Denis Stoff

Denis Alexandrovich Shaforostov (Ukrainian: Денис Александрович Шафоростов; born 4 May 1992),[1] also known by his stage name Denis Stoff, is a Ukrainian musician best known for his work as a guitarist and vocalist of the Ukrainian metalcore group Make Me Famous and as the ex-lead vocalist of the British rock band Asking Alexandria during original singer Danny Worsnop's 18-month hiatus from the band.

Denis Shaforostov
Денис Шафоростов
Shaforostov performing as a part of Asking Alexandria at Rock Am Ring festival 2015.
Background information
Birth nameDenis Alexandrovich Shaforostov
Also known asDenis Stoff
Born (1992-05-04) 4 May 1992
Khartsyz, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Genres
Instruments
Years active2010–present
LabelsSumerian
Associated acts

Shaforostov showcased an early interest in music through his YouTube channel "above92" which contains vocal and guitar covers of his favorite songs dating back to as far as 2008. He furthered the momentum of his YouTube popularity through the formation of Make Me Famous. After Make Me Famous broke up, he founded Down & Dirty but shortly left that band in the wake of his involvement with Asking Alexandria. However, Stoff parted ways with Asking Alexandria in 2016 when the band reunited with Danny Worsnop. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band Drag Me Out.

Music career

2009–2010

Stoff experimented in electronic music with a short lived project called Cat!Cow!MilkyWay!.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] The band released their debut album "It's Now or Never"[5] in March 2012 via Sumerian Records and successfully charted in the US top 200, peaking at 151.[6]

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.[7]

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".[8] The band also released a second single and music video in December 2014 titled "I Will Never Lose My Way".[9] 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. In February 2018 the band "Heaven Sent" was re-released now as an EP. However, shortly after that, frontman Ezekiel Pierson left the band.

2015–2016: Asking Alexandria
Denis Stoff performing live with Asking Alexandria at Rock am Ring in 2015

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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[11][12] 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.[13]

In October 2016,[14] Ben Bruce announced that Stoff left the band.[15] In December 2017, Rock Sound interviewed Denis. Denis 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.[16]

2017–present: Drag Me Out

Stoff 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."

Stoff with his new band Drag Me Out released their first single, titled I'm Sorry, on 15 January 2019. An accompanying music video was also released.[17] 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" sounding similar in terms of instruments and the bridge section of the song, afterwards the band's label Sumerian Records (who are also Asking Alexandria's label) took down the song from their official YouTube channel.[18]

Discography
Denis Stoff discography
Studio albums3
EPs1
Singles9

Albums
Title Year Band Type
Keep This in Your Music Player 2011 Make Me Famous EP
It's Now or Never 2012 Studio album
The Black 2016 Asking Alexandria
Pressure 2019 Drag Me Out

Singles
Title Year Band
"We Know It's Real" 2011 Make Me Famous
"Move It" 2013 Down & Dirty
"I Will Never Lose My Way" 2015
"I Won't Give In" Asking Alexandria
"Undivided"[19]
"The Black"[20] 2016
"Let It Sleep"
"Here I Am"
"I'm Sorry" 2019 Drag Me Out

Collaborations
Song Year Album Artist
"Limitless" 2011 Limitless Crown the Empire[21]
"#OIMATEWTF" 2012 'Til Death Capture the Crown
"Once Upon a Life" Fear Is What You Call I Hide & Dream[22]
"10,000 Miles" Non-album single At the Ruins[23]
"Just Another Night[mare]" Skarlett[24]
"Valde Tribuo" 2013 Of Sun & Seed[25]
"C.O.D.Y. Ocean Inside Me A Reason to Breathe[26]
"Sink Your Teeth Into This" 2015 Conquer Divide Conquer Divide[27]
"Lucid Dreams" Divide to Unite Forever in Combat[28]
"Hale's Own" Non-album single Polarity[29]

References
  1. Denis Shaforostov on VK
  2. "Cat!Cow!MilkyWay! - Valery" – via www.youtube.com.
  3. Lymangrover, Jason. Make Me Famous (Biography) at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  4. Epting, Chris. "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. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  9. "Down & Dirty – new single "I Will Never Lose My Way" now available". Sumerianrecords.com. Sumerian Records. 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 (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. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  17. "Ex-Asking Alexandria Frontman Denis Stoff Launches New Band "Drag Me Out"". Theprp.com. The PRP. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  18. "Drag Me Out pull their song 'Hollow' from stores and streaming!". DeadPress. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  19. "Asking Alexandria Releases New Song "Undivided"". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  20. "Stream Asking Alexandria's heavy new single, "The Black"". AltPress. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  21. "Crown The Empire – Limitless ft. Denis Shaforostov" – via www.youtube.com.
  22. "Hide & Dream - Once Upon a Life (feat. Denis Shaforostov)" – via www.youtube.com.
  23. "AT THE RUINS - 10,000 Miles (feat. Denis Shaforostov)" – via www.youtube.com.
  24. "SKARLETT - Just Another Night[mare] (feat. Denis Stoff)" – via www.youtube.com.
  25. "Of Sun & Seed - Valde Tribuo (feat. Denis Shaforostov & Eric St. Clair)" – via www.youtube.com.
  26. "A REASON TO BREATHE - C.O.D.Y. (feat. Denis Shaforostov)" – via www.youtube.com.
  27. "CONQUER DIVIDE Releases 'Sink Your Teeth Into This' Song feat. ASKING ALEXANDRIA's DENIS STOFF". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  28. "Lucid Dreams (feat. Denis Stoff) – Single by Forever in Combat on iTunes".
  29. "Polarity - Hale's Own (feat. Denis Stoff)" – via www.youtube.com.
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