Name: Marek 'Ashok' Smerda

Birthday: 22/07/1975

Places of residence: Brno, Czech Republic

Hobbies: Music, Jacqouille, Gym, Movies, Books

Web: www.ashok.cz

Facebook: Marek 'Ashok' Smerda's Official Facebook

Equipment: Schecter Guitars, Seymour Duncan pickups

Idols in Life and Music: Peter Gabriel, H.R. Giger, Robert Fripp, Miles Davis, Robert Venosa . . . Basicaly I am inspired by anyone who can force me to think . . . Even if they are not famous yet.

Best CoF show so far: This is really hard to say after more than two years of touring now, but in fact I have enjoyed every COF show since the begining. If just one should be named, it would be my hometown show in Brno in November 2015, it was really emotional for me.

Fave CoF songs to perform live: Cthulhu Dawn, Nymphetamine, Honey and Sulphur, Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids  

Songs you'd like to perform live: The Promise Of Fever, Thirteen Autumns and a Widow, Lustmord and Wargasm

How do you kill time on tour: Books, Internet, Sightseeing

Strangest experience on tour: To feel the boat rocking whilst on stage during 70 000 Tons of Metal :)

Place you would like to visit, but haven't: Tahiti, Japan, South America

Pet hates: Insincerity, Sham

Fave bands: Pink Floyd, Nevermore, Dead Can Dance, Slayer, Alice In Chains, Genesis, Iron Maiden, Suffocation, Toto, Motley Crue, Animals As Leaders, Sade, Whitesnake, Synkopy, Type O Negative and many others . . .

Favourite albums:
Type O Negative - October Rust
Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason
Synkopy - Kridleni / Flying Time
Queensryche - Promised Land
Cradle Of Filth - Cruelty And The Beast
Peter Gabriel - Up
Alice In Chains - MTV Unplugged
Pain Of Salvation - One Hour by the Concrete Lake

This may vary depending on the particular season, so stay tuned :o)

Fave guitar players: Jason Becker, Vito Bratta, Buckethead, Milos Makovsky, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Georgui Encev, Jeff Beck, John Sykes, Brett Garsed, Jeff Waters, Jimmy Page, Dimebag Darrell, Rowan Robertson, Jeff Loomis, Frank Zappa . . . and of course - Richard Shaw

Favourite guitar albums:
Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia - Friday Night In San Francisco
Racer X - Second Heat
Steve Vai - Alien Love Secrets
Jeff Beck - Jeff
Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn

Favourite films: The Mission, The Last Boy Scout, Zelary, Legends of the Fall, Beetlejuice, Lost in Translation, H.E.A.T., The Return of the Pink Panther, Once Upon a Time in the West, Le Professionnel

Fave food/drink: Chicken / Beef steaks, Beer, Water

And favourite books to take with you on a desert island: Shadows in Paradise, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Message to the fans: Thank you for the support, I will always deliver the best of my ability!