The Cranberries Zombie cover to raise money for singer Dolores O'Riordan's children

Hard rock band Bad Wolves have released their cover of The Cranberries' hit Zombie, in memory of frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan.

O'Riordan, who was lead singer of Irish rock band, died suddenly on Monday.

Zombie, released in 1994, was one of The Cranberries' best-known hits, and O'Riordan had been due to sing for a cover with Bad Wolves when she died.

Proceeds from the song will now go to her three children, the band said.

Bad Wolves singer Tommy Vext said: "It was the greatest honour to know she liked our version and wanted to sing on it.

"We're deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Dolores and by the fact that she's leaving behind three children, so we are donating the proceeds from the song to her kids.

"It's such a powerful song and the themes are still so relevant, we wanted to release it in her memory."

The original song featured the line: "It's the same old theme since 1916, in your head, in your head, they're still fighting" - a reference to IRA attacks.

But Vext said the band and O'Riordan had changed this to say "2018", adding: "She was really excited about that, because the nations may have changed but we're still fighting the same battles today.

"Humanity is still fighting to assert itself despite all the conflicts."

According to an interview in Rolling Stone, Bad Wolves had set up the London recording session with O'Riordan but, because of her death, they never found out what her other intentions were for the song.

Vext told the magazine: "I was really hoping to meet her, say thank you for everything - for her music and her willingness to contribute and her approval.

"It was unfortunately something that I didn't get to experience."

Regarding the release of the cover, he said: "Now the song has a weight and a depth to it that no one outside of being those close to it could possibly imagine.

"It almost feels like we had to do it. It feels like we're compelled to have her work continue on through us."

An inquest into O'Riordan's death has been opened and police have said there are no suspicious circumstances.