Cradle of Filth in Turmoil: Keyboardist Walks Out Mid-Tour, Guitarist Fired Hours Later

By Acusinkt Metal News — Updated today

The past few days have been nothing short of chaotic in the world of Cradle of Filth. Keyboardist and co-vocalist Zoë Marie Federoff abruptly left the band midway through their Latin American tour, and only hours later, long-time guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda was fired on the spot after posting a lengthy statement criticizing the band’s management.

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What Happened?
 • Aug 24–25 — Zoë Federoff announced her departure citing “personal reasons,” asking fans to respect her decision. Dani Filth responded calling the exit “a strange twist of fate,” but confirmed that the tour would continue. Soon after, the band introduced Kelsey Peters (a long-time crew member) as the temporary replacement on keyboards and backing vocals.
 • Aug 26–27 — Ashok revealed he was planning to quit at the end of the tour, citing low pay, high stress, and years of unprofessional behavior. Just hours later, Cradle of Filth officially dismissed him with immediate effect. The band still went on to play their Montevideo show with a revised lineup.

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Accusations and Counterstatements

After leaving, Zoë Federoff went public with excerpts of the band’s contract for the tour, claiming it offered poor financial terms and described the environment as “threatening and abusive.” She directly called out Dani Filth for allowing such conditions. Ashok supported these claims, also pointing at low pay and excessive stress.

The band, however, quickly dismissed these accusations. Dani labeled the statements as false and defamatory, insisting the tour must go on.

One striking twist: Ashok demanded that his compositions be removed from future releases, including the highly discussed collaboration with Ed Sheeran, raising questions about its future.

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The Tour Status

Despite the internal implosion, Cradle of Filth has not canceled any dates. The band already performed their first show without Ashok, with fan footage circulating online. Kelsey Peters is temporarily filling in on keyboards and vocals for the rest of the tour.

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Why This Matters
 • Creative impact: Ashok had been with the band since 2014 and co-wrote their last three albums. His sudden removal, coupled with Zoë’s departure, will undoubtedly reshape the band’s live sound and creative direction moving forward. (Fact + inference)
 • Industry spotlight: The leaked contracts and claims of underpayment reignite the conversation around working conditions for touring musicians, even within high-profile metal acts.
 • Future releases: Questions remain over the fate of unreleased material, especially the Ed Sheeran collaboration that has been teased for months.

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Quick Timeline
 • Aug 24–25: Zoë leaves mid-tour; Kelsey Peters steps in.
 • Aug 26–27: Ashok posts statement; band fires him immediately.
 • Aug 26–27: Cradle continues the tour; plays Montevideo with new lineup.