As previously reported, CRADLE OF FILTH are currently on tour in Europe in support of their new album, Thornography. The first of an ongoing series of tour updates can be found below:

Life Is Grimm

Saturday 11th November - Brighton Pavilion 2

"Dear all,

Firstly to introduce myself. My name is Libertina Grimm; international sex symbol, glamour puss, salon Kitty, outright miss outrageous and total bighead to boot (to name but a few of my bad points!) and I'm writing this diary in order to report on my long standing friends from Cradle Of Filth, who have invited me out on their extensive European tour to hang out, intrude, disrupt and basically make them look good by looking better. Each day, (well, those that I wake up on the right bus for), I will be sending in reports from the front line, telling it like it is whilst colourfully filling in all the blanks, just so that you too can receive the sights and smells of a full blown Cradle Of Filth tour in the comfort of your own home whilst I'm out having all the fun (and smelling all the odours).

Got that? Good. Now you little creeps just shut your beaks, sit back and bloody well listen.

Saturday started with an eleven o'clock rendezvous at the band's rehearsal studios where mine and the band's tour bus was wedged in like a fat salmon between two big rocks. I said rocks. Of course I was fashionably late, it took two girlfriends to load all my gear on the bus (a girl cannot be without knickers, at least on the first day!) whilst I spoke to Dani's wife Toni, daughter Luna (who was planning her own trip on the bus it seemed, as a stowaway) and keyboardist Rosie, who stood chattering in the stony coolness of the pale November morn whilst the band's weightlifting gear was being heaved onboard. Sorry, scrub that, I mean band's hairdressing equipment.

It was at this moment that I had the vague feeling that I was about to embark on a perilous but exhilarating adventure much like a pirate or an unsuspecting heroine like Faye Dunaway playing Ann Darrow. I decided I like the idea of being a pirate (especially if i got to walk the plank with Johnny Depp in tow) and instantly made a mental note (i.e: I bit my lip hard to savour the memory) to try and find a Jolly Roger to hoist upon the roof.

Farewells aside and once introductions were clearly laid, I decided to toast the tour with champagne before stretching out for the duration of the short journey to Brighton in the compact comfort of my bunk (it's a bit like sleeping in a coffin) listening to music and Charles in the distance waxing lyrical about beard dye and brawling.

On arrival there were greetings galore for the crew before refreshments were found and the ceaseless monotony of the afternoon crept in like a poisonous spider. It wasn't all that bad I suppose, but a girl like me needs constant attention and the sight of the guys preparing their gear for the night's show soon grew tiresome beyond compare, so I took to the promenade for a blustery stroll among the gulls.

Evening swept in on leathery wings behind the pier and it's string of carousel beads whilst the hustle and bustle of the warm up show grew to a climax. Openers THUS DEFILED, whom Cradle did a lot of shows with back in the days of their debut album, went down a storm, their primitive Anglican battery more than warming the 500 strong crowd up for the main event, Cradle's first show with new drummer Martin Skaroupka.

You should really Czech him out.

Now I know there will be a lot of questions regarding former drummer Adrian's retirement from the band but, and as I have already said to several people, (one of which I bit), I am not at liberty to comment. I have known the band for a long time and I for one have not seen the band as enthusiastic and tightly knit for an aeon, tonight's lengthy set being testament to that fact. Five songs from the new album Thornography were aired, as was old school material like 'Forest', 'Cruelty' and 'Dusk'. Everybody played ferociously well as the packed crowd in this small, but good sounding venue, just went ballistic. From my vantage point at the side of stage (next to Keith in monitor-world), I got a good look at the band (and their tightly-leathered arses) and the crowd's emphatic response. There was even a cute blonde in the front row that I quite fancied who was pushed to the front midst the moshing to my namesake anthem, 'Libertina Grimm'. Then she was gone, like a mermaid pulled beneath a monumental current. Later she re-emerged (or so it seemed) during the encore, make-up plastered all down her pretty face as the fall-out from 'Gilded Cunt' whirled and lashed about her.

First show down and band stripped of their sweaty new costumes, everybody congregated backstage to talk and drink, (well, not drink, as the band have decided to undertake a fairly dry tour for the time being, in order to wean themselves from dependency on anything other than their laptops), but that didn't stop me and Dave sneaking to the bar for a few stiff ones and a little light banter about the best way to masturbate without anyone noticing within the confines of your bunk. Tonight I will make use of the small hours, all the more wiser for that information Dave. You very satisfied old pervert.

Other people who made the show were Dani's family (his sister, whose birthday it is tomorrow, lives literally a few miles away in the heart of Brighton) Tony Luke (mad cartoon anime 'Dominator's creator) as well as various friends who braved the two hour trip from Ipswich to watch the band play raucous and raw and without the benefit of tomorrow's Edenic stage show.

And so, with the day drawing to a close and a boat from Dover pending, I conclude my first day's report with brief tale of weed and strong coffee on the bus, Sarah beginning her denouement of new drummer Martin by continuously mocking his accent, a three way pleasure pile up in the aisle courtesy of Charle's inflatable arms and the best night's sleep I've had in a long while (having perfected Dave's technique), settling into the we're- on-tour vibe like sliding into a warm soapy bath. A bath that may well soon turn cold, judging by the sudden dip in outside temperature and the wintry promise of more Eastern and Nordic climes.

And so, this is Libertina Grimm, your consecrated host, day one of my tourture diary, writing over and very definitely out. Oh and by the way, if you happen to be at one of the shows or numerable signings along the way and see me, don't fail to give me a little wave. I'll be the red-lipped girl in black; high heels, short skirt, filthy smile.

Until the morrow looms....."

Remaining dates on the tour are as follows:

November

17 - La Cooperative de Mai Clermont in Ferrand, France
19 - Apolo in Barcelona, Spain
20 - Paradise Garage in Lisbon, Portugal
21 - Hard Club in Porto, Portugal
23 - Rockstar in Bilbao, Spain
24 - Heineken Hall in Madrid, Spain
26 - Alcatraz in Milan, Italy
27 - Volkshaus in Zurich, Switzerland (TBC)
29 - Boogaloo in Zagreb, Croatia
30 - Petofi Hall in Budapest, Hungary (TBC)

December

1 - Planet Music in Vienna, Austria
2 - Novesta Hall in Zlin, Czech Republic (TBC)
4 - Live Music Hall in Köln, Germany
5 - Georg Eiser Halle in Munich, Germany
7 - Alte Reithalle in Dresden, Germany
8 - Progresje in Warsaw, Poland
10 - Markthalle Klosterwall in Hamburg, Germany
11 - Train in Aarhus, Denmark
12 - Rockefeller in Oslo, Norway
13 - Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark
14 - Karen in Gotheborg, Sweden (TBC)
16 - Antwerp, Belgium at Hof Ter Lo
17 - Manchester, UK at Academy**
18 - Birmingham, UK at Academy**
19 - London, UK at Astoria**

** with SABBAT