Deftones

The Deftones’ Chino Moreno is one of those compelling singers with an incredible range and range of emotions. Given the violent roar from Stephen Carpenter’s guitar and powered by the rhythm section of late bassist/vocalist Chi Cheng and drummer Abe Cunningham, the Deftones were nothing if not dramatic.

Launched in Sacramento, the Deftones soon became club favorites. Basically, a Hard Rock outfit, they also incorporated Hip-Hop elements (the name is a play on their influences) and became early adapters. A demo taped passed to KoЯn’s producer landed in front of Madonna. The Material Girl signed the group to her Maverick label.

After being together for seven years, the Deftones released their debut album,the heavy and sonically dense, “Adrenaline,” in ’95. That was followed two years later by “Around The Fur” containing “My Own Summer (Shove It)” and “Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away).”

My Own Summer (Shove It)

Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)

The band’s third album, “White Pony” signaled a change. First, Frank Delgado (turntables/synthesizer) became a full-time member having been a guest performer on the first two albums. Also, Moreno began adding rhythm guitar parts.

They also incorporated Post-Hardcore, Trip Hop, Prog Rock and Alt. Metal into their material. Riding the singles “Change (In The House Flies)” and “Back To School (Mini Maggit”),” the set landed at #3 on the Billboard 200.

Change (In The House Flies)

Back To School

But a self-titled album was released in ’03. It failed to impress critics and was deemed “spotty.”

For their ’06 effort, “Saturday Night Wrist,” the Deftones worked with legendary producer Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper). They also had System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian perform on “Mein.” In its first week of its release, led by the single, “Hole In The Earth,” the album sold 67,000 copies.

Mein

Hole In The Earth

Moreno wrote the song about his frustration with the rest of the band during the writing process of the album.

On November 3rd, ’08, Cheng was hospitalized following a serious car accident in Santa Clara, CA. He was listed in “serious but stable condition” and remained in a coma. As a result, the Deftones remained largely inactive.

But a few months later, it was announced that the group would play the Bamboozle Left Festival in Irvine, CA. “Chi always wanted to keep working and never slow down, which is why we feel confident in returning to the stage,” said a statement from the group. “We want to make sure we’re keeping his legacy alive.” Longtime band friend, Sergio Vega, filled in for Cheng.

In May, ’09 the group updated Cheng’s prognosis in an online post. “Chi was released from (the intensive care unit) and is no longer on any sort of life support,” the message reported. “His symptoms continue to improve so keep the prayers coming.” The previous month, Cheng spoke his first words but then suffered a setback brought on by an infection.

There were benefit shows in L.A. to raise funds for Chi and the Cheng family. In addition to the Deftones, P.O.D. and Cypress Hill performed along with members from Linkin Park (Mike Shinoda) Incubus, Metallica (Rob Trujillo), Children Of Bodom (Alex Laiho) and System Of A Down (Daron Malakian, John Dolmayan and Shavo Odadjian).

The Deftones sixth studio album, “Diamond Eyes,” was originally slated for a May, ’10 release but the date was moved up two weeks after the entire album was leaked online. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver, Marilyn Manson) the album had Vega again filling in for Cheng.

“Koi No Yokan” (Japanese for “Premonition Of Love”), was recorded in L.A., again with Raskulinecz. Moreno described the ’12 album as “dynamic” and noted increased contributions by Vega.

Despite showing signs of improvement, Cheng passed away on April 13th, 2013. “Rest in peace Chi Cheng,” wrote Moreno on his Facebook page, where over 2,000 messages left by fans eulogized Cheng.

Moreno described “Gore,” the band’s eighth album, as “a little more of a heady record.” He added this new direction did not yield a “happy record,” but “not a completely angry” one either. Originally slated for a September ’15 release, the album was slowed by prolonged work on the mixes, album art and song titles.

Turned out, this course alteration was not universally accepted. Carpenter had a difficult time “getting into” the songs. Still, he persevered. But he made it clear he favored Metal over the Deftones’ ethereal leanings. Interestingly, Alice In Chains Jerry Cantrell played on the ’16 album.

Carpenter dismissed the idea of leaving the band he co-founded but stated that it seemed the band was leaving him during the “Gore” sessions.

Despite the unsettled situation, the album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 (kept out of the top spot by The Lumineers’ “Cleopatra”). It was the band’s highest-charting effort since their self-titled third album went to #2 in ’03.

Four years came and went before “Ohms” dropped. It was the last album with Vega who departed in ‘21, a year after the album was released. The title track and “Genesis” were the singles.

“Private Music,” with the lead single “My Mind Is A Mountain,” was the first Deftones album in five years ending it the Alt. Metal band’s longest gap between albums.