Voltcase Exclusive - Dani Filth

Dani Filth, the infamous front-man for shock rockers Cradle of Filth, chats to Voltcase about his new book, ‘The Gospel of Filth’ - perfect for a spot of Halloween bed-time reading! As well as music, including his potential new super group with members of Anthrax, Gorgoroth, The Cult and Enslaved, and our favourite answer to the question 'what does Voltcase mean?' so far!

Hi Dani, welcome to Voltcase – how are things?

Things are good. I'm a very busy little bee at the moment.

Now, how would you describe ‘The Gospel of Filth’ to people in three words? And can you do it without using the word ‘filth’!?

Feck. Girls. Occult.

Whose initial idea was the book – did you approach Gavin Baddeley, or did he approach you? And any plans on working together again at some point?

It was Gavin's idea initially as he saw the band as raw fertile ground in which to plant his occult tree of knowledge. We used to know each other from him interviewing me for different magazines and we just got on, possibly because of our similarly jaded intellects! A book seemed equally ambitious, honing in everything from serial killers to femme fatales, satanic priests to avid ghost-hunters, horror icons to dark cosmic entities, basically anything to do with the Cradle OF Filth universe, all stirred up and living in a modern day grimoire.

Do you see the book as an extension of your music with Cradle of Filth, or is a totally separate project?

The book is an extension of the band, using each of our albums to springboard into the areas they represent. So, for example, V Empire is about childhood nightmares and how fairy-tales were set in the realms of pagan lore, the chapter 'Cruelty And The Beast' concerns itself with serial killer chic; 'Dusk and Her Embrace' the advent of gothicism from a style of architecture through literature and poetry and beyond, and so on and so forth. Each album is attributed to a theme. The theme that album has pursued.

Was there any subject or topic that, for whatever reason, you couldn’t include in the book? Or anything that’s occurred to you since completing the book that you wish you’d included?

Although the book is a bible-walloping 500 plus pages, obviously we couldn't delve into every miniscule cranny. For example, the chapter about horror, when it's not concerning itself with the grand Guignol of horror cinema, centres around a triumvirate of three all-important authors; Poe, Lovecraft and Barker as the staple genre pillars, although of course others are definitely explored. The text is also studded with interviews and commentaries from all kinds of relevant luminaries, in order to validate and flesh out the history with cold hard facts.

Of all the people who appeared in ‘The Gospel of Filth’, such as Christopher Lee, Tim Burton and James Hetfield, was there anyone in particular that just blew you away with their contribution?

Jeff Wayne, Anton La Vey, Dario Argento, Tom Araya. Some people just made some very good observations.

Musically, do you have any plans to release a follow-up to ‘Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder’ anytime soon? Maybe even an album based around ‘The Gospel of Filth’?

Actually we've started to write another album already, albeit in small fitful bursts. Basically we're collating ideas at the moment, but we're only a breath away from half an album already. I think we've got the makings of about six really good songs at the moment. Hopefully we will be ensconced in the studio by the end of this January...

I was actually thinking about basing the album around an invasion of extra-terrestial giant vampire crabs.

We’re constantly looking for new bands to check out, are there any that you think we should take a look at that we might not have heard of, either in your local area or that you’ve come across while touring?

There's one. I'm undertaking a band with guys from Anthrax, Gorgoroth, The Cult and Enslaved and whilst we still haven't decided on anything other than a temporary name (The Mongoloids!), we have actually written five really fucking good songs. Think Tool mixed with At The Gates and you'll be half there.

'Buxom Wench' are good too.

If you could pass on one invaluable piece of advice to anyone out there just starting out in a band, or even as a writer, what would it be?

Work really hard, don't give up, for if it's truly your dream then you'll love every minute of it, good or bad.

And don't stab children.

Voltcase readers are pretty hard to shock – what’s the ‘filthiest’ true story that you can tell them about yourself that will surprise even the sternest of readers?

They might be hard to shock, but as if I would divulge anything that scandalous unless it was told in the extra chapter of something like 'The Gospel Of Filth', available to buy online now. With a bonus chapter of filth. Written by me through a haze of smut.

And finally, the question that we ask everyone who appears in Voltcase – what does the word ‘Voltcase’ mean?

'Voltcase' is a derogatory term for Frankenstein's monster, or at least anyone who looks a little like him.