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Name: Marek 'Ashok' Šmerda
 

Birthday: 22/07/1975

 

Places of residence: Brno, Czech Republic / Tucson, Arizona

 

Hobbies: Music, Jacqouille, Gym, Movies, Books

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marekashok/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marek_ashok_smerda/



 

Equipment: https://www.schecterguitars.com, https://www.fishman.com, https://newtonestrings.com, https://www.mooeraudio.com, https://www.bachmaier.de/en/hearos-in-ears, https://www.quantumindustries.jp, https://neuraldsp.com, https://www.tcelectronic.com, https://theblackmanthralw.bigcartel.com

 

Idols in Life and Music: Peter Gabriel, H.R. Giger, Robert Fripp, Miles Davis, Robert Venosa . . . Basically 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 as in fact I have enjoyed every COF show since the beginning. If just one should be named it would always be my hometown shows in Brno - such emotional moments for me.

 

Fave CoF songs to perform live: She is a Fire, Nymphetamine, Malignant Perfection, Scorched Earth Erotica, Thirteen Autumns and a Widow, Lustmord and Wargasm

 

Songs you’d like to perform live: Doberman Pharaoh, The Black Goddess Rises II, English Fire, Tearing the Veil from Grace, Ebony Dressed for Sunset

 

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

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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, Mars 

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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 . . .

 

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, Falafel, 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!