A thunderous roar filled Philadelphia's Trocadero as chants of Cradle! Cradle! arose from the crowd, calling British black metal titans Cradle of Filth to the stage. When the band emerged, ready to play the second date on their U.S. tour, they donned their trademark ghoulish face paint and black gothic wardrobe. Dani Filth and company ripped immediately into "Dirge Inferno," drummer Martin Skaroupka slaughtering his kit on a raised platform resembling a pile of dirt, and they capped the performance with the fierce "Cruelty." But the uproarious crowd wanted more, shouting one more song until the band reemerged for an encore. Playing "Gilded Cunt," the feral frontman inexhaustibly shrieked and screamed like a man possessed. STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANTHONY THOMPSON
On SPIN.com:
Alterna-Detritus Interview: Dani Filth
Alterna-Detritus Interview: Dani Filth, Part Deux
>> Listen to Cradle of Filth on Napster
We asked: What band puts on the scariest live show? COMMENT
Name: Ben Krawier
Age: 18
Hometown: Folsam, PA
Occupation: Vocalist
"Mayhem."
Name: Genevieve Guinn
Age: 18
Hometown: Houston, TX
Occupation: College Student
"Cradle of Filth, with their satanic appeal."
Name: Justine Hayden
Age: 18
Hometown: Abington, PA
Occupation: Student
"Cradle of Filth -- they rained blood."
Name: Sean W. Schaeffer
Age: 23
Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
Occupation: Retail manager
"Fuck the Facts."
Name: Heidi Franks
Age: 35
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Occupation: Figure skater
"Skinny Puppy."
Name: Charles Moulton
Age: 38
Hometown: Hometown
Occupation: Web Designer
"GWAR"
Name: Kaitlin Gorrow
Age: 18
Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Occupation: College student
"Slipknot."
Name: Kara Taylor
Age: 22
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: DMV employee
"Slayer when they rained blood."
Backstage with Cradle of Filth
Filth from above
Dani Filth
Guitarist Paul Allender
