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Denis ShaforostovДенис Шафоростов
Shaforostov with Asking Alexandria at Rock am Ring 2015
Background information
Birth name	Denis Olexandrovych Shaforostov
Born	(1992-05-04) 4 May 1992 (age 32) Khartsyzk, Ukraine
Genres	Metalcore post-hardcore electronicore hard rock alternative rock hip hop
Occupations	Singer musician songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2010–present
Member of	Drag Me Out The Serpent's Tears
Formerly of	Asking Alexandria Down & Dirty Make Me Famous Origami

Denis Olexandrovych Shaforostov (Ukrainian: Денис Олександрович Шафоростов; born 4 May 1992), also known by his stage name Denis Stoff, is a Ukrainian musician, best known for his work as a guitarist and singer of the metalcore group Make Me Famous. He also replaced Danny Worsnop as lead singer of the English rock band Asking Alexandria, during Worsnop's 18-month hiatus from the band.

Shaforostov's music career began with his YouTube channel "above92", where he posted vocal and guitar covers of his favorite songs. He then formed the band Make Me Famous, before becoming involved with Asking Alexandria. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band Drag Me Out.

Career

2009–2010: Cat!Cow!MilkyWay!

Stoff experimented in electronic music with a short lived project called Cat!Cow!MilkyWay!. He also played as guitarist in the Russian post-hardcore/emo band Origami.

2010–2012: Make Me Famous

The first major project Stoff involved himself in was metalcore act Make Me Famous which he helped form in 2010 with members Serj Kravchenko on unclean vocals, Sergei Hohlov on bass, Dusty Boles on drums and Igor Yestrebov on guitar. The band gained recognition on the video sharing website YouTube, where Stoff previously released covers of songs and would eventually gain members after contacting each musician after gaining a following. The band released their debut album "It's Now or Never" in March 2012 via Sumerian Records and successfully charted in the US top 200, peaking at 151.

In late 2012, Stoff had announced that he had quit the band, which itself had announced to be disbanded after their final headlining tour that same year, officially disbanding in early 2013.

2012–2015: Down & Dirty

After the news arose that Make Me Famous had broken up, Stoff quickly announced a new band named Down & Dirty. The band was officially announced under the Sumerian label like his last project, and released their first single and music video in December 2013 titled "Move It". The band also released a second single and music video in December 2014 titled "I Will Never Lose My Way". After these songs, Stoff later announced he would be joining Asking Alexandria, which was followed by Down & Dirty confirming he was no longer a part of the group. Down & Dirty continued with a new lead vocalist, Ezekiel Pierson, and released a new single "Heaven Sent" in February 2017.

2015–2016: Asking Alexandria

On 22 January 2015, lead singer Danny Worsnop announced his departure from Asking Alexandria to focus on his new band We Are Harlot, of which it was quickly stated that his replacement was already found. On 26 May 2015, Stoff was officially announced as the new lead vocalist when they released their first single together titled "I Won't Give In" on 27 May. Speculation regarding Stoff's involvement started shortly after Worsnop's departure due to similarities between Asking Alexandria and Make Me Famous (who were said to have been ripping off the band); the fact that they were label mates would have made the transition easy for Stoff to make, and on his personal YouTube account he had covered multiple Asking Alexandria songs. Ben Bruce was asked if he considered anyone else for the role and he stated that "it has to be Denis" before praising his vocal ability. When Shaforostov himself was asked how he would distinguish himself from Worsnop, he stated he would not make any comparison since he is a completely different person.

In October 2016, Ben Bruce announced that Stoff left the band. In December 2017, Rock Sound interviewed Denis and explained that his home country, Ukraine, is like a warzone now. He said there was stress for him and his family, and he had to stop touring to focus on family.

2017–present: Drag Me Out

Formation Of The Band (2017-2019)

Denis Stoff (Ex Asking Alexandria, Down & Dirty, & Make Me Famous) posted on Twitter on 27 September 2017 "New album and new band... so worth every minute of the work and da wait we've already invested in this. Be ready for something new and FRESH. His new band named "Drag Me Out" Consisted Of The Lead Vocalist Denis Stoff Himself, Guitarist Stas Belove (Ex Down & Dirty & At The Ruins), Bassist Easy Target, & Drummer Chris Nokia (Ex Down & Dirty)

Pressure (2019)

Drag Me Out released their first single, titled "I'm Sorry", on 15 January 2019. An accompanying music video was also released. On 1 February 2019, the band surprise dropped their debut album Pressure. Shortly after the album's release, connections were made between Drag Me Out's "Hollow" and Asking Alexandria's "Alone in a Room" (Stoff's Former Band) sounding similar in terms of instruments and the bridge section of the song, afterwards the band's label Sumerian Records (who at the time, were also Asking Alexandria's label) took down the song from their official YouTube channel.

On 14 July 2019 Easy Target announced on his personal Instagram that he had left the band, later Kiryll Medvedev (Ex Down & Dirty) would replace him as Bassist Of Drag Me Out (Kiryll Also Does Backing Vocals) that meant that every single Current Member Of Drag Me Out at that point was a Ex Down & Dirty Member

Demons Away & Leaving Sumerian Records (2020-Current)

On 30 October 2020, Drag Me Out released a new single "The Watch of the Buried" and its corresponding lyric video. It was revealed on 11 December 2020 that the artwork for this single was plagiarized from an artist named Maxime Taccardia. The artist claims that neither Denis nor the band reached out to him for permission. Denis posted on his social medias about how they would reach out to said artist to discuss how to properly settle this case, claiming that the artwork was sold by a third party artist, who was never disclosed. Since then, the lyric video for the single had been taken down and the artwork had been removed from iTunes. Sumerian Records has since re-uploaded the song with no lyric video or artwork to YouTube.

Denis has also announced that these allegations will not impact the upcoming album that Drag Me Out is working on. Denis has said on multiple occasions (mostly on Instagram stories and other methods that disappear after 24 hours) that this album is going to be a two part album that'll be released throughout 2021. One half will being going back to metalcore roots, the other half will be experimental.

Drag Me Out Split with Sumerian Records In 2021, they later unveiled that they would go independent with Stoff his own Record Company Lödereih (Also Known As Lödereih Music), Drag Me Out unveiled their new album Demons Away on 26 August, the album was delayed initially from its original release date (6 May 2022) Because of the war in Ukraine where Denis & Chris are from. The album reportedly is a trilogy consisting of three parts. The 1st part being "Demons Away"

In 2023, Felipe Elioenay joined Drag Me Out as their lead guiarist, replacing Stas Belove.

2018–present: STOFF

Baby Show Me Your Tongue & Unreleased Teasers (2018-2021)

Stoff announced in 2018 that he will have a solo project under the moniker "STOFF"

The first single "Детка Покажи Язык" (Baby Show Me Your Tongue) was released on 12/19/20, An accompanying music video was also released. which marked a departure from his rock roots in favor of a more hip hop sound. Stoff also sang Russian instead of English on this track, Stoff also teased a ton of unreleased music from this era from all the way through 2021

Into The Dire & The Heart Of The Hydra (2023)

The second single "Into The Dire" was released on 11/03/2023 unlike his first single, Stoff returned to singing to English on this track

The third single "The Heart Of The Hydra was released two weeks later on 11/17/2023 & was also an English track

2024–present: The Serpent's Tears

In 2024 Stoff Announced On Instagram, The Secret Project unveiled! His New Band (While also still being in Drag Me Out)

"The Serpent's Tears" Introducing our band, featuring Denis Stoff Himself As Lead Vocalist & Lead Guitarist, Mike Perish As Backing Vocalist & His Fiancee Aimi As Bassist. Denis & Mike once played in a local band named "Dense Red Drops" together in their youth. Fate has brought us back together, more than just friendship, we’ve recorded an album. The process of creating this LP has been an unforgettable adventure for us. We’ve spent time writing songs, reminiscing about the days when we were young, dreaming about a big future. Join us on our musical journey and become part of our story. They released their first single "Symbol Of Hope" On 11/08/2024 An accompanying music video was also released. In the video you see a masked figure playing the drums

Discography

Denis Stoff discography
Studio albums	4
EPs	1
Singles	21

Albums

Singles

Collaborations

References

1. Denis Shaforostov on VK
2. "Cat!Cow!MilkyWay! - Valery". 3 March 2010 – via www.youtube.com.
3. Lymangrover, Jason. Make Me Famous (Biography) at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
4. Epting, Chris (10 May 2012). "Make Me Famous: Ukrainian Screamo Wizards Invade America (Interview)". NoiseCreep.com. Noise Creep. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
5. "Make Me Famous - It's Now or Never". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
6. "Make Me Famous top 200". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
7. Common, Tyler. "Make Me Famous vocalist quits, band announces plans to break up". AltPress.com. AltPress. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
8. "Down & Dirty Sign With Sumerian Records, Release "Move It" Music Video". Theprp.com. The PRP. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
9. "Down & Dirty – new single "I Will Never Lose My Way" now available". Sumerianrecords.com. Sumerian Records. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
10. "Asking Alexandria frontman, Danny Worsnop, quits band". Kerrang.com. Kerrang!. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
11. ^ Carter, Emily (27 May 2015). "Asking Alexandria Reveal Frontman, Stream New Song "I Won't Give In"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
12. Crane, Matt. "Is this Asking Alexandria's new singer". Altpress.com. AltPress. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
13. Lipovsky, Andrew (30 May 2015). "Moment of Truth". Kerrang.com. No. 1570. Kerrang!. Kerrang!. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
14. "Asking Alexandria's Ben Bruce Pays Back Scammed by Former Singer Denis Stoff". Loudwire. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
15. "Denis Stoff Opens Up On Split with Asking Alexandria". Loudwire. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
16. "Denis Stoff Explains His Exit From Asking Alexandria + Teases New Music". RockSound. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
17. "Asking Alexandria Releases New Song "Undivided"". Blabbermouth. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
18. "Stream Asking Alexandria's heavy new single, "The Black"". AltPress. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
19. "Crown The Empire – Limitless ft. Denis Shaforostov". 22 November 2011 – via www.youtube.com.
20. "Hide & Dream - Once Upon a Life (feat. Denis Shaforostov)". 2 November 2012 – via www.youtube.com.
21. "At the Ruins - 10,000 Miles (feat. Denis Shaforostov)" – via www.youtube.com.
22. "Skarlett - Just Another Night[mare] (feat. Denis Stoff)" – via www.youtube.com.
23. "Of Sun & Seed - Valde Tribuo (feat. Denis Shaforostov & Eric St. Clair)". 20 April 2013 – via www.youtube.com.
24. "A Reason to Breathe - C.O.D.Y. (feat. Denis Shaforostov)". 3 July 2013 – via www.youtube.com.
25. "Conquer Divide Releases 'Sink Your Teeth Into This' Song feat. Asking Alexandria's Denis Stoff". blabbermouth.net. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
26. "Lucid Dreams (feat. Denis Stoff) – Single by Forever in Combat on iTunes". iTunes.
27. "Polarity - Hale's Own (feat. Denis Stoff)". 3 November 2015 – via www.youtube.com.
28. "Space of Variations - 1M Followers feat. Denis Stoff". Napalm Records. 23 September 2022 – via www.youtube.com.

External links

• Media related to Denis Stoff at Wikimedia Commons
• Denis Stoff on Twitter

• 1992 births
• Ukrainian heavy metal singers
• English-language singers from Ukraine
• Ukrainian rock singers
• Ukrainian rappers
• Ukrainian rock guitarists
• Living people
• Asking Alexandria members
• 21st-century Ukrainian male singers
• 21st-century guitarists
• Metalcore singers