Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Cradle Of Filth - Download Festival - 2025
Read the next chapter in Cradle of Filth’s ongoing debate
If you thought that the situation was over, you’d be wrong. Now guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda has released a new statement to Dani, leader of Cradle of Filth.
And I believe this will be end of public statements from my side and my wife’s as long as it is end from his side. I know this is grating everyone… me too, but private convos did not sort anything for months. Understand it was last resort to go public.
I am usually most silent person even when I am hurt, which is probably why it took 12 years to properly say all of this.
Here are my hands. The hands I used to serve you for 12 years. To write and play music for you. I gave you these hands.
Your mom is always great person to me and I wish her healing. Her heart is huge as far as I ever knew. However it feels low to me to use her right now as excuse when we all know she’s been sick since last year. Everyone has been there for you and supportive Dan. We all give so much love and support to her as soon as you tell us.
I lost my own mother to sudden medical tragedy and I never even said goodbye to her- there was no time. She never saw me on stage with Cradle. She haunts me every day. But her memory tells me to be better man and treat others better. I would never use her as excuse for hurting others.
But if you respect mothers, then why twist our tragedy of miscarriage into something that was not true of my wife- she never drink while pregnant. However her doctor told her the lack of sleep, irregular schedule, constant pressure of management threatening her job if she did anything they didn’t like… all of this more than likely contributed to her body rejecting pregnancy. She exhibits high signs of the stress she is under. It is true we cannot blame it all on you, but for you to assume she was drinking with the pregnancy was low, because we all know there is very little that is worse to accuse woman of than killing her own child.
I saw many times rest of the band would protest or argue with you and management, but only Zoe was singled out to be mocked and punished. Even now your “fans” call her crazy but I can guarantee every man in the band has said same things she is saying. I am saying it too. There was never same respect for my wife there was for opinions of the men.
You once had my respect and full loyalty. Respect you lost while ago and loyalty you threw away not long ago. Even when I stopped respecting you, when it was obvious you did not care about us, I stayed loyal. Until… you respond to heartfelt plea to give us better chance for living with that sordid contract, which every session member knows you sent with instructions to sign as soon as possible. No one has a shitty contract just lying around to be sent by mistake.
To not take ownership even now for the many ways in which you screw us all, it is not surprising but it is still sad Dan… cuz again, even after years of being treated disposable I wrote my heart and soul into albums for you… because I love music and I love the joy of the fans. It is sad that you could not take responsibility for these issues in private, and now they are public, so we all are caught in giant storm. This is on you for not allowing anything to be handled privately. Just ignore, ignore, ignore everything we tried to tell you for long time.
I wish I could see a man when I look at you, Dan, but I don’t. I see excuses.
In time all will come to light as I do not believe we will be last to say something- although it is now obvious why 40 other ex members never did say much. It has been hell for us to speak up. But I do not regret it.
Treat my brothers still in the band better, if there is any honor left in you. They are damn good people and will always have my love and support. That is entire goal we have.
But also his wife, Zoë Marie Federoff, released one of her own.
We’d like to issue a statement in response to the most recent one by Dani Filth. We consider it a positive step.
We know your mother is battling cancer and we wish her well in this. As I recall I’m one of the first people in the band that you told. I’ve been praying for her ever since, and I condemn anyone who tries to drag her into this.
That said, we didn’t go public with personal issues we’ve had involving anyone’s day to day behavior. We strongly support anyone’s journey in sobriety. Our focus remains the business issues and the business environment. We dispute any claim that alcoholism or alcohol use led to this current situation. We maintain it was months of trying to talk to you, Dan, trying to get you to understand the plight of the people who work for you. Your silence and stonewalling became deafening. We left because every indication you gave instilled in us the impression that you didn’t care, and what’s worse, you did indeed allow management to mislead and lie to us. The responsibility for these things at the end of the day falls on you.
We are disappointed that you went for personal issues and speculation on our marriage, and we still have no plans to go for personal attacks on you. We want the best for you and your new family with Sofiya. We want you to get better as a leader, Dan. We want you to run the band better and treat people better. No one wants the end of Cradle of Filth as an artistic concept. It’s an institution of great creativity that gives people joy. We and others want the end of you letting bad deals hurt people. We tried to talk to you for months about all of this. It didn’t have to go this way. Take care of the people who write music for you and play shows for you.
We will probably and unfortunately see you next in court, but never doubt for a moment I can see the human being in you and the twinges of a conscience.
Peace be with you.
And of course, it all originated from Dani’s post.
After a long day of reflection on the road, I want to make one final statement about recent events.
First, I’ll acknowledge that in my last message I let fatigue and frustration steer me into sharing more personal detail than was probably necessary. For that, I apologise. The truth of my account remains, but out of respect for everyone involved, I will not be commenting further on personal matters in public.
What I must address, however, are the claims of “theft” and “exploitation” made against me, the band, and our management. These allegations are false and damaging. We maintain clear records that show otherwise, and any dispute will be dealt with properly, not through trial by social media.
I also want to speak of something more personal. As Zoe and Ashok are aware, my mother is currently battling stage 4 cancer — a fight that takes all her strength. She has seen the wave of online attacks aimed at me, and it has only added to her distress. Whatever else is said, I hope we can all agree that dragging families into this storm is a cruelty none of us should wish on another.
To Zoe and Ashok: despite everything, I do wish you well. We shared great times together, and I’ll always be grateful for those memories. But I won’t let unfounded slander define this band or diminish the work we’ve put into it.
The show must go on — and it’s not a Christmas pantomime. Our focus remains on delivering these shows with the passion our fans deserve, and on building a stronger, clearer foundation for all our musicians moving forward.
Onward! ⚔️
— Dani Filth / Cradle of Filth