Releases by deftones

Deftones is an American alternative metal band formed in Sacramento, California, in 1988. The band was founded by vocalist Chino Moreno, guitarist Stephen Carpenter and drummer Abe Cunningham. Bassist Chi Cheng and keyboardist and turntablist Frank Delgado joined in 1990 and 1999, respectively. After establishing its lineup in 1994, Deftones signed a recording contract with Maverick Records and released its debut album, "Adrenaline", in 1995. Extensive touring and word-of-mouth promotion helped the band build a dedicated fan base. Its second album, "Around the Fur" (1997), was certified platinum in the United States. The third album, "White Pony" (2000), marked a shift from the band's earlier aggressive sound towards a more experimental approach. Its song "Elite" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. The self-titled fourth album, "Deftones", was released in 2003 and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. The fifth studio album, "Saturday Night Wrist" (2006), was recorded amid creative tensions and personal difficulties within the band, some of which influenced its material. In 2008, while Deftones was recording its sixth album, provisionally titled "Eros", Cheng was seriously injured in a car accident and remained in a minimally conscious state until his death from cardiac arrest in 2013. Following the accident, the band suspended work on "Eros" and recruited former Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega as Cheng's replacement. Vega left the band in early 2021. Since 2010, Deftones has released five studio albums: "Diamond Eyes" (2010), "Koi No Yokan" (2012), "Gore" (2016), "Ohms" (2020) and "Private Music" (2025). Carpenter, Moreno and Cunningham were childhood friends who attended C. K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento. They maintained their friendship through the city's skateboarding scene. Carpenter developed an interest in heavy metal, while Moreno was influenced by hardcore punk bands such as Bad Brains and post-punk and new wave groups including Depeche Mode and the Cure. After discovering Carpenter's guitar-playing abilities, Moreno arranged a jam session with him and Cunningham, who played drums. The three began rehearsing regularly in Carpenter's garage around 1988. Carpenter sustained serious injuries after being struck by a car while skateboarding at the age of 15. During several months of recovery in a wheelchair, he taught himself guitar by playing along to recordings by thrash metal bands such as Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death and Metallica. A widely circulated story claimed that a financial settlement from the accident enabled the band to purchase its initial equipment, but Cunningham subsequently denied the account in a 2007 interview. The group initially recruited bassist Dominic Garcia, forming a four-piece lineup. When Cunningham left to join another Sacramento band, Phallucy, Garcia switched to drums. Cheng subsequently joined as bassist, and the band recorded a four-track demo. John Taylor replaced Garcia on drums in 1991, before Cunningham returned in 1993. During its early years, Deftones performed at local clubs and gradually expanded its touring activities to San Francisco and Los Angeles, sharing stages with bands such as Korn. Following a performance in Los Angeles, the band attracted the attention of a representative from Maverick Records. After performing three songs for label executives Freddy DeMann and Guy Oseary, Deftones secured a recording contract. Carpenter coined the band's name by combining the hip-hop slang term "def", as used in names such as Def Jam, with the suffix "-tones". The name also incorporates a pun on the term "tone deaf". Deftones recorded its debut album, "Adrenaline", at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, Washington. Produced by the band and Terry Date, it was released on October 3, 1995. Date subsequently produced the band's next three albums. Although initially achieving limited commercial success, "Adrenaline" gained a following through extensive touring, word-of-mouth recommendations and internet promotion. It eventually sold more than 220,000 copies and became associated with the 1990s nu metal movement. An early song, "Teething", which was not included on the album, appeared on the soundtrack of the 1996 film "The Crow: City of Angels". The band also appeared performing the song during a festival scene in the film. "Adrenaline" spent 21 weeks on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, peaking at number 23. Cheng attributed the album's success to the band's perseverance and commitment to its music. Cunningham later described the recording sessions as an experience in which the relatively inexperienced band was primarily enthusiastic about making its first record, rather than extensively refining the songs. Moreno recalled that the album was recorded quickly and that he performed his vocals live in the studio with the rest of the band, using a handheld Shure SM58 microphone. AllMusic's review praised the album's musical control, precision, rhythmic groove and Cunningham's drumming, while noting similarities between some of Moreno's whispered vocal melodies. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified "Adrenaline" gold on July 7, 1999, and platinum on September 23, 2008. Deftones recorded its second studio album, "Around the Fur", at Studio Litho in Seattle, with Date again serving as producer. Released on October 28, 1997, the album was dedicated to Dana Wells, the late stepson of musician Max Cavalera, formerly of Sepultura and subsequently of Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy. Cavalera also collaborated on "Headup", a song written in Wells' memory. Although not yet a full-time member, Delgado received audio credits on five tracks. Cunningham's wife, Annalynn, provided guest vocals on "MX". In a 1998 interview with Chart magazine, Moreno explained that the band had entered the recording sessions without a predetermined musical direction. He described the album as having developed organically during the studio process. The band devoted more attention to production and experimented with different drum sounds, including the use of various snare drums. The album expanded upon the dynamics of its predecessor, incorporating contrasts between loud and quiet passages, distinctive vocal performances and a prominent rhythm section. Contemporary and retrospective reviews praised the album's dynamic arrangements, track sequencing, vocals and instrumental performances. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine observed that the album indicated the band was approaching a more distinctive musical identity. "Around the Fur" increased Deftones' prominence in the alternative metal scene, supported by radio and MTV airplay for the singles "My Own Summer (Shove It)" and "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)". The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200, selling 43,000 copies in its first week, and remained on the chart for 17 weeks. The band subsequently toured extensively, appearing at the Warped Tour in the United States, New Zealand and Australia, as well as the Pinkpop Festival, Roskilde Festival and Ozzfest. A live extended play was released on June 22, 1999. The RIAA certified "Around the Fur" gold on June 24, 1999, and platinum on June 7, 2011. "My Own Summer (Shove It)" also appeared on the soundtrack album "The Matrix: Music from the Motion Picture", released on March 30, 1999. Deftones released its third studio album, "White Pony", on June 20, 2000. Produced by the band and Date, it was recorded at Record Plant in Sausalito, California, and Larrabee Sound Studios in West Hollywood. The album marked a significant development in the band's musical direction, incorporating experimental arrangements, atmospheric soundscapes and a broader range of vocal and instrumental textures. Delgado, now a full-time member, contributed additional electronic elements, while Moreno expanded his role by playing guitar on several tracks. The album included "Teenager", a song Moreno described as a love song, which differed considerably from the band's earlier material. DJ Crook, Moreno's friend and collaborator in the side project Team Sleep, handled programming. "Passenger" featured Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan, while Rodleen Getsic provided vocals on the refrain of "Knife Prty". Following an extended break from touring, the band spent approximately four months writing and recording "White Pony", its longest studio process at the time. In an interview with Alternative Press, Moreno identified the writing of "Change (In the House of Flies)" as a turning point in the sessions, when the members began working more cohesively. Despite external pressure to release the album earlier, the band chose to continue developing the material. Moreno also adopted a different lyrical approach, incorporating fictional narratives, dialogue and fantasy elements rather than relying primarily on personal experiences. The original edition of "White Pony" contained 11 tracks, beginning with "Feiticeira" and ending with "Pink Maggit", and featured grey cover artwork. A limited edition of 50,000 copies in black-and-red jewel cases included an additional track, "The Boy's Republic". The band subsequently recorded "Back to School (Mini Maggit)", a rap-influenced reinterpretation of "Pink Maggit". Released as a single, it was added as the opening track of a revised edition of "White Pony" on October 3, 2000. The reissue featured white cover artwork and retained "Pink Maggit" as its closing track. Moreno expressed reservations about reissuing the album with an additional song, but the band arranged for "Back to School (Mini Maggit)" to be made available as a free download to purchasers of the original edition. The reissue also reflected the band's desire to reach listeners who had already acquired the album. "White Pony" debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 178,000 copies in its first week. Critics generally praised the album's experimental direction, musical development and Moreno's lyrics. AllMusic described the record as a departure from the band's established sound, incorporating softer and more varied musical elements. The album sold more than 1.3 million copies in the United States and was certified platinum by the RIAA on July 17, 2002. In 2001, the song "Elite" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Deftones began developing its fourth studio album under the working title "Lovers". The band initially intended to pursue a heavier musical direction, with Cheng describing the project as an opportunity to explore a broader range of styles while emphasising heaviness. Moreno underwent vocal training after sustaining significant damage to his vocal cords during the band's 2001 summer tour. The band converted its rehearsal space in Sacramento into a recording studio and completed much of the album there. Date returned to assist with production, while musician and producer Greg Wells contributed to the arrangements of several songs. Additional recording took place at Studio X in Seattle and Larrabee Sound Studios in West Hollywood. The sessions lasted approximately 12 months and cost around $2.5 million. Maverick Records imposed financial penalties on the band for missing production deadlines. In January 2003, Deftones temporarily suspended recording to perform at the Big Day Out festival in Australia and New Zealand. The band subsequently returned to the studio to complete the album. Released on May 20, 2003, "Deftones" debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 167,000 copies in its first week. It remained in the Billboard Top 100 for nine weeks. The album's first single, "Minerva", received radio airplay, while the second single, "Hexagram", was accompanied by a music video filmed at an indoor skatepark in Simi Valley, California, with fans watching the band perform. Reviews were generally positive, with critics highlighting the band's musical development and distinctive approach amid changes in the contemporary metal scene. Moreno reiterated the band's desire to avoid being categorised exclusively as a nu metal act. Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the intensity of "Hexagram" but considered the album somewhat reliant on familiar musical territory. The A.V. Club similarly observed that the album was less consistently rewarding than "White Pony", although its strongest moments compared favourably with other releases in the genre. On October 4, 2005, Deftones released the compilation album "B-Sides & Rarities". The CD included B-sides and cover versions recorded throughout the band's career, while an accompanying DVD featured behind-the-scenes footage and the band's music videos released up to that point. For its fifth studio album, Deftones departed from its longstanding collaboration with Date and chose Bob Ezrin as producer. Cunningham explained that the band wanted to change its working methods and explore a different production approach. After recording the instrumental parts, Moreno decided to record his vocals separately. Former Far guitarist Shaun Lopez subsequently assisted with production. The recording sessions were affected by tensions among band members and difficulties in their personal lives. Cunningham later compared the process to "pulling teeth". The resulting album, "Saturday Night Wrist", was released on October 31, 2006, and debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200, selling slightly more than 76,000 copies in its first week. This represented a considerable decline in initial sales compared with the band's two preceding albums. The album's first single, "Hole in the Earth", was released on September 12, 2006. It subsequently appeared in the video game "Saints Row 2" and as downloadable content for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock". The second single, "Mein", was released on March 9, 2007. The album also featured collaborations with Annie Hardy of Giant Drag on "Pink Cellphone" and Serj Tankian of System of a Down on "Mein". Reviews included praise for the album's songwriting and overall strength. Blabbermouth.net described it as one of the band's strongest releases. Deftones spent much of 2006 and 2007 touring internationally in support of the album, performing in North America, Europe, South America, Japan and Australia. The band also appeared on the Taste of Chaos and Family Values tours and at the Soundwave Festival. In autumn 2007, Deftones began writing material for its sixth studio album, "Eros". Moreno described the project as unconventional and aggressive. Recording commenced on April 14, 2008, with Date returning as producer. On November 4, 2008, Cheng was seriously injured in a car accident in Santa Clara, California. The injuries left him in a minimally conscious state. Following the accident, the band and Cheng's mother, Jeanne, began publishing updates on his condition through the band's blog. On December 9, 2008, Cheng was transferred to a hospital specialising in the treatment and management of traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries. In January 2009, Deftones announced that Cheng had not made significant progress in his recovery and that Sergio Vega, formerly of Quicksand, would perform bass duties in his absence. Vega had previously filled in for Cheng temporarily in 1999. On April 5, 2009, the band performed its first concert without Cheng since 1998 at the Bamboozle Left festival in Irvine, California. On June 23, 2009, Deftones announced that it was indefinitely postponing the release of "Eros". The band explained that the album no longer adequately represented its current musical and personal direction and that it intended to adopt a different creative approach. The decision was also influenced by Cheng's condition, although the band clarified that the postponement was primarily an artistic decision and not directly related to the accident. Several musicians from alternative metal bands, including Brian Welch and Reginald Arvizu of Korn, members of Sevendust and Slipknot, and other collaborators, recorded "A Song for Chi" to raise funds for Cheng and his family. Deftones also organised two benefit concerts in Los Angeles in 2009. In March 2009, Deftones fan Gina Blackmore established the website One Love for Chi to provide information and updates about Cheng's condition and to raise funds for his medical care. The site also hosted auctions of items donated by the band's associates, with proceeds going to Cheng's family. Deftones recorded its sixth studio album, "Diamond Eyes", with producer Nick Raskulinecz. Originally scheduled for release on April 27, 2010, the album was subsequently postponed to May 18. After it leaked online in March, the release date was moved forward to May 4. The first single, "Rocket Skates", was made available as a free download on February 23, 2010. The title track, "Diamond Eyes", was released as the album's first radio single on March 15. Both songs received positive responses from critics and fans, with reviewers noting similarities to the band's earlier material on "Around the Fur". In contrast to the darker and more aggressive direction planned for "Eros", "Diamond Eyes" featured a more optimistic lyrical and musical approach. The band toured North America in autumn 2010 with Mastodon and Alice in Chains. The joint tour, titled Blackdiamondskye, took its name from the three bands' contemporary albums: "Black Gives Way to Blue", "Diamond Eyes" and "Crack the Skye". Each concert was promoted with a limited-edition screen-printed poster created by artist Jermaine Rogers, who had produced much of Deftones' concert artwork since the late 1990s. On April 16, 2011, Deftones released "Covers", a limited-edition LP issued for Record Store Day. It collected cover versions recorded over several years, including "Drive", originally by the Cars, "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep", originally by the Cure, and "No Ordinary Love", originally by Sade. On October 25, 2011, the band released "The Vinyl Collection 1995–2011", a limited-edition box set of 1,000 copies. In March 2012, Carpenter revealed in an interview published on ESP Guitars' YouTube channel that Deftones was working on its seventh studio album. Raskulinecz was announced as the producer. Reports initially indicated that the band was considering recording several B-sides, including cover versions of songs by Elvis Presley and Earth, Wind & Fire, but the album was ultimately released without bonus tracks. On July 28, 2012, Deftones performed two new songs, "Rosemary" and "Roller Derby", the latter subsequently renamed "Poltergeist". The band's seventh album, "Koi No Yokan", was announced on August 30 and released by Reprise Records on November 12, 2012. Continuing the experimental approach of "Diamond Eyes", the album explored atmospheric textures, varied dynamics and a broad range of musical styles. "Koi No Yokan" received widespread critical acclaim. Metacritic assigned it a score of 86 out of 100, based on 18 reviews. In May 2013, the album received Revolver magazine's Golden Gods Award for Album of the Year. On April 13, 2013, Cheng died at a hospital in Stockton, California, after suffering cardiac arrest. He had partially recovered from his injuries and returned home, but his death occurred more than four years after the accident. In May 2013, Moreno indicated that the previously shelved album "Eros" might be released following Cheng's death. In March 2014, while Moreno was touring with his side project Crosses in support of its self-titled debut album, the remaining members of Deftones began writing material for the band's eighth studio album. The band had previously indicated that it intended to begin recording in late 2014 or early 2015. On April 13, 2014, the first anniversary of Cheng's death, Deftones released "Smile", a song from the unreleased "Eros" sessions, on YouTube. The track was the first officially released material from the album. Warner Music Group removed the video two days later because of a copyright claim, despite Moreno having uploaded it. The song was subsequently made available again and remained the only officially released recording from the "Eros" sessions. In February 2015, after completing the drum tracks for its eighth album, Moreno revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that the band had written 16 songs. He described the material as more complex and contemplative than that of "Koi No Yokan". In a May 2015 interview with Kerrang!, Moreno characterised the album as featuring a variety of moods, neither entirely positive nor wholly aggressive. The recording sessions involved greater collaboration among the band members. Carpenter initially experienced some difficulty adapting to the album's direction, but the group subsequently emphasised the collective nature of the songwriting. Vega played a six-string bass, contributing to the album's expanded sonic range. After working with Raskulinecz on the preceding two albums, Deftones selected Matt Hyde as producer. Hyde had previously worked as a recording engineer on "Koi No Yokan". The album's release was postponed several times from its original September 2015 schedule. On February 4, 2016, the band released "Prayers / Triangles" as the first single. "Doomed User" and "Hearts / Wires" were made available on March 16 and April 3, respectively, ahead of the album's release. "Gore" was released on April 8, 2016, followed by the second official single, "Phantom Bride", on June 7. The latter featured a guitar solo by Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, an unusual addition to a Deftones recording. "Gore" received generally positive reviews. The Guardian's Gwilym Mumford praised its experimentation and atmospheric arrangements, highlighting the contrast between Moreno's melodic vocals and less explicit lyrics and Carpenter's heavy guitar riffs. In 2017, Moreno confirmed that Deftones had begun writing material for its ninth studio album, initially targeting a 2019 release. He indicated that the band intended to move away from the musical approach of "Gore" and that he would reduce his role in leading the songwriting to give Carpenter and Cunningham greater creative involvement. In May 2018, Moreno described the new material as considerably heavier than the previous album. That same month, Deftones embarked on a South American tour with Quicksand and Deadly Apples as supporting acts. In April 2020, the band announced that it was mixing its ninth studio album. The recording sessions took place in Los Angeles, with Date returning as producer for the first time since the unreleased "Eros" sessions in 2008. On August 19, 2020, Deftones announced the title and release date of its ninth album, "Ohms". The announcement was accompanied by the album artwork and track listing. The title track was released as the lead single on August 21, followed by "Genesis" on September 17. The album was released on September 25, 2020. On September 22, 2020, the band launched its "Adopt-a-Dot" campaign, allowing fans to digitally sponsor individual dots from the "Ohms" album cover through charitable donations. In October 2020, Deftones announced a 20th-anniversary reissue of "White Pony", scheduled for release in December. The reissue was packaged with "Black Stallion", a companion remix album featuring contributions from musicians and producers including Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, DJ Shadow and Robert Smith of the Cure. The band's planned joint tour with Gojira in support of "Ohms" was postponed twice because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poppy, initially scheduled to support the two bands, withdrew following the second postponement. The tour eventually took place in April 2022. In March 2022, Vega confirmed that he had left Deftones in early 2021. He stated that he had never been an official member but had worked as a contracted bassist throughout his tenure. According to Vega, he had sought formal membership but departed after being offered the same contractual status he had held since joining the band. In April 2022, Fred Sablan was announced as Vega's touring replacement. Touring guitarist Lance Jackman also joined the band. On May 20, 2022, Jackman was announced as a temporary replacement for Carpenter during the band's 2022 European tour. In April 2024, Moreno told KROQ that Deftones had completed most of its tenth studio album. He stated that the instrumental recordings had been finished, although the vocals had yet to be recorded. In September 2024, Deftones announced a North American headlining tour for 2025, its first such tour since 2022. On November 4, 2024, the band announced a headlining performance at Crystal Palace Park in London on June 29, 2025, with Weezer and High Vis as supporting acts. In March 2025, Deftones was announced as a performer at the Glastonbury Festival, marking its first scheduled appearance at the festival since 1998. The band was due to perform on June 28, 2025, but cancelled its appearance on the day because of an illness affecting one of its members. On July 10, 2025, Deftones announced its tenth studio album, "Private Music", and released its lead single, "My Mind Is a Mountain", on the same day. The second single, "Milk of the Madonna", was released on August 8, 2025. "Private Music" was released on August 22, 2025, and featured touring bassist Sablan. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deftones 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) Private Music (2025) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.