrote 'Heroine' for the film Captive soundtrack) [Mid-1980s]
Key Collaborators
- Ton Ton Macoute - Dublin pub-rock band where O'Connor was the lead vocalist; her stage presence and vocals were the band's strongest features (Band performances in Dublin) [Mid-1980s]
- Prince - Songwriter of 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' originally recorded by the band the Family; O'Connor's cover became the definitive version ('Nothing Compares 2 U') [1990]
- In Tua Nua - Irish band whose drummer discovered O'Connor early in her career (Co-wrote 'Take My Hand') [Early 1980s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | 1990-07-01 | Album |
| The Lion and the Cobra | 1987-11-04 | Album |
| Universal Mother | 1994-09-13 | Album |
| 18 & 18 B-Sides | 2002 | Album |
| Am I Not Your Girl? | 1992-09-22 | Album |
| Faith and Courage | 2000-05-05 | Album |
| I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss (Deluxe Version) | 2014-08-12 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Nothing Compares 2 U (I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got)
- All Apologies (Universal Mother)
- Mandinka (The Lion and the Cobra)
- Drink Before the War (The Lion and the Cobra)
- The Foggy Dew (with Sinéad O'Connor)
- The Emperor's New Clothes (I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got)
- Last Day of Our Acquaintance (I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got)
- Troy (The Lion and the Cobra)
- Black Boys on Mopeds (I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got)
- Just Like U Said It Would B (The Lion and the Cobra)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Sinead O'Connor has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 28, 2025 | 23:59 | All Apologies | The Rhythm Roomw/ Allan "Alski" Laskey |