Tensions have resurfaced in the ASKING ALEXANDRIA camp, as former frontman Denis Stoff has publicly accused the band of owing him a staggering $5 million in unpaid royalties — and he didn’t hold back when mocking current vocalist Danny Worsnop in the process.
Stoff, who briefly fronted the British metalcore outfit from 2015 to 2016 and appeared on their album The Black, took to Instagram with a scathing video post that quickly gained traction among fans. Reacting to a recent Warped Tour 2025 performance by ASKING ALEXANDRIA, Stoff claimed the band sounded “exactly the same” as they always had live — and not in a flattering way.
“I’ve seen the videos,” Stoff said. “I laughed my t*ts off, and I loved it. Like hundreds of people mentioned in the comments — this is what they always sounded like live.”
He went on to directly call out Worsnop, saying, “I was rolling on the floor laughing years ago when Danny said that I was performing to his backing tracks which was an awful and a 100% fake statement. As you can see in their Warped Tour 2025 show, Danny is clearly having tons of backing tracks in their live set and is clearly incapable of giving a good performance to the people who paid money for their tickets and simply wanted to see a good show.”
The footage Stoff referenced appears to show the band underperforming, with many fans pointing out that it was likely an off night — possibly due to inebriation — rather than a typical showing. Still, Stoff doubled down, even sharing side-by-side clips comparing his own era with the band’s current live output.
Yet beyond the mockery, Stoff‘s more serious claim is financial. He alleges the band has never once issued a royalty statement for The Black, despite contractual agreements entitling him to a share of revenue from music sales, streams, live performances, merchandise, and publishing.
“I would never return to a band that has still NEVER presented a single royalty statement for The Black album and has failed to pay out an estimated $5,000,000 of my profit share,” Stoff claimed.
He added that he’s reached out “countless times” over the past nine years to both the band and their representatives, but his inquiries have gone unanswered.
“For almost a decade, I stayed silent and ignored all of the witty comments that were meant to cover up my departure from AA back in 2016, sweep my money under the rug, and help the band move forward without any public drama,” he said. “But now, considering everything that has happened over time, I simply can’t help but share the truth with you.”
ASKING ALEXANDRIA has yet to respond publicly to Stoff’s accusations. Meanwhile, fans have flooded social media with calls for clarity — and some even with nostalgia for Stoff’s short-lived but impactful time in the band.
Whether the band will address the situation, or if Stoff’s claims will escalate into legal action, remains to be seen.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.