Deftones 2025 Tour Tickets

Deftones started in the late ‘80s in Sacramento, California—a city more known for its state capitol than its metal scene. It was 1988 when teenage pals Stephen Carpenter (guitar), Abe Cunningham (drums), and Dominic Garcia (bass) started jamming in a garage, fueled by a love for skate culture, thrash metal, and whatever else they could crank through a beat-up amp. Enter Chino Moreno—vocalist, lyricist, and eventual rhythm guitarist—a wiry kid with a voice that could shift from a guttural scream to a ghostly croon. Moreno joined after Garcia split, and by 1989, Chi Cheng locked in as bassist, rounding out the core that’d carry them into legend status.

They weren’t polished pros—they were scrappy, DIY kids gigging at local dives like Sacramento’s Cattle Club, scraping by on odd jobs (Carpenter worked at a pizza joint). Early influences? Think Metallica’s thrash, Bad Brains’ punk fury, and The Cure’s moody sprawl. By 1992, they’d caught the ear of Maverick Records (thanks to a demo tape and a lucky break at an LA showcase), signing a deal that’d launch them into the ‘90s alt-metal boom. Their first album, Adrenaline (1995), dropped like a brick through a window—raw, chaotic, and ready to rumble.

The Sound—A Genre-Defying Sonic Stew

Deftones don’t fit in a box—they smash it. Their sound is a kaleidoscope: alternative metal’s crushing riffs meet shoegaze’s swirling textures, post-hardcore’s jagged emotion clashes with nu-metal’s groove, and it’s all laced with an experimental streak that keeps you guessing. Imagine Black Sabbath jamming with My Bloody Valentine, then tossing in some Depeche Mode synth vibes—that’s Deftones in a nutshell. It’s heavy enough to mosh to, yet airy enough to drift away on, a push-pull tension that’s defined them from day one.

• Early Days: Adrenaline was all youthful rage—think “7 Words” with its snarling “Suck! Suck!” chorus—blending nu-metal’s aggression with punk’s DIY ethos.
• The Leap: Around the Fur (1997) polished the edges, adding melody to the mayhem (“My Own Summer (Shove It)” still slaps).
• The Peak: White Pony (2000) is their masterpiece—dreamy (“Digital Bath”), brutal (“Elite”), and genre-bending (“Passenger” with Maynard James Keenan). It’s where shoegaze and metal truly fused.
• The Evolution: Later works like Koi No Yokan (2012) and Ohms (2020) lean into atmosphere—layered guitars, hypnotic rhythms, and Moreno’s voice soaring over it all.

Chino’s lyrics are the soul—poetic, cryptic, and gut-wrenching. Love, loss, addiction, identity—he tackles it with a rawness that’s less about preaching and more about feeling. “I watched a change in you / It’s like you never had wings,” he sings on “Change (In the House of Flies)”—it’s haunting, personal, universal. Carpenter’s drop-tuned riffs and Cunningham’s thunderous drums anchor the chaos, while Cheng’s bass (and later Vega’s) adds a melodic heartbeat. It’s music that hits you in the chest and lingers in your head.

The Lineup—Brothers in Sound

Deftones are more than a band—they’re a family, forged through triumphs and tragedies. Here’s the crew:

• Chino Moreno (Vocals, Guitar): The frontman with a voice that’s equal parts feral and fragile. Born Camillo Wong Moreno in 1976, he’s the emotional core—screaming one minute, crooning the next, and picking up rhythm guitar since White Pony. Offstage, he’s a quiet dreamer, into hip-hop and synth-pop as much as metal.
• Stephen Carpenter (Guitar): The riff machine. A Sacramento skater with a love for thrash (Slayer’s his god), Carpenter’s heavy, detuned sound—often in drop A or lower—defines Deftones’ wall of noise. He’s the stoic yin to Chino’s yang.
• Abe Cunningham (Drums): The groove master. Cunningham’s jazzy, dynamic style—think syncopated fills and explosive kicks—gives Deftones their pulse. He’s the glue, steady through every storm.
• Chi Cheng (Bass, 1988–2008): The heart. Cheng’s melodic basslines and Zen-like presence shaped the early years. Tragically, a 2008 car accident left him in a coma; he passed in 2013 at 42, leaving a void fans still mourn (check X tributes every April 13).
• Sergio Vega (Bass, 2009–Present): The torchbearer. Ex-Quicksand bassist Vega stepped in post-Cheng, bringing a smooth, versatile vibe that’s kept the band rolling (Koi No Yokan owes him big). He’s not a replacement—he’s a new chapter.
• Frank Delgado (Turntables, Keys): The secret weapon since 1999’s White Pony. Delgado’s eerie samples and ambient layers add that otherworldly sheen—think the hum in “Minerva.”

This lineup (minus Cheng, plus Vega) has weathered lineup shifts, label fights, and personal loss, emerging tighter than ever. Their chemistry’s electric—live, it’s a telepathic dance.

The Albums—Milestones of Mastery

Deftones’ discography is a roadmap of reinvention—nine studio albums, each a milestone. Here’s the heavy hitters:

• Adrenaline (1995): The raw debut—gritty, aggressive, nu-metal-adjacent. “Bored” and “7 Words” scream teenage angst.
• Around the Fur (1997): The breakout. Polished but fierce—“Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” blends heaviness with longing. Certified platinum.
• White Pony (2000): The game-changer. A Grammy winner (“Elite”), it’s moody, experimental, iconic—“Knife Prty,” “Rx Queen,” pure gold. Triple platinum and Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums list.
• Deftones (2003): Dark, abrasive, underrated. “Hexagram” and “Minerva” shine—Carpenter’s riffs cut deep.
• Koi No Yokan (2012): A late-career peak. Lush, emotional—“Swerve City” kicks, “Rosemary” soars. Critics called it a return to form.
• Gore (2016): Polarizing but bold. “Prayers/Triangles” is dreamy chaos—some fans balked, but it’s grown into a cult fave.
• Ohms (2020): The comeback. Heavy, cohesive—“Genesis” roars, “The Spell of Mathematics” mesmerizes. NME gave it 5 stars; fans on X call it “White Pony’s older brother.”

Every release pushes boundaries, influencing bands like Linkin Park, Architects, and Bring Me The Horizon. Producers like Terry Date (White Pony) and Matt Hyde (Ohms) amplify their vision.

The Live Legend—Energy and Emotion

Deftones live is a religion—ask anyone who’s been in the pit. From sweaty ‘90s clubs to 2024’s sold-out Chase Center show with System of a Down, their concerts are a sensory overload. Chino’s a dervish—leaping, screaming, crowd-surfing—while Carpenter’s stoic shredding anchors the storm. Cunningham’s drums rumble through your ribs, Vega’s bass pulses in your gut, and Delgado’s effects swirl overhead. X clips from their April 2024 Sick New World fest set—“Change” into “My Own Summer”—show a band still at peak power.

They’re known for tight setlists—15–18 songs, blending hits with deep cuts (“Diamond Eyes,” “Rocket Skates”). The energy’s visceral—moshing for “Headup,” swaying for “Sextape.” Moreno’s crowd chatter—“Sacramento in the house!”—keeps it personal, even in a 20,000-seat arena. It’s not just a show; it’s a communion.

The Impact—Trailblazers and Tastemakers

Deftones didn’t chase trends—they set ‘em. White Pony redefined alt-metal, inspiring a wave of atmospheric heavy bands. Their shoegaze-metal mashup paved the way for acts like Deafheaven and Loathe. Over 10 million albums sold, 3 billion streams, and a Grammy nod (plus a win) back their cred. X fans still debate “best album”—White Pony vs. Koi No Yokan—proof their catalog’s timeless. Beyond music, their skate-punk aesthetic (Vans, Dickies) and Chino’s side projects (Team Sleep, Crosses) ripple through culture.

The Soul—More Than Metal

Deftones are heavy, sure, but they’re human. Cheng’s loss hit hard—Ohms’ “This Link Is Dead” is a raw tribute. Moreno’s battled addiction, Carpenter’s mourned friends, yet they channel it into art. “We’re not just screaming—we’re feeling,” Chino told Kerrang! in 2020. That vulnerability, paired with their sonic muscle, makes them resonate—whether you’re a metalhead or a dreamer.

Why They Endure

From 1988’s garage jams to 2025’s horizon, Deftones are a force—innovators who’ve outlasted nu-metal’s fade, survived tragedy, and kept evolving. They’re Sacramento’s gift to the world—intense, ethereal, unforgettable. If a 2025 tour’s brewing (X whispers after Ohms’ success), expect sold-out nights and a new chapter. Deftones aren’t just a band—they’re a vibe, a legacy, a sound that still shakes the earth.