Les Smith

Who is Les Smith?

Les 'Lecter' Smith is an English keyboard player. He originally worked with neo-prog band Ship of Fools and did session work on keyboards for the British band Anathema on their 1996 album Eternity before joining extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. During his time in Cradle of Filth, his stage persona consisted of wearing a custom Vicar Priest top, black leather trousers and goth make-up. He played keyboards in two of Cradle's releases: Cruelty and the Beast and From the Cradle to Enslave. Les Smith was also a member, of the riotous band The Tourettes, which in turn was a spin off from the highly controversial Batley based thug band "The Healey Beats". Post-Cradle of Filth, he accused vocalist Dani Filth of considering it his own solo project. However, they are on good terms these days. Les, like many other Cradle members, is from the north of England, and has appeared in video and interview on Cradle of Filth's 1999 DVD 'Pandaemonaeon'.

After his stint in Cradle of Filth, he rejoined Anathema for their 2001 album A Fine Day To Exit. But then he left the band in 2011. The Anathema's official site announced his departure in 13 September due to "creative and musical differences".