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Cradle of Filth's meteoric rise to black metal infamy began in a quiet
part of the county of Suffolk in England. All may have seen quiet then
but that was about to be shattered by the searing dark sounds that
rapidly became their trademark as these masters of all things mystical
and evil found their feet.
I first met Dani Filth about 15 years ago when he was singing in a band
alongside my brother that called themselves 'The Lemon Grove Kids' named
after the cult classic horror film by Ray Dennis Steckler. Dani's
interest in the macabre was obvious even then, and though this band were
not destined to reach the heights of COF it temporarily satisfied his
thirst for causing mayhem and he took away with him influences ranging
from 'The Misfits', classic B-movies to all things 'Judas Priest'.
Although Suffolk may seem quiet therein lies the remains of centuries of
local witch trials and all things magick, a presence that has certainly
been picked up by Dani and other local lad and lead guitarist Paul
Allender in the lyrics and visual presentation of the band. So 15 years
on here we sit backstage at Irving Plaza in New York, two Suffolk boys,
but only one a God of the ever expanding world of black metal, (and
that's not me!). Taking a 'break' from headlining the second stage of
Ozzfest 2003 with this low key, and of course sold out, New York gig,
Dani found a few minutes to tell me of new found friendships, Marilyn
Manson's privacy and how to sell 3,000 records a week!
"Ozzfest has been very good for us. We are not only currently selling
over 3,000 cd's a week but making some great friends along the way too".
That has never been hard for COF as they keep their feet firmly on the
ground although Dani has oft been spotted out partying with good friend
Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour, "We (Dani and Corey), hit it
off at one of the musical award shows and when our paths cross we have
been know to share a drink or two. They are really nice guys,
(Slipknot), but things can get a little crazy some evenings, hehehe".
Back to Ozzfest then where they currently have a couple of weeks left of
shows. So who are the friends you making on this tour? "Well there are
these guys, (points to tonight's support band Sworn Enemy), and I always
end up fighting with him, Lorenzo, (member of Sworn Enemy), every night
it seems! Last week we went a bit over the top and I ended up tangled up
in some barbed wire, ripped my arm up pretty bad", says Dani, proudly
showing two huge scars across his forearm. "We have also got along great
with Voivod but we have to leave before the main acts start so we are a
little sorry not to be checking out Ozzie live". Why leave so early?
"It's to do with the show we put on. We have to get to the next site and
start setting up our stage show before any of the other bands come on
which as you know is about 9 o'clock in the morning. We have a
pyrotechnic show as well as the stage and devil dancers on stilts etc.
It's pretty cool and a lot of this goes on over the audiences heads so
we have all this rigging to go up and then the guys take it down every
evening, they are a really hard working crew but we throw them a few
parties now and again too!".
So you haven't bumped into Ozzie or Manson on the site? "I went to the
catering facility for the only time the other day and saw Tim Skoal, (of
Marilyn Manson), but it's ridiculous with Manson. About an hour before
he is about to go on nobody is allowed anywhere near him backstage. You
can't even go for a piss back there as he has it all cordoned off, for
his supposed 'privacy'." So how about Ozzie? "I was around the site last
week and saw what I thought was a really old man hobbling around using
this walking stick. As he gets closer I see its Ozzie. I cant believe he
is that bad, I think he is just playing up to it, then you see him on
stage and he is going fucking mental, chucking water everywhere and
jumping around...hehe".
So where do you go from here Dani? Your last album, 'Damnation and a
Day' was incredible with the addition of the orchestra and Sarah
Jezebel, (backing singer), sounds awesome as always, "Sarah's great and
using the orchestra was awesome too. I loved this album although it took
us bloody long enough to make. But I am very proud of it and live it is
going down very well too, I mean someone out there must like it, we are
selling 3,000 of them, (cd's), a week just off the back of this tour".
And how is the family? (Dani lives with long term girlfriend and their
young daughter in Suffolk). No plans to bring them over for this tour?
"We thought about it but we get so few days off. I miss them of course,
yeah, but the days we get off we always seem to be stuck in the middle
of nowhere in small towns with nothing to do except perhaps look round
local record shops or see a film somewhere. This is a gruelling tour but
we've really enjoyed it, although we are sorta glad we are coming to the
end of it too now".
As yet another fan approaches us to get and autograph or have a photo
taken with the guys you become to realise just how huge this band
are. Ethereal-like in their stage presence, fans seem to need to touch
their idols to ensure they are of flesh; such is the mystique surrounding
COF. However, Dani and the others all make time for the constant barrage
of requests and everyone seems to in the end go home happy. How can
you cope with this attention Dani? "They are our fans and they buy
our records, its as simple as that. Some are extremely fanatical about
the band and you would not believe the letters and gifts we all get
per week, some a little weird but weird can be good?." he cackles..."I
mean just look at the website and all the message boards, (www.cradleoffilth.com),
the fans have been great and with very few exceptions go fucking crazy
whenever we play, wherever we play". You only have to look out for
the band's t-shirts to know how widespread the fan base is, I have
seen t-shirts worn by lap dancers in Kansas, to pre-high schoolers
in London, but all are worn with pride and a sense of not always wanting
to shock, (the 'Jesus is a C*nt' tee being a possible exception here!),
but a sense of belonging to a exclusive club that are the COF fans.
However Dani's talents go further than just the widely varying vocals
heard on any and all COF tracks, he recently starred in a horror movie
'Cradle of Fear' to which the band of course provided the musical score.
Any future plans to act again? (they were showing scenes from the film
before the music began tonight - it is very gory but a great film with
Dani outdoing himself as the Lead character), "There are a few things in
the pipeline and the film came out really well but I cant really discuss
them right now, but be warned, I may be reappearing in something soon".
Indeed, be warned, that when Cradle of Filth come to your town it
may not be the same after they leave. With an ultra heavy live set,
kick ass pyrotechnics and tunes to raise the dead, you may not be
same after seeing them live either. Oh, and don't forget to pick up
a t-shirt too...
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