Deftones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deftones
Deftones performing at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2011; from left to right: Carpenter, Cunningham, Moreno, and Vega
Background information
Origin	Sacramento, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative metal art rock experimental rock shoegaze post-hardcore nu metal (early)
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Maverick Warner Reprise
Members	Stephen Carpenter Abe Cunningham Chino Moreno Frank Delgado
Past members	Dominic Garcia Chi Cheng John Taylor Sergio Vega

Deftones is an American alternative metal band that started in Sacramento, California, in 1988. The band was formed by lead singer Chino Moreno, lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter, and drummer Abe Cunningham. Later, Chi Cheng joined as bassist in 1990, and Frank Delgado joined on keyboards and turntables in 1999.

The band is known for its experimental music style. Some music critics have even called them "the Radiohead of metal" because of their unique sound.

After their lineup became stable in 1993, Deftones signed with Maverick Records. They released their first album, Adrenaline, in 1995. The band toured a lot, and fans spread the word about their music. This helped Deftones gain a strong fan base.

Their second album, Around the Fur (1997), became very popular. It was the first of their albums to be certified by the RIAA, meaning it sold many copies.

The band became even more successful with their third album, White Pony (2000). This album showed a change in their sound, moving from aggressive music to a more experimental style. The song "Change (In the House of Flies)" became their most successful single. Another song, "Elite", won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. White Pony was also their first album to be certified platinum in the United States, selling over a million copies.

Their fourth album, Deftones, came out in 2003. While critics liked it, it didn't sell as many copies as White Pony. Deftones' fifth album, Saturday Night Wrist (2006), also received good reviews. However, making this album was difficult due to disagreements and personal challenges within the band.

In 2008, while working on a new album called Eros, bassist Chi Cheng was in a serious car accident. He remained in a minimally conscious state until he passed away in 2013 from cardiac arrest. After the accident, Deftones stopped working on Eros. Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega joined the band to play bass until he left in 2021.

Deftones released the highly praised album Diamond Eyes in 2010. They also went on a big tour with Alice in Chains and Mastodon. Their next two albums, Koi No Yokan (2012) and Gore (2016), continued their experimental journey and were also well-received by critics. Their most recent album, Ohms (2020), was praised for returning to the band's heavier sound.

History

Early Years (1988–1993)

When Stephen Carpenter was 15, he was hit by a car while skateboarding. He had to use a wheelchair for several months. During this time, he taught himself to play guitar by playing along to songs by thrash metal bands like Metallica. There was a story that the driver's payment helped the band buy equipment, but drummer Abe Cunningham later said this story wasn't true.

Carpenter, Moreno and Cunningham began playing together while attending C. K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento.

Carpenter, Cunningham, and Chino Moreno were friends since childhood. They all went to C. K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento and bonded over skateboarding. Carpenter loved heavy metal, while Moreno liked hardcore punk bands such as Bad Brains and new wave bands like Depeche Mode.

When Moreno found out Carpenter played guitar, they started playing music together with Cunningham on drums. They practiced regularly in Carpenter's garage around 1988. They first had bassist Dominic Garcia, making them a four-person band. When Cunningham left to join another band, Garcia switched to drums. Chi Cheng then joined as the bassist.

The band recorded a four-song demo. John Taylor replaced Garcia on drums in 1991, but Cunningham returned in 1993. Within two years, Deftones started playing shows in clubs. They soon played in San Francisco and Los Angeles, even opening for bands like Korn.

During a show in Los Angeles, after most of the audience had left, the band impressed someone from Maverick Records. They were signed to the label after playing three songs for music executives.

Carpenter came up with the band's name by combining the hip hop term "def" (meaning cool or good) with the suffix "-tones." This suffix was popular with 1950s bands like the Delltones. The name also sounds like "tone deaf," which is a clever play on words.

Adrenaline (1994–1996)

Deftones' first album, Adrenaline, was released on October 3, 1995. It was produced by Deftones and Terry Date, who would work on their next three albums. At first, the album didn't sell much. However, the band toured a lot and fans spread the word, helping Adrenaline sell over 220,000 copies.

This album is seen as an important part of the 1990s nu metal music style. A song called "Teething," which was recorded before Adrenaline but not included on the album, appeared on the soundtrack for the 1996 film The Crow: City of Angels. The band even appeared in the movie, performing the song live.

Adrenaline stayed on the Billboard Heatseekers chart for 21 weeks. Bassist Chi Cheng said the album's success came from "perseverance." He explained that the band had been together for almost eight years and toured for two, doing it with "honesty and integrity." The album was certified gold in 1999 and platinum in 2008.

Abe Cunningham felt that the band was very young when they made Adrenaline. He said they were just happy to be making a record and didn't think much about making the songs better. Chino Moreno said they recorded the album "really fast." Music critics praised the album's musical control and drumming.

Around the Fur (1997–1999)

Deftones' second album, Around the Fur, was released on October 28, 1997. It was also produced by Terry Date. The album was dedicated to Dana Wells, the stepson of singer Max Cavalera from the band Sepultura. Cavalera also sang on the song "Headup," which was a tribute to Wells.

Even though he wasn't an official member yet, Frank Delgado was credited for "audio" on five songs. Abe Cunningham's wife, Annalynn, sang on the song "MX."

Chino Moreno said that when they started making this album, they didn't have a clear idea of what they wanted. But once they settled into the studio, the album "fell into place." The band spent more time on the album's production, and Cunningham experimented with different drum sounds.

Critics praised the album for its mix of loud and soft parts, the flow of the songs, Moreno's unique vocals, and the strong playing from Cheng and Cunningham. Around the Fur helped the band become famous in the alternative metal scene. Songs like "My Own Summer (Shove It)" and "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" were played on the radio and MTV.

Around the Fur sold 43,000 copies in its first week and reached No. 29 on the Billboard 200 chart. The band toured again, playing at festivals like Warped Tour and Ozzfest. The album was certified gold in 1999 and platinum in 2011. "My Own Summer (Shove It)" was also featured in The Matrix: Music from the Motion Picture movie soundtrack.

White Pony (2000–2002)

Moreno has been credited as contributing guitar from White Pony onwards.

On June 20, 2000, Deftones released their third album, White Pony. It was again produced by Terry Date and the band. The album debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard chart, selling 178,000 copies. Frank Delgado, now a full-time member, added new sounds to the band's music.

The song "Teenager" was a different style for the band, a "love song" according to Moreno. The song "Passenger" featured singer Maynard James Keenan from the band Tool. Moreno also started playing more guitar on this album.

The band spent four months writing and recording White Pony, which was the longest they had spent on an album. Moreno said that writing the song "Change (In the House of Flies)" was a turning point where the band started working together well. Chi Cheng explained that they felt they had nothing to lose, so they made the record they truly wanted.

Critics generally liked the album, praising Moreno's lyrics and the band's experimental approach. One review said that Deftones "went soft, but in an impressive way."

White Pony was first released with 11 songs and gray cover art. A special edition with a bonus song called "The Boy's Republic" was also released. Later, the band released "Back to School (Mini Maggit)," a rap-influenced version of "Pink Maggit." This song was added as the new opening track for a re-released White Pony on October 3, 2000, with white cover art.

White Pony became a platinum album on July 17, 2002, selling over 1.3 million copies in the U.S. The song "Elite" won a 2001 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

Deftones (2002–2005)

Deftones started working on their fourth album, which they first called Lovers. Chi Cheng said they wanted this album to be "kind of heavy." Chino Moreno took vocal training after hurting his vocal cords during a tour in 2001.

The band turned their practice space in Sacramento into a studio to record most of the album. They worked with producer Terry Date again. The album took 12 months to finish.

In January 2003, Deftones played shows in Australia and New Zealand. Soon after, they returned to the studio to finish their fourth album. The self-titled Deftones was released on May 20, 2003. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 167,000 copies in its first week. The first single was "Minerva."

Critics mostly gave positive reviews, praising the band for growing and being original. Moreno said, "We said not to lump us in with nu metal because when those bands go down we aren't going to be with them."

The band released a collection album called B-Sides & Rarities on October 4, 2005. It included various B-sides (songs not on main albums) and cover songs. The DVD had behind-the-scenes videos and all their music videos up to that time.

Saturday Night Wrist (2006–2007)

Deftones performing live in Glasgow, June 2006

For their fifth album, Deftones decided to work with producer Bob Ezrin instead of Terry Date. Abe Cunningham said they needed to "change things up." After recording the music, Moreno recorded his vocals separately with producer Shaun Lopez.

The album, titled Saturday Night Wrist, was released on October 31, 2006. It debuted at No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard chart. The first single, "Hole in the Earth", was released on September 12, 2006. This song was featured in the video game Saints Row.

Blabbermouth.net wrote that Deftones "have rallied to create one of the strongest discs in the band's repertoire." "Mein" was the second single. The album included collaborations with Annie Hardy from Giant Drag and Serj Tankian from System of a Down.

Deftones spent most of 2006 and 2007 touring worldwide to support the album. They played in North America, Europe, South America, Japan, and Australia.

Eros Sessions, Chi Cheng's Accident, and Sergio Vega (2008–2009)

In late 2007, Deftones began writing songs for their sixth album, Eros. Moreno described the album as different and powerful. Recording began on April 14, 2008, with Terry Date returning as producer.

On November 4, 2008, bassist Chi Cheng was seriously injured in a car accident in Santa Clara, California. He remained in a minimally conscious state due to his injuries. His bandmates and mother, Jeanne, shared updates on his condition through the Deftones blog.

In January 2009, the band announced that Cheng had not made much progress. They also said that their friend, Sergio Vega (from the band Quicksand), would fill in as bassist. Vega had helped them out before in 1998. On April 5, the band played their first show without Cheng since 1998.

On June 23, 2009, Deftones announced that the release of Eros would be delayed. They explained that the album didn't truly represent them as people and musicians at that time. They decided to take a new approach and record new music. They clarified that this decision was purely creative and not related to Chi's condition.

Other musicians, including members of Korn and Slipknot, recorded a song called "A Song for Chi" to help raise money for Cheng and his family. Deftones also held two benefit shows in Los Angeles. A website, One Love for Chi, was created by a fan to provide updates and raise funds for his medical care.

Diamond Eyes (2010–2011)

Deftones' sixth album, Diamond Eyes, was planned for release on April 27, 2010, but was later moved to May 18. In March, the album leaked online, so the release date was moved up to May 4. On February 23, 2010, the first single, "Rocket Skates", was available for free download. The album was produced by Nick Raskulinecz. Unlike the dark Eros songs, Diamond Eyes had a more positive feel.

Deftones performing at the Big Day Out festival on the Gold Coast in 2011

On March 15, Deftones released their first radio single, "Diamond Eyes". Both "Diamond Eyes" and "Rocket Skates" received good reviews. Many compared their style to the band's earlier album, Around the Fur.

In the fall of 2010, Deftones toured the United States and Canada with bands Mastodon and Alice in Chains. This tour was called Blackdiamondskye, combining parts of the three bands' album titles.

On April 16, 2011, for Record Store Day, the band released an album called Covers. It featured various cover songs they had recorded, including "Drive" by the Cars and "No Ordinary Love" by Sade. On October 25, Deftones released The Vinyl Collection 1995–2011, a limited edition set of their vinyl records.

Koi No Yokan and Chi Cheng's Passing (2012–2013)

On March 29, 2012, Stephen Carpenter shared that the band was working on a new record. Nick Raskulinecz returned to produce their seventh studio album.

On July 28, Deftones performed a new song called "Rosemary." They also played another new track, "Roller Derby" (later renamed "Poltergeist"). Koi No Yokan was announced on August 30, 2012, and released on November 12, 2012. Critics gave Koi No Yokan very high ratings, with Metacritic scoring it 86 out of 100. In May 2013, it won Revolver's Golden Gods Award for Album of the Year.

On April 13, 2013, Chi Cheng passed away in a hospital in Stockton, California, after falling into cardiac arrest. This was more than four years after his 2008 accident. In May, Chino Moreno said that the Eros album, which was put on hold after Cheng's accident, might now be released after his passing.

Gore (2014–2017)

In March 2014, while Chino Moreno was touring with his side project Crosses, the rest of Deftones started writing new music for their next album. They planned to record a new album in late 2014 or early 2015.

On April 13, 2014, the first anniversary of Cheng's passing, Deftones released a song from Eros called "Smile" on YouTube. This was the first official music released from that album. However, Warner Music Group removed the video two days later due to copyright issues, even though Moreno had uploaded it. The song has since been made available again.

Carpenter and Vega during Deftones' performance at Rock im Park 2016

In February 2015, Moreno told Rolling Stone that Deftones had written 16 songs for the new album. He described it as "a little more of a heady record." On May 15, 2015, Moreno told Kerrang! that the new album had "a lot of different moods." He said it wasn't a "happy record" but also "not a completely angry record." The band members noted that everyone worked together well on the album. Sergio Vega used a six-string bass, which helped create new sounds. Deftones worked with Matt Hyde, who had been a recording engineer on Koi No Yokan.

The album's release date was moved several times. On February 4, 2016, the band released the first single from Gore, called "Prayers / Triangles". "Doomed User" and "Hearts / Wires" were also released before the album. Gore officially came out on April 8, 2016. The second single, "Phantom Bride," was released on June 7. This song featured a guitar solo by Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, which was unusual for a Deftones song. Critics praised the album for its experimental sounds and the mix of Moreno's singing and Carpenter's guitar riffs.

Ohms and Sergio Vega's Departure (2017-2023)

In 2017, Chino Moreno said that Deftones had started writing songs for their ninth album. He hoped it would be out in 2019. Moreno also mentioned that the band would try a different direction than Gore. He would let Stephen Carpenter and Abe Cunningham be more involved in writing the new songs. In May 2018, Moreno said the new songs were "considerably heavier" than those on Gore. That same month, Deftones toured South America.

In April 2020, Deftones announced they were mixing their new album. They reunited with Terry Date as the producer, marking the first time they worked with him since the unreleased Eros album in 2008. On August 19, 2020, the band hinted at the release date and title of their ninth album. A day later, they officially announced the album title, Ohms, set for release on September 25, 2020. They also showed the album cover and track list. The song "Ohms" was the first single, released on August 21. On September 17, 2020, the band released the second single, "Genesis."

In October 2020, they announced a 20th-anniversary re-release of White Pony for December. This re-release came with Black Stallion, a remix album featuring artists like Mike Shinoda and the Cure's Robert Smith.

Deftones had to postpone their tour with Gojira twice because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2022, it was announced that bassist Sergio Vega had left the band in early 2021. Vega stated he was never an official member and was only a contracted bassist. He left because he wanted to be an official member but was offered the same contract status he had always had. The next month, Fred Sablan joined the band as a touring bassist. Lance Jackman also joined as a touring guitarist, temporarily replacing Carpenter during the band's 2022 European Tour.

Tenth Studio Album (2024-Present)

In April 2024, Chino Moreno told KROQ that the band has mostly finished their tenth studio album. He said all the music parts were recorded, but the vocals still needed to be added.

Musical Style and Influences

Deftones' music has changed over the years. While they started with metal, they have always been influenced by many different types of music. Their sound has been described as alternative metal, art rock, experimental rock, shoegaze, nu metal, post-punk, post-hardcore, and more.

The band was often linked to the "nu metal" music style early on. However, Chino Moreno has always said that this label doesn't fully describe their music. He explained that their connection to bands like Korn was mainly because they both liked Faith No More.

Music critic Johnny Loftus wrote that Deftones are often seen as different from other metal bands of their time. He said they were more curious and willing to mix sounds like D.C. hardcore and dream pop into their alternative metal. Peter Buckley, author of The Rough Guide to Rock, called Deftones "one of the most primal, powerful, and experimental" bands in alternative metal.

Moreno's lyrics are often described as suggesting emotions rather than directly stating them. He likes to be a bit unclear and impersonal in his writing. He said, "I like to be ambiguous when writing to a certain extent... I took myself completely out of it and wrote about other things." The band's lasting impact has been compared to the alternative rock group Radiohead, with some calling Deftones "The Radiohead of metal."

Deftones are influenced by bands like Faith No More, Primus, Bad Brains, and Hum. Chino Moreno has also mentioned personal influences such as Prince, the Cure, Depeche Mode, and DJ Shadow.

Side Projects

Members of Deftones have also worked on other music projects:

• Chino Moreno is the lead singer for Team Sleep, Crosses, Palms, and the supergroup Saudade.
• Stephen Carpenter works with the electronic metal group Sol Invicto, which he started. He also worked with the supergroup Kush.
• Frank Delgado is part of a DJ group called Decibel Devils.
• In 2000, Chi Cheng released a CD of his spoken word poetry called The Bamboo Parachute.

Band Members

Current members

• Chino Moreno – lead vocals (1988–present); rhythm guitar (1999–present)
• Stephen Carpenter – lead guitar (1988–present); rhythm guitar (1988–1999)
• Abe Cunningham – drums (1988–1990, 1993–present)
• Frank Delgado – keyboards, turntables, samples (1999–present; touring musician 1997–1998)

Current touring musicians

• Fred Sablan – bass, backing vocals (2022–present)
• Lance Jackman ― rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (2022–present)
• Shaun Lopez - Guitar, 2024 European shows

Former members

• Dominic Garcia – bass (1988–1990), drums (1990–1991)
• Chi Cheng – bass, backing vocals (1990–2008; died 2013)
• John Taylor – drums (1991–1993)
• Sergio Vega – bass, backing vocals (2009–2021; touring substitute 1999)

Timeline

Awards and Nominations

Deftones have won several awards for their music:

• In 2000, their album White Pony won Best Album at the Kerrang! Awards.
• In 2001, the song "Elite" won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
• In 2001, White Pony also won Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album at the California Music Awards.
• In 2013, Koi No Yokan won Album of the Year at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards.
• In 2022, the "Passenger" remix by Mike Shinoda won Best Remixed Recording at the Grammy Awards.

Discography

Deftones have released nine studio albums:

• Adrenaline (1995)
• Around the Fur (1997)
• White Pony (2000)
• Deftones (2003)
• Saturday Night Wrist (2006)
• Diamond Eyes (2010)
• Koi No Yokan (2012)
• Gore (2016)
• Ohms (2020)

See also

In Spanish: Deftones para niños