Daniel Firth - Bass
Name: Daniel Firth
Birthday: 23/05/86
Place of residence: Glasgow, Scotland
Social media: Daniel Firth's Official Facebook
Hobbies: Apart from all things musical, I also enjoy reading, writing and hillwalking.
Musical background: I played guitar for about ten years before picking up the bass in my mid-twenties. The first band I played bass for was Devilock, a Misfits tribute, before being offered a spot in Man Must Die. I then joined Cradle during the recording of 'Manticore', and have been with the band ever since, contributing to the writing process from 'Hammer of the Witches' onwards.
Equipment: Signature Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-5 in 'Cthulhu Burst' with Fishman Fluence pickups into a Darkglass B7K Ultra Bass Driver.
Idols in Music: There are lots, put particularly the guys from Iron Maiden, Rush, Black Sabbath and Queen, as well as Paul Simon, Chuck Schuldiner, Paul Masvidal, Jeff Buckley, Devin Townsend and Toby Driver.
Best CoF show so far: I think possibly the most fun I've had on stage was the top deck of 70,000 Tons of Metal in 2016. Everything seemed to go right during that show (apart from some confusion over how long we were meant to be on stage). It went down a storm, and to know so many of our contemporaries in other bands were watching was also very cool. There were a couple of moments during the show when I mentally took a step back and just marvelled at how wonderfully strange the whole situation was.
Fave CoF songs to perform: The Principle of Evil Made Flesh, Desire in Violent Overture, Heartbreak and Seance
How do you kill time on tour: I usually read a lot, do a little writing and often explore the local surroundings, especially if there’s a nice hill or forest nearby.
Strangest experience on tour: Probably passing out during a border crossing, hung-over, while trying to get through with no passport, then being revived with toast. There have been more rock and roll experiences, but that one was pretty weird.
Place you would like to visit, but haven't: Iceland and The Faroe Islands
Your fave bands: Iron Maiden, Simon and Garfunkel, Death, Rush, Cynic, Lykathea Aflame, Devin Townsend, Sodom, Kreator, Slayer, Black Sabbath, Dream Theater, Metallica, Jeff Buckley, Judas Priest, Manilla Road, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, Idlewild, Immolation, The Levellers, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Napalm Death, Carcass, Queen, Running Wild, Sepultura, Manic Street Preachers, Savatage, Queensryche, Boards of Canada, Nick Drake, Thin Lizzy, Rage, Maudlin of the Well, The Waterboys, Misfits, Dead Kennedys, Pagan's Mind, Blind Guardian
Fave food/drink: Chilli, curry, tea, coffee, beer, whisky.
Favourite authors: Iain (M.) Banks, Clive Barker, H.P. Lovecraft, Arthur C. Clarke, Alasdair Gray, James Kelman, George Orwell
30 favourite albums (in chronological order with just one per band):
Simon and Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)
The Beatles – Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Nick Drake – Five Leaves Left (1969)
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak (1976)
Rush – Hemispheres (1978)
Prince – Purple Rain (1984)
Metallica – Ride the Lightning (1984)
The Waterboys – This Is the Sea (1985)
Slayer – Reign in Blood (1986)
Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)
Sepultura – Beneath the Remains (1989)
Judas Priest – Painkiller (1990)
Suffocation - Human Waste (1991)
Death – Human (1991)
Dream Theater – Images and Words (1992)
Morbid Angel – Covenant - (1993)
Cynic – Focus (1993)
Jeff Buckley – Grace (1994)
Manic Street Preachers – The Holy Bible (1994)
Strapping Young Lad – City (1997)
Boards of Canada – Music Has the Right to Children (1998)
Pain of Salvation – One Hour by the Concrete Lake (1998)
Anathema – Judgement (1999)
Matthew Good Band – Beautiful Midnight (1999)
Idlewild – 100 Broken Windows (2000)
Lykathea Aflame – Elvenefris (2000)
Devin Townsend – Accelerated Evolution (2003)
City and Colour – Bring Me Your Love (2008)
Message to the fans: You're a great bunch of folk! Thanks for your support and see you on tour.
Daniel Firth uses: Schecter Guitars, Darkglass Electronics, Newtone Strings, Fishman Pickups, DSL Straps, Mooer Audio