List of Cradle of Filth members

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 guitarist Donny Burbage (since 2022).

Two lineups of Cradle of Filth performing live in 2005 (top) and 2019 (bottom).

History

1991–1999

Cradle of Filth (COF) were formed in 1991 by Dani Filth with Paul Ryan, Jon Pritchard, Benjamin Ryan and Daz Gardner.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3] The new lineup released Total Fucking Darkness at the end of 1992, after which Gardner left the group.^[1] He was replaced by William "Was" Sarginson.^[4] During a tour alongside Emperor in 1993, Sarginson was replaced by Nick Barker.^[5] Around the same time, the band added Andrea Meyer as their first female backup vocalist.^[6]

Sarah Jezebel Deva was Cradle of Filth's female vocalist from 1994 until 2008.

During the tour with Emperor, COF signed with new label Cacophonous Records.^[5] Later in 1993, they recorded their debut full-length album The Principle of Evil Made Flesh, which was released early the next year.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9] The collection was later released as Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin in 2016.^[10] During the autumn, guitarist Stuart Anstis, returning bassist Graves, and keyboardist Damien Gregori all joined the band.^[8]

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.^[9] 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.^[8] In the summer of 1997, Gregori was dismissed from the group.^[11] He was replaced by Les "Lecter" Smith, who debuted along with Pyres on 1998's Cruelty and the Beast.^[12]

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.^[13] In July 1999, after the recording of EP From the Cradle to Enslave, Gian Pyres also left.^[14] By October, Stuart Anstis and Les Smith had also parted ways with the group — the former reportedly sacked.^[15] Shortly after their departures, a new lineup was announced including returning guitarists Paul Allender and Pyres.^[16] After initially touring with Mark Newby-Robson on keyboards,^[13] the band brought in Martin Powell as Smith's permanent replacement.^[17]

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".^[18] He was replaced by Dave Pybus, initially on a temporary basis but later permanently.^[19][20] Pyres left the group for a second time in August 2002.^[21] After the recording of Damnation and a Day, he was replaced by James McIlroy.^[22] Nymphetamine was released in 2004, before Pybus left for "personal reasons" in January 2005.^[23] Powell followed in May, citing similar reasons for his departure.^[24] McIlroy left in August, with Pybus returning on bass and his replacement Charles Hedger taking over the vacated guitar role.^[25]

Dave Pybus replaced Robin Graves in 2001 and was the band's bassist until 2012.

Thornography was recorded with former touring keyboardist Mark Newby-Robson,^[26] while Rosie Smith handled keyboards on a touring basis.^[27] Shortly after the album's October 2006 release, Erlandsson left to focus on his work in two side projects.^[28] He was replaced by Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka.^[29] 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.^[27] Shortly after its release, Deva left the band after a series of altercations with Filth.^[30] 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.^[31] Ellyllon performed on 2010's Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa, before she was replaced by Caroline Campbell in early 2011.^[32] 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.^[1][33]

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.^[34] She was made an official full-time member the following year.^[35] 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.^[36] 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.^[37] McIlroy was ultimately unable to return due to ongoing problems with his neck injury, so both replacement guitarists remained in the group.^[38] The new lineup released Hammer of the Witches in 2015 and Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness of Decay in 2017.^[1]

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".^[39] 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.^[40] In May 2022, the departures of Richard Shaw and Iratni were announced.^[41] At the same time, Donny Burbage joined as the new guitarist with Zoe Marie Federoff as the new keyboard player.^[42] Federoff announced her departure from Cradle of Filth on 24 August 2025.^[43] The same day, the band played a show with crew member Kelsey Peters in her place.^[44] 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.^[45] He was fired from the band on the same day.^[46] Jiʹí Hab has been his touring replacement since.^[47]

Members

Current

Image	Name (real name)	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Dani Filth (Daniel Davey)	1991–present	lead vocals	all Cradle of Filth (COF) releases
	Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka	2006–present	drums keyboards	all COF releases from Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder (2008) onwards (except Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin)
	Daniel Firth	2012–present	bass	all COF releases from The Manticore and Other Horrors (2012) onwards (except Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin)
	Donny Burbage	2022–present	guitar	The Screaming of the Valkyries (2025)

Former

Image	Name (real name)	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Paul Ryan	1991–1995	guitar	all COF releases from Invoking the Unclean (1992) to The Principle of Evil Made Flesh (1994) Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin (recorded 1995, released 2016)
	Benjamin Ryan		keyboards
	Darren "Daz" Gardner	1991–1992	drums	Invoking the Unclean (1992) Orgiastic Pleasures Foul (1992) Total Fucking Darkness (1992)
	Jon Pritchard		bass	Invoking the Unclean (1992) Orgiastic Pleasures Foul (1992)
	Robin Graves (Robin Eaglestone)	1991–1994 1995–2001	guitar (1991–1992) bass (1992 onwards)	Invoking the Unclean (1992) all COF releases from Total Fucking Darkness (1992) to Live Bait for the Dead (2002)
	Paul Allender	1992–1995 1999–2014	guitar	Total Fucking Darkness (1992) The Principle of Evil Made Flesh (1994) all COF releases from Midian (2000) to The Manticore and Other Horrors (2012) Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin (recorded 1995, released 2016)
	William "Was" Sarginson	1992–1993 1999 (session)	drums	From the Cradle to Enslave (1999)
	Nick Barker	1993–1999		all COF releases from The Principle of Evil Made Flesh (1994) to From the Cradle to Enslave (1999) Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin (recorded 1995, released 2016)
	Andrea Meyer	1993–1994 (died 2021)	female vocals	The Principle of Evil Made Flesh (1994)
	Sarah Jezebel Deva (Sarah Ferridge)	1994–2008		all COF releases from V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) to Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder (2008) Midnight in the Labyrinth (2012) Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin (2016)
	Jon Kennedy	1994–1995 (died 2023)	bass	Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin (recorded 1995, released 2016)
	Stuart Anstis	1995–1999 (died 2022)	guitar	all COF releases from V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) to From the Cradle to Enslave (1999)
	Damien Gregori (Greg Moffitt)	1995–1997	keyboards	V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) Dusk and Her Embrace (1996)
	Gian Pyres (Gianpiero Piras)	1995–1999 1999–2002	guitar	all COF releases from Cruelty and the Beast (1998) to Live Bait for the Dead (2002)
	Les "Lecter" Smith	1997–1999	keyboards	Cruelty and the Beast (1998) From the Cradle to Enslave (1999)
	Adrian Erlandsson	1999–2006	drums	all COF releases from From the Cradle to Enslave (1999) to Thornography (2006)
	Martin Powell	2000–2005	keyboards violin guitar	all COF releases from Midian (2000) to Nymphetamine (2004)
	Dave Pybus	2001–2005 2005–2012	bass backing vocals	all COF releases from Damnation and a Day (2003) to Evermore Darkly (2011)
	James McIlroy	2003–2005 2009–2014	guitar	Nymphetamine (2004) Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa (2010) Evermore Darkly (2011)
	Charles Hedger	2005–2009 (touring only from 2006 onwards)	bass (early–mid 2005) guitar (mid-2005 onwards)	Thornography (2006)
	Ashley Ellyllon (Ashley Jurgemeyer)	2009–2011	keyboards female vocals	Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa (2010)
	Caroline Campbell	2011–2012		Evermore Darkly (2011)
	Lindsay Schoolcraft	2013–2020		Hammer of the Witches (2015) Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness of Decay (2017) Trouble and Their Double Lives (2023)
	Marek "Ashok" Šmerda	2014–2025	guitar	all COF releases from Hammer of the Witches (2015) to The Screaming of the Valkyries (2025) (except Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin)
	Richard Shaw	2014–2022		all COF releases from Hammer of the Witches (2015) to Trouble and Their Double Lives (2023)
	Anabelle Iratni	2020–2022	keyboards female vocals	Existence Is Futile (2021)
	Zoe Marie Federoff	2022–2025		The Screaming of the Valkyries (2025)

Touring and session

Image	Name (real name)	Years active	Instruments	Details
	Danielle Cneajna Cottington	1994–1998 (session)	female vocals	Cottington appeared as a featured backing vocalist on a string of studio recordings in the 1990s.[3]
	Rishi Mehta	1994 (touring)	guitar	Mehta, who was also the band's manager, briefly performed with Cradle of Filth in 1994.[48]
	Bryan Hipp (as "Jared Demeter")	1994–1995 (touring; died 2006)		Hipp and McGlone each performed on tour, portraying the character "Jared Demeter".[3][49]
	Paul McGlone (as "Jared Demeter")	1996 (touring)
	Dave Kunt (Dave Hirschheimer)	1999 (session)	drums	Hirschheimer took over from Was Sarginson for a brief period, before Adrian Erlandsson joined.[3]
	Darren Donnarumma (as "Jared Demeter")	1999 (touring)	guitar	Donnarumma performed at several shows in 1999, after the departure of Gian Pyres.[3]
	Mark Newby-Robson	1999–2000 (touring) 2006–2011 (session)	keyboards	Newby-Robson took over briefly from Les Smith,[13] and later became a studio contributor.[26]
	Rosie Smith	2005–2009 (touring)	keyboards female vocals	After Martin Powell's departure in 2005, Smith took over as COF's keyboardist for live shows.[27] She also doubled on female vocals after Sarah Jezebel Deva's departure.[50]
	Kelsey Peters	2025–present (touring)		After Federoff departed from the band in the middle of their Latin American tour in August 2025,[43] Peters took over as Cradle of Filth's keyboardist for the remainder of the tour.[44]
	Jiří Háb		guitars	After 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, starting on 2 September.[51]

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
1991–early 1992	Dani Filth — vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Jon Pritchard — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Darren Gardner — drums	Invoking the Unclean (1992)
Early–mid 1992	Dani Filth — vocals Paul Ryan — lead guitar Jon Pritchard — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Darren Gardner — drums Robin Graves — rhythm guitar	Orgiastic Pleasures Foul (1992)
Mid–late 1992	Dani Filth — vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Robin Graves — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Darren Gardner — drums Paul Allender — guitars	Total Fucking Darkness (1992)
Late 1992–summer 1993	Dani Filth — vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Robin Graves — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Paul Allender — guitars Was Sarginson — drums	none
Summer 1993–late 1994	Dani Filth — lead vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Robin Graves — bass Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Paul Allender — guitars Nick Barker — drums Andrea Meyer — female vocals	The Principle of Evil Made Flesh (1994)
Late 1994–summer 1995	Dani Filth — lead vocals Paul Ryan — guitars Benjamin Ryan — keyboards Paul Allender — guitars Nick Barker — drums Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Jon Kennedy — bass	Dusk and Her Embrace: The Original Sin (1995, released 2016)
Autumn–late 1995	Dani Filth — lead vocals Nick Barker — drums Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Damien Gregori — keyboards	V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein (1996) Dusk and Her Embrace (1996)
Late 1995–summer 1997	Dani Filth — lead vocals Nick Barker — drums Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Damien Gregori — keyboards Gian Pyres — guitars	none
Summer 1997–early 1999	Dani Filth — lead vocals Nick Barker — drums Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Gian Pyres — guitars Les Smith — keyboards	Cruelty and the Beast (1998) PanDaemonAeon (1999) From the Cradle to Enslave (1999) – one track
Early–spring 1999	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Gian Pyres — guitars Les Smith — keyboards Was Sarginson — drums (temporary)	From the Cradle to Enslave (1999) – three tracks
Spring–summer 1999	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Gian Pyres — guitars Les Smith — keyboards Dave Kunt — drums (temporary)	none
June–July 1999	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Gian Pyres — guitars Les Smith — keyboards Adrian Erlandsson — drums	From the Cradle to Enslave (1999) – two tracks
July–October 1999	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Stuart Anstis — guitars Robin Graves — bass Les Smith — keyboards Adrian Erlandsson — drums	none
November 1999–early 2000	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Robin Graves — bass Adrian Erlandsson — drums Paul Allender — guitars Gian Pyres — guitars Mark Newby-Robson — keyboards (touring)
Early 2000–July 2001	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Robin Graves — bass Adrian Erlandsson — drums Paul Allender — guitars Gian Pyres — guitars Martin Powell — keyboards, violin	Midian (2000) Bitter Suites to Succubi (2001) Heavy, Left-Handed and Candid (2001) Live Bait for the Dead (2002)
July 2001–August 2002	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Adrian Erlandsson — drums Paul Allender — guitars Gian Pyres — guitars Martin Powell — keyboards, violin Dave Pybus — bass	none
August 2002–early 2003	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Adrian Erlandsson — drums Paul Allender — guitars Martin Powell — keyboards, violin, guitars Dave Pybus — bass	Damnation and a Day (2003)
Early 2003–January 2005	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Adrian Erlandsson — drums Paul Allender — guitars Martin Powell — keyboards, violin, guitars Dave Pybus — bass James McIlroy — guitars	Nymphetamine (2004)
January–May 2005	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Adrian Erlandsson — drums Paul Allender — guitars Martin Powell — keyboards, violin, guitars James McIlroy — guitars Charles Hedger — bass	Peace Through Superior Firepower (2005)
May–August 2005	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Adrian Erlandsson — drums Paul Allender — guitars James McIlroy — guitars Charles Hedger — bass Rosie Smith — keyboards (touring)	none
August 2005–November 2006	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Adrian Erlandsson — drums Paul Allender — guitars Charles Hedger — guitars Rosie Smith — keyboards (touring) Dave Pybus — bass	Thornography (2006)
November 2006–November 2008	Dani Filth — lead vocals Sarah Jezebel Deva — female vocals Paul Allender — guitars Charles Hedger — guitars Rosie Smith — keyboards (touring) Dave Pybus — bass Marthus — drums	Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder (2008)
November 2008–spring 2009	Dani Filth — vocals Paul Allender — guitars Charles Hedger — guitars Rosie Smith — keyboards, female vocals Dave Pybus — bass Marthus — drums	none
Spring 2009–early 2011	Dani Filth — lead vocals Paul Allender — guitars Dave Pybus — bass Marthus — drums, keyboards James McIlroy — guitars Ashley Ellyllon — keyboards, female vocals	Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa (2010)
Early 2011–early 2012	Dani Filth — lead vocals Paul Allender — guitars Dave Pybus — bass Marthus — drums, keyboards James McIlroy — guitars Caroline Campbell — keyboards, female vocals	Evermore Darkly (2011)
Spring 2012–spring 2013	Dani Filth — vocals Paul Allender — guitars Marthus — drums, keyboards James McIlroy — guitars Daniel Firth — bass	The Manticore and Other Horrors (2012) (does not feature James McIlroy)
Spring 2013–summer 2014	Dani Filth — lead vocals Paul Allender — guitars Marthus — drums, keyboards James McIlroy — guitars Daniel Firth — bass Lindsay Schoolcraft — keyboards, female vocals	none
Summer 2014–February 2020	Dani Filth — lead vocals Marthus — drums, keyboards Daniel Firth — bass Lindsay Schoolcraft — keyboards, female vocals Richard Shaw — guitars Ashok — guitars	Hammer of the Witches (2015) Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness of Decay (2017) Trouble and Their Double Lives (2023)
Early 2020–May 2022	Dani Filth — lead vocals Marthus — drums, keyboards Daniel Firth — bass Richard Shaw — guitars Ashok — guitars Anabelle Iratni — keyboards, female vocals	Existence Is Futile (2021)
May 2022–August 2025	Dani Filth — lead vocals Marthus — drums, keyboards Daniel Firth — bass Ashok — guitars Donny Burbage — guitars Zoe Marie Federoff — keyboards, female vocals	The Screaming of the Valkyries (2025)
August 2025	Dani Filth — lead vocals Marthus — drums, keyboards Daniel Firth — bass Ashok — guitars Donny Burbage — guitars Kelsey Peters — keyboards, female vocals	none
August 2025	Dani Filth — lead vocals Marthus — drums, keyboards Daniel Firth — bass Donny Burbage — guitars Kelsey Peters — keyboards, female vocals	none
September 2025–present	Dani Filth — lead vocals Marthus — drums, keyboards Daniel Firth — bass Donny Burbage — guitars Kelsey Peters — keyboards, female vocals Jiří Háb — guitars	none

Recording

Album	Lead vocals	Guitar 1	Guitar 2	Bass	Drums	Keyboards	Female vocals
Invoking the Unclean	Dani Filth	Robin Graves	Paul Ryan	Jon Pritchard	Darren Garden	Benjamin Ryan
Orgiastic Pleasures Fool		Paul Ryan
Total Fucking Darkness		Paul Allender		Robin Graves
The Principle of Evil Made Flesh					Nick Barker		Andrea Meyer
V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein		Stuart Anstis				Damien Gregori	Sarah Jezebel Deva
Dusk and Her Embrace
Cruelty and the Beast		Stuart Anstis	Gian Pyres			Lecter
From the Cradle to Enslave					Was Sarginson (3 tracks) Adrian Erlandsson (2 tracks) Nick Barker (1 track)
Midian		Paul Allender			Adrian Erlandsson	Martin Powell
Bitter Suites to Succubi				Robin Eaglestone
Damnation and a Day				Dave Pybus
Nymphetamine			James McIlroy				Sarah Jezebel Deva/Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull
Thornography			Charles Hedger			Mark Newby-Robson/Christopher Jon	Sarah Jezebel Deva
Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder		Paul Allender			Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka	Mark Newby-Robson	Sarah Jezebel Deva/Carolyn Gretton
Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa		Paul Allender	James McIlroy			Ashley Ellyllon
Evermore Darkly						Caroline Campbell
Midnight in the Labyrinth						Mark Newby-Robson	Sarah Jezebel Deva
The Manticore and Other Horrors		Paul Allender		Daniel Firth	Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka	Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka	Lucy Atkins
Hammer of the Witches		Richard Shaw	Marek 'Ashok' Šmerda				Lindsay Schoolcraft
Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay
Existence Is Futile						Anabelle Iratni
The Screaming of the Valkyries		Donny Burbage				Zoe Marie Federoff