By
- David Cifarelli | dcifarelli@masslive.com
English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth have addressed a “strange turn of events” that led to their keyboardist and co-vocalist abruptly leaving the band mid-tour.
“A strange turn of events have manifested out here on tour for Cradle of Filth in South America,” the band wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday, Aug. 24.
“Our keyboardist/backing singer Zoe Smerda has chosen to leave the band mid-tour, effective immediately. We, of course, wish her all the best for the future and we as a band will continue onward and upward as always with a replacement singer here in Kelsey Peters, one of the very talented CREWDLE members,” Cradle of Filth wrote. “In life, one cannot always foresee what the future holds for us, but we will remain ever-professional and continue on with ‘The Screaming Of The Americas’ concerts for our fans without allowing any of this to sully our onward trajectory. So, our South and Central American brethren, we will see you at the next spat of relentless shows.”
Zoe Marie Federoff said in an Instagram post on Sunday, Aug. 24 that she was leaving Cradle of Filth “for personal reasons,” adding that she was “unable to continue this tour and continue in general with Cradle of Filth.”
Federoff asked people to respect her and her family’s privacy and said she will not be answering any questions.
“Be kind to my successor. I wish her and my now former bandmates well,” the keyboardist wrote. “At least, like Roy Khan said over a decade ago, God was there after all.”
Federoff later dismissed several rumors surrounding her departure, including one that her husband — Cradle Of Filth bandmate Marek “Ashok” Šmerda — was cheating
“Ashok isn’t cheating,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “While the turmoil of being in the band has taken its toll on us, we remain very much certain that we love each other. Please be kind to my husband. He is a good man.”
Federoff added that the couple “were already planning to leave the band later this year” and that “certain events have sped that up for me.”
“At this time there is nothing further I wish to clarify and I’d appreciate keeping the ugly rumors off my page and out of my inbox,” Federoff wrote. “Please enjoy the remaining shows on this tour and give a lot of love to Kelsey, who is one of the greatest singers I’ve ever been privileged to hear. You’ll love her.”
Cradle of Filth, led by singer Dani Filth, formed in Suffolk, England in 1991. The band has experienced several lineup changes over the years. Its current iteration features Filth, Ashok, Donny Burbage, Daniel Firth and Martin Skaroupka.
Cradle of Filth has released 14 studio albums, several of which have charted in the U.S. The band’s highest charting album, “Godspeed On The Devil’s Thunder,” peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard 200 in 2008.
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