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 Kennedy (real name 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 Kennedy, 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. 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 former bassist Jon Kennedy returning 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. 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