Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band from Suffolk. Formed in 1991, the group originally consisted of vocalist Dani Filth (real name Daniel Davey), guitarist Paul Ryan, bassist Jon Pritchard, keyboardist Benjamin Ryan (brother of Paul Ryan) and drummer Darren "Daz" Gardner. The band's current lineup includes Filth alongside drummer Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka (since 2006), bassist Daniel Firth (since 2012), and guitarists Donny Burbage (since 2022) and Joff Bailey (since 2026).
History 1991–1999 Cradle of Filth (COF) were formed in 1991 by Dani Filth with Paul Ryan, Jon Pritchard, Benjamin Ryan and Daz Gardner. After recording their first demo Invoking the Unclean, released in January 1992, the group added second guitarist Robin Graves (real name Robin Eaglestone), who debuted on their second demo tape Orgiastic Pleasures Foul. Shortly after its release, Pritchard left and Graves switched to the role of bassist, with Paul Allender brought in to take over on second guitar. The new lineup released Total Fucking Darkness at the end of 1992, after which Gardner left the group. He was replaced by William "Was" Sarginson. During a tour alongside Emperor in 1993, Sarginson was replaced by Nick Barker. Around the same time, the band added Andrea Meyer as their first female backup vocalist.
During the tour with Emperor, COF signed with new label Cacophonous Records. Later in 1993, they recorded their debut full-length album The Principle of Evil Made Flesh, which was released early the next year. After touring throughout 1994, COF recorded their planned second album for Cacophonous in 1995, with Sarah Jezebel Deva (real name Sarah Ferridge) taking over from Meyer and bassist Jon Kennedy joining in place of Graves. However, due to legal disputes the album was not released, and the band eventually parted ways with the label, during which time the Ryan brothers, Allender and Kennedy all left the band. The collection was later released as Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin in 2016. During the autumn, guitarist Stuart Anstis, returning bassist Graves, and keyboardist Damien Gregori all joined the band.
With their new lineup, COF released V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein on Cacophonous and Dusk and Her Embrace on Music for Nations in 1996. Gian Pyres (real name Gianpiero Piras) took over as second guitarist during the recording of Dusk and Her Embrace, but did not perform on the album. In the summer of 1997, Gregori was dismissed from the group. He was replaced by Les "Lecter" Smith, who debuted along with Pyres on 1998's Cruelty and the Beast.
1999–2012 Nicholas Barker left in early 1999 to join Dimmu Borgir. He was initially replaced by Was Sarginson, then briefly by Dave Kunt (real name Dave Hirschheimer), and finally by Adrian Erlandsson that summer. In July 1999, after the recording of EP From the Cradle to Enslave, Gian Pyres also left. By October, Stuart Anstis and Les Smith had also parted ways with the group — the former reportedly sacked. Shortly after their departures, a new lineup was announced including returning guitarists Paul Allender and Pyres. After initially touring with Mark Newby-Robson on keyboards, the band brought in Martin Powell as Smith's permanent replacement.
After the band released Midian in 2000, Bitter Suites to Succubi in 2001 and Live Bait for the Dead in 2002, their next lineup change came in July 2001 when long-term bassist Robin Graves left for "personal reasons". He was replaced by Dave Pybus, initially on a temporary basis but later permanently. Pyres left the group for a second time in August 2002. After the recording of Damnation and a Day, he was replaced by James McIlroy. Nymphetamine was released in 2004, before Pybus left for "personal reasons" in January 2005. Powell followed in May, citing similar reasons for his departure. McIlroy left in August, with Pybus returning on bass and his replacement Charles Hedger taking over the vacated guitar role.
Thornography was recorded with former touring keyboardist Mark Newby-Robson, while Rosie Smith handled keyboards on a touring basis. Shortly after the album's October 2006 release, Erlandsson left to focus on his work in two side projects. He was replaced by Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka. The 2008 follow-up Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder was recorded by the core quartet of Filth, Allender, Pybus and Škaroupka (along with Deva), as Hedger had stepped back into a touring only role. Shortly after its release, Deva left the band after a series of altercations with Filth. By the summer of 2009, Hedger and Smith had been replaced by returning guitarist McIlroy and new keyboardist Ashley Ellyllon (who also handled Deva's vocals), respectively. Ellyllon performed on 2010's Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa, before she was replaced by Caroline Campbell in early 2011. By the time the band started recording The Manticore and Other Horrors in spring 2012, Campbell had left and Pybus had been replaced by Daniel Firth.
Since 2012 During the touring cycle for The Manticore and Other Horrors, COF added Lindsay Schoolcraft as their new keyboardist and second vocalist in early 2013. She was made an official full-time member the following year. During a co-headlining tour with Behemoth in February 2014, Allender and McIlroy were replaced by Richard Shaw and Marek "Ashok" Šmerda due to "hugely important family matters" and "serious neck surgery," respectively. Upon returning from the tour, the group began working on a new record ahead of schedule, later announcing the departure of Allender in the summer. McIlroy was ultimately unable to return due to ongoing problems with his neck injury, so both replacement guitarists remained in the group. The new lineup released Hammer of the Witches in 2015 and Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness of Decay in 2017.
In February 2020, Schoolcraft announced that she had left COF, writing in an online release that "it was the best thing to do for my well-being and mental health". She was replaced by Anabelle Iratni, who performed on new album Existence Is Futile but was not unveiled until her live debut the following May. In May 2022, the departures of Richard Shaw and Iratni were announced. At the same time, Donny Burbage joined as the new guitarist with Zoe Marie Federoff as the new keyboard player. Federoff announced her departure from Cradle of Filth on 24 August 2025. The same day, the band played a show with crew member Kelsey Peters in her place. A couple of days later, Federoff's husband Šmerda announced that he too would leave the band at the end of their Latin American tour in September. He was fired from the band on the same day. Jiří Háb was his touring replacement for the South American tour. Joff Bailey was later announced as the band's new member on 4 May 2026.
Members Current ImageName Years activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsDani Filth1991–presentlead vocalsall Cradle of Filth (COF) releasesMartin "Marthus" Škaroupka2006–presentall COF releases from Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder (2008) onwards Daniel Firth2012–presentbassall COF releases from The Manticore and Other Horrors (2012) onwards Donny Burbage2022–presentguitarThe Screaming of the Valkyries (2025)Joff Bailey2026–presentguitar
Former ImageName Years activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPaul Ryan1991–1995guitarBenjamin RyankeyboardsDarren "Daz" Gardner1991–1992drumsJon PritchardbassRobin GravesPaul AllenderguitarWilliam "Was" SarginsondrumsFrom the Cradle to Enslave (1999)Nick Barker1993–1999Andrea Meyer1993–1994 female vocalsThe Principle of Evil Made Flesh (1994)Jon Kennedy1994–1995 bassDusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin (recorded 1995, released 2016)Stuart Anstis1995–1999 guitarall COF releases from V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) to From the Cradle to Enslave (1999)Damien Gregori1995–1997keyboardsGian Pyresguitarall COF releases from Cruelty and the Beast (1998) to Live Bait for the Dead (2002)Les "Lecter" Smith1997–1999keyboardsAdrian Erlandsson1999–2006drumsall COF releases from From the Cradle to Enslave (1999) to Thornography (2006)Martin Powell2000–2005all COF releases from Midian (2000) to Nymphetamine (2004)Dave Pybusall COF releases from Damnation and a Day (2003) to Evermore Darkly (2011)James McIlroyguitarCharles Hedger2005–2009 Thornography (2006)Ashley Ellyllon2009–2011Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa (2010)Caroline Campbell2011–2012Evermore Darkly (2011)Lindsay Schoolcraft2013–2020Marek "Ashok" Šmerda2014–2025guitarall COF releases from Hammer of the Witches (2015) to The Screaming of the Valkyries (2025) Richard Shaw2014–2022all COF releases from Hammer of the Witches (2015) to Trouble and Their Double Lives (2023)Anabelle Iratni2020–2022Existence Is Futile (2021)Zoe Marie Federoff2022–2025The Screaming of the Valkyries (2025)
Touring and session ImageName Years activeInstrumentsDetailsDanielle Cneajna Cottington1994–1998 female vocalsCottington appeared as a featured backing vocalist on a string of studio recordings in the 1990s.Rishi Mehta1994 guitarMehta, who was also the band's manager, briefly performed with Cradle of Filth in 1994.Bryan Hipp1994–1995 Hipp and McGlone each performed on tour, portraying the character "Jared Demeter".Sarah Jezebel Deva 1994–2008female vocalsPaul McGlone1996 guitarDave Kunt1999 drumsHirschheimer took over from Was Sarginson for a brief period, before Adrian Erlandsson joined.Darren Donnarumma1999 guitarDonnarumma performed at several shows in 1999, after the departure of Gian Pyres.Mark Newby-RobsonkeyboardsNewby-Robson took over briefly from Les Smith, and later became a studio contributor.Rosie Smith2005–2009 After Martin Powell's departure in 2005, Smith took over as COF's keyboardist for live shows. She also doubled on female vocals after Sarah Jezebel Deva's departure.Kelsey Peters2025–present After Federoff departed from the band in the middle of their Latin American tour in August 2025, Peters took over as Cradle of Filth's keyboardist for the remainder of the tour.Jiří Háb2025–2026 (touring)guitarsAfter Šmerda was fired in the middle of their Latin American tour in August 2025, Háb took over Cradle's guitarist role for the remainder of the tour.
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1991–early 1992Dani Filth — vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Jon Pritchard — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Darren Gardner — drumsInvoking the Unclean (1992)Early–mid 1992Dani Filth — vocals Paul Ryan — lead guitar Jon Pritchard — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Darren Gardner — drums Robin Graves — rhythm guitarOrgiastic Pleasures Foul (1992)Mid–late 1992Dani Filth — vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Robin Graves — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Darren Gardner — drums Paul Allender — guitarsTotal Fucking Darkness (1992)Late 1992–summer 1993Dani Filth — vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Robin Graves — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Paul Allender — guitars Was Sarginson — drumsSummer 1993–late 1994Dani Filth — lead vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Robin Graves — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Paul Allender — guitars Nick Barker — drums Andrea Meyer — female vocalsThe Principle of Evil Made Flesh (1994)Late 1994–summer 1995Dani Filth — lead vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Paul Allender — guitars Nick Barker — drums Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Jon Kennedy — bassDusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin (1995, released 2016)Autumn–late 1995Dani Filth — lead vocals Nick Barker — drums Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Damien Gregori — keyboardsV Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) Dusk and Her Embrace (1996)Late 1995–summer 1997Dani Filth — lead vocals Nick Barker — drums Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Damien Gregori — keyboards Gian Pyres — guitarsSummer 1997–early 1999Dani Filth — lead vocals Nick Barker — drums Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Gian Pyres — guitars