Where the Cali alt-metal rockers found their inspiration.
At Home with Chino Moreno: The Playlist
“I usually put on music—in these times, it’s something I look forward to.”
Inspired by Deftones
The artists whose sounds and songs they helped to shape.
Deftones: Deep Cuts
About Deftones
Artist Biography
Blending the bludgeoning power of metal with the detailing of shoegaze and the ambition of prog rock, Deftones have influenced the modern-rock landscape in many ways. Formed in Sacramento, CA, in 1988, the group, led by vocalist/guitarist Chino Moreno, had a fluctuating lineup early on, with the membership falling into place around 1993. In the chaotic world of ’90s alt-rock, they were an underground success, their fanbase steadily growing thanks to constant touring and devoted listeners spreading the word. Their 2000 breakthrough, White Pony, was a creative leap for the band, incorporating shoegaze’s shimmer and post-rock’s sprawl into its sound while spotlighting Moreno’s haunting, soaring vocals. The 2003 release Deftones, highlighted by the fuzzed-out single “Minerva,” and 2006’s Saturday Night Wrist continued their evolution. Longtime bassist Chi Cheng was seriously injured in a car crash in 2008, and the band put things on hold for a while, releasing Diamond Eyes in 2010. Deftones ascended to elder statesmen of hard rock in the 2010s, recording albums that added breadth and depth to their sonic arsenal; a 2020 remix release of White Pony with Mike Shinoda and DJ Shadow among the many remixers serves as testament to their wide influence.
Hometown
Sacramento, CA, United States
Genre
Hard Rock
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