text: Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band from Suffolk. Formed in 1991, the group originally consisted of lead 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), guitarists Marek "Ashok" Šmerda (since 2014) and Donny Burbage (since 2022), and keyboardist and female vocalist Zoe Marie Federoff (since 2022).
  History
  1991–1998
  Cradle of Filth (COF) was 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, Kennedy 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 Nicholas Barker. Around the same time, the band added Andrea Meyer as their first female backup vocalist.