CRADLE OF FILTH fires guitarist ASHOK “Effective Immediately”
Latin American tour to continue
25-08-2025
CRADLE OF FILTH has fired guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda, just hours after the Czech-born musician revealed he was planning to leave the band at the end of the band’s ongoing Latin American tour.
CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth released the following statement via the band’s social media: “It is with a grave heart that CRADLE OF FILTH officially announce the firing of guitarist Marek ‘Ashok’ Smerda from the band, effective immediately.
“Despite all attempts to illegally defame and derail the band, CRADLE OF FILTH WILL NOT cancel any of our South American shows, though fans will have to bear with us being a band with only one guitarist live, that is of course until Ashok‘s temporary replacement is flown out to join the tour in a few days time.
“Thank you for your understanding in this horrible matter, we are all in a state of shock over proceedings and will share our side to these unfortunate events in due course. Please, respect our decision to part with Ashok now rather than at the end of the tour and avoid speculation as more clarity on the situation will be provided.
“The rest of the band are cool, even if taken aback, and accusations toward management, who work very closely with me and the band are completely unjust and unfounded.
“Patience is a virtue and the truth will always out.
“Thank you once again fellow Filthlings and we look forward to the rest of ‘The Screaming Of The Américas’ tour here in Uruguay and beyond.
“Your fiend, Dani“.
Ashok‘s announcement that he would depart CRADLE OF FILTH came just days after his wife, Zoë M. Federoff, left the group mid-tour after serving as CRADLE OF FILTH‘s female vocalist and keyboardist for the past three years.
Šmerda released the following message via his social media: “Dear fans and friends, I ask you to please respect my wife and myself in this transitional period.
“I am indeed leaving CRADLE OF FILTH at the end of this current tour, and the reasons behind this are conclusions my wife and I came together at long before this week. We simply do not feel like CRADLE can provide for our future, and in fact hinders it. Among other reasons it is a lot of work for relatively low pay, the stress is quite high, and we haven’t felt for a while like this band actually prioritizing/caring about members. It has been years of unprofessional behavior from people above us that led to our decision.
“I have also asked all compositions of mine removed from upcoming releases including Ed Sheeran collab. This song feels like foolish clown antics for me at this point anyways — first it was charity single for kids, then for profit single, then on next album, and now who knows and I just do not want to be involved anymore, no disrespect to Ed Sheeran.
“And meanwhile so many ‘brilliant’ Internet brains trying to speculate on personal affairs between me and Zoe — just stop this, please. We are trying to start new chapter.
“And I am going to finish this tour strong! For the fans and for my friends in this band and crew! It is my last ride with CRADLE and I am proud to give it my best.
“I am sad to not share the stage with my wife these last times but I respect why she left and I am happy our friend Kelsey Peters has been given opportunity to shine.
“This is all I have to say for now. Leave my wife alone. NEVER insult her or her choices in my presence… or else”.
When Federoff announced her exit from CRADLE OF FILTH, she explained that she was “unable to continue” touring with the band “for personal reasons”.
Zoë M. Federoff has previously announced her exit from CRADLE OF FILTH.
The 33-year-old Federoff, who joined CRADLE OF FILTH in 2022 as the band’s female vocalist and keyboardist, released the following statement on Sunday (August 24) via social media: “It is with deep regret I share that for personal reasons I am unable to continue this tour and continue in general with CRADLE OF FILTH.
“Please respect my privacy and my family’s privacy. I will answer no further questions. Be kind to my successor. I wish her and my now former bandmates well.
“At least, like Roy Khan said over a decade ago, God was there after all.
“Yours, Zoe“.
CRADLE OF FILTH kicked off a 13-date Latin American tour on August 21 in Limeira, Brazil and performed in São Paulo, Brazil on Saturday, August 23.
Federoff married CRADLE OF FILTH guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda this past January in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona.
Federoff insists that marital problems have nothing to do with her abrupt exit.
“- Ashok isn’t cheating. While the turmoil of being in the band has taken its toll on us, we remain very much certain that we love each other. Please be kind to my husband. He is a good man.
“- We were already planning to leave the band later this year. Certain events have sped that up for me.
“At this time there is nothing further I wish to clarify and I’d appreciate keeping the ugly rumors off my page and out of my inbox.
“Please enjoy the remaining shows on this tour and give a lot of love to Kelsey, who is one of the greatest singers I’ve ever been privileged to hear. You’ll love her.”
Meanwhile, CRADLE OF FILTH leader/frontman Dani Filth took to the band’s social media to write: “Hello Filthlings, a strange turn of events have manifested out here on tour for CRADLE OF FILTH in South America. Our keyboardist/backing singer Zoe Smerda has chosen to leave the band mid-tour, effective immediately.
We, of course, wish her all the best for the future and we as a band will continue onward and upward as always with a replacement singer here in Kelsey Peters, one of the very talented CREWDLE members.
“In life, one cannot always foresee what the future holds for us, but we will remain ever-professional and continue on with ‘The Screaming Of The Americas’ concerts for our fans without allowing any of this to sully our onward trajectory.
“So, our South and Central American brethren, we will see you at the next spat of relentless shows.
“The shows have already been incredible in Brazil and we are just so exceptionally appreciative of your massive and passionate attendance, my friends and fiends alike.
“Long live the FILTH!”
Earlier this year CRADLE OF FILTH have released the official music video for the song “Demagoguery”. The track is featured on the band’s 14th studio album, “The Screaming Of The Valkyries“, which arrived on March 21 via Napalm Records.
Watch “Demagoguery” below.
Also watch the previously released “White Hellebore”,“To Live Deliciously” and “Malignant Perfection” below.
On “The Screaming Of The Valkyries”, Dani‘s recognizable scream and equally identifiable growl stand mightily alongside twin guitar attacks, symphonic flourishes and explosive rhythm section, implemented by drummer Martin “Marthus” Skaroupka, bassist Daniel Firth, guitarists Marek “Ashok” Smerda and Donny Burbage and keyboardist/vocalist Zoe Federoff.
Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk, England, The Screaming of the Valkyries beckons the brave into a new era of CRADLE OF FILTH misadventure, celebrating massive melancholic melody, blackened thrash, and apocalyptic existential dread with a grinning smattering of unbridled revelry. The Screaming of the Valkyries is a bloody dark love letter to the longtime legion of CRADLE OF FILTH faithful and a stunning entryway for fresh lambs to the sonic slaughter.
The Screaming Of The Valkyries will be available in the following formats:
– 1-CD Digisleeve
– 1-LP Gatefold Black w/ 4 Page Booklet
– 1-LP Gatefold VIOLA Vinyl w/ 4 Page Booklet (GSA retail only – limited to 300)
– 1-LP Gatefold GOLD Vinyl w/ 4 Page Booklet (UK retail only – limited to 500)
– 1-LP Gatefold WHITE Vinyl w/ 4 Page Booklet (North American retail only – limited to 600)
– 1-LP Gatefold LIQUID-BLOOD Vinyl w/ 24 page booklet + certificate (Napalm Records mail order only – limited to 100)
– 1-LP Gatefold SPLATTERED BLACK SMOKE/WHITE ORANGE BLACK Vinyl w/ 24 page booklet + Patch (Napalm Records mail order only – limited to 300)
– 1-LP Gatefold MARBLED TRANSLUCENT RED BLACK Vinyl w/ 24 page booklet (Napalm Records mail order only – limited to 300)
– 1-CD Digisleeve Coffin Shaped BOX SET w/ Pencil, Bookmark, Notebook, Flag (Napalm Records international mail order only – limited to 500)
– Bundle: 1-CD Digisleeve + Quill + Coasters
– Bundle: 1-LP Gatefold BLACK Vinyl + Quill + Coasters
The Screaming Of The Valkyries track listing:
1. To Live Deliciously
2. Demagoguery
3. The Trinity Of Shadows
4. Non Omnis Moriar
5. White Hellebore
6. You Are My Nautilus
7. Malignant Perfection
8. Ex Sanguine Draculae
9. When Misery Was A Stranger
CRADLE OF FILTH is:
Dani “Filth” Davey – Vocals
Marek ‘Ashok’ Smerda – Guitars
Martin ‘Marthus’ Skaroupka – Drums
Daniel Firth – Bass
Donny Burbage – Guitars
Kelsey Peters – Vocals
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