Down & Dirty (band)
Denis Stoff | |
|---|---|
| Born | Denis Olexandrovych Shaforostov May 4, 1992 Khartsyzk, Ukraine |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, vocalist, guitarist |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | Lead vocalist of Make Me Famous, Asking Alexandria; frontman of Drag Me Out; guitarist and clean vocalist for The Serpent's Tears |
Denis Olexandrovych Shaforostov (; born 4 May 1992), who is also professionally known as Denis Stoff, is a Ukrainian artist best known for his contributions as the guitarist and vocalist of the metalcore group Make Me Famous. He took over as lead vocalist for the British rock ensemble Asking Alexandria during Danny Worsnop's 18-month absence.
Shaforostov launched his musical journey through the YouTube channel "above92," where he shared covers showcasing his vocal and guitar talents. Prior to joining Asking Alexandria, he founded Make Me Famous. Presently, he serves as the frontman for Drag Me Out and performs as guitarist and clean vocalist for The Serpent's Tears.
2009–2010: Cat!Cow!MilkyWay!
During this period, Stoff experimented with electronic sounds in the brief project Cat!Cow!MilkyWay! while also playing guitar for the Russian post-hardcore/emo outfit Origami.
2010–2012: Make Me Famous
In 2010, Stoff co-established the metalcore band Make Me Famous alongside Serj Kravchenko (unclean vocals), Sergei Hohlov (bass), Dusty Boles (drums), and Igor Yestrebov (guitar). The band gained traction on YouTube by building on Stoff’s previous cover performances. Their debut album, It's Now or Never, was released in March 2012 through Sumerian Records and reached number 151 on the US Billboard Top 200 chart.
Stoff announced his exit in late 2012, after which the band completed a final headlining tour before officially disbanding in early 2013.
2012–2015: Down & Dirty
After Make Me Famous dissolved, Stoff promptly formed Down & Dirty, which also signed with Sumerian Records. Their first single and video, "Move It," debuted in December 2013, followed by "I Will Never Lose My Way" in December 2014. Following Stoff’s recruitment by Asking Alexandria, Down & Dirty confirmed his departure and continued with vocalist Ezekiel Pierson, releasing "Heaven Sent" in February 2017.
2015–2016: Asking Alexandria
On 22 January 2015, Danny Worsnop left Asking Alexandria to concentrate on his project We Are Harlot, with Stoff announced as his successor on 26 May 2015. Their inaugural single together, "I Won't Give In", was launched the next day. Stoff’s seamless integration was aided by stylistic similarities between Asking Alexandria and Make Me Famous, their shared label affiliation, and his earlier covers of Asking Alexandria tracks. Founder Ben Bruce highlighted Stoff’s vocal capabilities as a perfect match. Stoff emphasized that he sought to establish his own identity rather than be compared to Worsnop.
In October 2016, Ben Bruce revealed Stoff’s departure from Asking Alexandria. Later, in December 2017, Stoff disclosed that escalating tensions in Ukraine had caused personal difficulties, prompting him to pause touring and focus on family matters.
2017–present: Drag Me Out
On 27 September 2017, Stoff announced via Twitter plans for a "new album and new band," underscoring significant dedication to this endeavor.
Drag Me Out unveiled their first single, "I'm Sorry," on 15 January 2019 along with a music video. Their debut album Pressure was unexpectedly released on 1 February 2019. Shortly thereafter, due to resemblances between Drag Me Out's track "Hollow" and Asking Alexandria's "Alone in a Room," Sumerian Records—then representing both bands—removed "Hollow" from their official YouTube channel.
On 30 October 2020, Drag Me Out dropped the single "The Watch of the Buried," accompanied by a lyric video. However, on 11 December 2020 it emerged that the artwork for this single was plagiarized from artist Maxime Taccardia without authorization. Stoff explained that the artwork had been purchased from an unknown third party and pledged to address the issue promptly. Consequently, the lyric video was taken down and the artwork removed from iTunes; Sumerian Records reissued the song without any accompanying visuals.
Stoff confirmed these controversies would not hinder Drag Me Out’s forthcoming two-part album scheduled for 2021—one segment revisiting metalcore influences while the other explores experimental sounds. The album titled Demons Away was eventually released on 26 August after an initial postponement from its original release date of 6 May 2022. This three-part project features vocal performances by Stoff alongside bassist Kir Medvedev.
2020–present: STOFF
In 2018, Stoff introduced a solo venture under the alias "STOFF". His debut single, "Детка Покажи Язык" (Baby Show Me Your Tongue), which was released on December 19, 2020, represented a transition from rock music to a hip hop genre.
He is currently working on a solo album that will include songs in both English and Russian. Although the release date has not been finalized, he has posted several teasers on Instagram.
During 2022, Stoff appeared as a featured artist on multiple tracks, such as "Isn't Pretend" by LUURK, "1M Followers" by Space of Variations, and "Last Second Chance" by Kiss of Betrayal.
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 | |
| Demons Away | 2022 |
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" | ||
| "The Black" | 2016 | |
| "Let It Sleep" | ||
| "Here I Am" | ||
| "I'm Sorry" | 2019 | Drag Me Out |
| "The Watch of the Buried" | 2020 | |
| "Детка Покажи Язык" (Baby Show Me Your Tongue) | STOFF | |
| "Bullets in My Teeth" | 2022 | Drag Me Out |
| "Bullets in My Teeth" (Reimagined) | ||
| "Crystal Arms" | ||
| "Bullets in My Teeth" (Live Sessions) | ||
| "The Watch of the Buried" (Live Sessions) | ||
| "Let Me In" | ||
| "My Mistakes" | 2023 | |
| "Into the Dire" | STOFF | |
| "The Heart of the Hydra" | ||
| "Symbol of Hope" | 2024 | The Serpent's Tears |
| "Hopelessness In Me" | ||
| "Breaking Down My Will" |
Collaborations
| Song | Year | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Limitless" | 2011 | Limitless | Crown the Empire |
| "#OIMATEWTF" | 2012 | 'Til Death | Capture the Crown |
| "Once Upon a Life" | Fear Is What You Call I | Hide & Dream | |
| "10,000 Miles" | Non-album singles | At the Ruins | |
| "Just Another Night[mare]" | Skarlett | ||
| "Valde Tribuo" | 2013 | Of Sun & Seed | |
| "C.O.D.Y." | Ocean Inside Me | A Reason to Breathe | |
| "Sink Your Teeth Into This" | 2015 | Conquer Divide | Conquer Divide |
| "Lucid Dreams" | Divide to Unite | Forever in Combat | |
| "Hale's Own" | Non-album singles | Polarity | |
| "Isn't Pretend" | "2022" | "Luurk" | |
| "1M Followers" | "Imago" | "Space of Variations" | |
| "Carnivore" | "2023" | "Militant Me" |
External links
- 1992 births
- Ukrainian heavy metal vocalists
- Ukrainian artists performing in English
- Ukrainian rock musicians
- Ukrainian hip hop artists
- Ukrainian rock guitarists
- People originating from Khartsyzk
- Members of Asking Alexandria
- 21st-century male Ukrainian vocalists
- Metalcore vocalists
- 21st-century Ukrainian guitar players
- Musical groups disestablished in 2015