by Dani Filth recently shared a reflective message about Cradle of Filth’s latest tour following the departure of two band members. He posted the statement on Dani Filth’s Instagram.
The message came after Zoë M. Federoff announced her departure from Cradle of Filth. Her husband Marek “Ashok” Šmerda was then dismissed from the band, which led to some disputes with Dani Filth. Following the conclusion of The Screaming of the Americas tour, Filth addressed these events and reflected on the tour experience.
“It’s been a little over a week since Cradle Of Filth returned from The Screaming of the Americas tour in South and Central America and the jet lag is finally petering out,” Filth said. “It’s great to be back home for the Autumnal season with loved ones and thus also good to cast a wistful eye back on the six weeks we spent navigating our latest adventure (‘adventure’ being the operative word here).”
He acknowledged the challenges faced during the tour while emphasizing the positive aspects of the experience.
“There were some obvious low points and tricky obstacles to circumnavigate along the path, but the majority of the tour was an incredible experience and best of all, we happened to visit some truly beautiful places and play to a great number of fans,” he continued.
Filth provided a detailed account of the tour’s eventful nature, listing various incidents and experiences.
“There were two people replacements, two broken teeth, a lost passport, lots of taco-fuelled tummy troubles, many hotels, airports and flights, one proper day-off in six weeks, a few near-death experiences, one meltdown, four tattoos and a nipple piercing, many early morning lobby calls, six electric shocks, a mild kidnapping, a sabotaged tyre, ten thousand strong South American coffees (I’ve been told a trillion times, ‘stop exaggerating’!), zero Capybara, many autographs (usually at airports and shopping malls) and twenty three hot and raucous killer live shows,” he said.
He concluded by thanking the fans and hinting at the band’s future plans.
“So many thanks and test-tubes full of our love juice to the thousands of diehard fans that came to see us throughout South America, Central America and Mexico. Nosotros volveremos! Now back (after a chill week off) to fanning the flames on our next musical excretion. You have been warmed!” Filth stated.
The recent lineup changes represent another chapter in the band’s history of personnel shifts. Chaoszine reported that Zoë Marie Federoff left the band citing “personal reasons.” Her husband Marek “Ashok” Šmerda publicly announced his exit after the band’s South and Central American tour. Marek expressed dissatisfaction with the band’s working conditions, creative direction, and management’s professionalism. He criticized the workload for low pay and high stress.
The Mourning Paper noted that Marek distanced himself from an upcoming collaboration with Ed Sheeran and requested removal of his compositions from future releases. Despite the turmoil, he pledged to complete the tour strong for the fans and friends in the band. Marek also emphasized the need to respect personal privacy and denied any personal conflicts between him and Zoë.
The band is set to release their 14th studio album, The Screaming of the Valkyries, on March 21, 2025. Metal Injection revealed that the album was originally set to feature new members Donny Burbage on guitar and Zoë Federoff on keyboards and vocals. The recent departures have put the lineup dynamics in flux.
Dani Filth has previously addressed the band’s frequent lineup changes in interviews. Blabbermouth shared that the frontman acknowledges the frequent personnel shifts stem from the demanding lifestyle and diverse responsibilities required of members. The band is now focusing on their next musical project following a brief break.
