Zoë M. Federoff has just dropped a bombshell – she’s outta CRADLE OF FILTH. 🎤💥
The 33-year-old vocalist/keyboardist, who joined the British goth-metal circus in 2022, posted this gem on social media today (August 24): *”It is with deep regret I share that for personal reasons I am unable to continue this tour and continue in general with CRADLE OF FILTH.*
*Please respect my privacy and my family’s privacy. I will answer no further questions. Be kind to my successor. I wish her and my now former bandmates well.*
*At least, like Roy Khan said over a decade ago, God was there after all.* (Fun fact: Khan quit KAMELOT in 2010 citing religious reasons, so Zoe’s throwing *shade* with a sprinkle of drama. Classic.)
*Yours, Zoe.*”
CRADLE OF FILTH is mid-chaos on their 13-date Latin American tour, which started August 21 in Limeira, Brazil, rocked São Paulo on the 23rd, and hits Buenos Aires, Argentina **tonight** (August 24). Your move, replacement singer. 🤘
Oh, and plot twist: Zoe married CRADLE guitarist Marek “Ashok” Šmerda this past January in Tucson. (Band romances: 10/10 for passion, 2/10 for longevity, apparently.) When they announced their engagement in 2023, Zoe insisted: *”I never knew Ashok before joining COF. He had nothing to do with me getting the gig.*” Sure, Jan. But props to frontman Dani Filth for being *”the greatest and most supportive leader”* during all this – dude’s probably used to lineup changes by now. (Fun fact: CRADLE has had over 20 members since 1991. It’s a revolving door with corpse paint.)
Zoe’s resume? Glorious. Before CRADLE, she fronted goth/power metal act INSATIA, then co-founded CATALYST CRIME in 2017 with XANDRIA’s drummer – because why not recruit her *dad*, Matt Federoff, on bass? Metal nepotism at its finest, and she calls it a career highlight. (Fun fact: Her dad probably taught her to scream before she could talk.) She’s also collaborated with ATROCITY and THE VIVALDI METAL PROJECT, wrote lyrics for other bands, and somehow finds time to hike, collect books, and dabble in political campaigns. Overachiever alert. 🌲📚
