What is it about Deftones that make their fans so cartoon-crazy over them? Is it their lyrics, their riffs, their melody, their history, their talent? Whatever it is that makes you love Deftones, once it hits you… it’s like a bolt of lightning, and you’ll never be the same.
Back in 1988 in Sacramento, CA three high school buddies started jamming together in a garage. Little did Chino Moreno, Abe Cunningham and Stephen Carpenter know that 32 years later they’d still be jamming together in a Grammy award winning, platinum selling, hugely successful alternative-rock band loved by millions around the world.
Since their release of their first EP in 1995 of, “Adrenaline” Deftones have always kept the samemelodic singing and screaming with fast and heavy guitar and drums that keeps us coming back10 full-length albums later, including a covers album and a B-sides and rarities album.
Change (In the House of Flies) off their album titled, White Pony
Deftones defining line-up change in November 2008 came while they were working on an album to be called, “Eros.” Guitarist Chi Cheng was seriously injured in a car accident as a result of not wearing a seat belt. He remained in a minimally conscious state until he died in 2013. With “Eros” now delayed indefinitely, this left a hole in Deftones that was filled by Sergio Vega from the New York post-hardcore band, Quicksand in June 2009. The only song to be released from Eros was the track,“Smile” and only released on YouTube.
SMILE
Deftones are rumored to release a new album this year, which was also announced last year by singer, Chino Moreno. With each rumor of a new album Deftones fans always have their fingers crossed that this will finally be the release of the infamous yet mysterious “Eros” album that Chino described as unorthodox and aggressive. Stephen Carpenter was rumored to have told fans at the NAMM show this January that he will be playing his 8-string guitar on the new album set to come out this April. Their last album, Gore, was also released in April (of 2016).
Will this album cover also don an animal like their 1993 demo (Like) Linus, 1997’s Around the Fur, 2000’s White Pony, 2010’s Diamond Eyes or 2016’s Gore and multiple covers of their singles? Will it feature any awesome collaborations like previous albums with Maynard James Keenan of Tool or Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains?
Prayers / Triangles from the album titled, Gore
Each album comes with lyrical growth and talent while sprinkled with experimentalism. A new album means a tour. A tour means more opportunity to see this new lyrical growth and experimentalism live while watching the same lovable movements from front-man, Chino, dubbed “the Chino dance” by his fans on social media. The dance involves Chino twirling his fists around resembling a 50’s dance or swings his microphone from the cord like Thor ready to throw Mjǫllnir (his hammer). This is the same guy that would launch himself off the highest of speakers into the crowd. He’s known to still crowd surf during performances which is always a fan favorite even if it means taking one of his Winos shoes to the face.
In all of Deftones greatness, they even have FIVE different beers co-created and distributed by Belching Beaver. It’s most recent from August 2019 titled “Dia de Los Deftones” named after the annual November festival held in San Diego created by Deftones in 2018.
Deftones today is simply electric and at times bone crushing. Their sonic vision brings a sound that leaves no doubt you are in the midst of greatness. The band features Chino Moreno (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Stephen Carpenter (guitar), Frank Delgado (keys), Sergio Vega (bass) and Abe Cunningham (drums).
LABEL PHOTO
DEFTONES LIVE
You can catch Deftones on tour this summer with Gojira and Poppy at their only Southern California date, Sunday, August 2nd at The Greek Theater. Tickets are on sale now.
