By David Farrier
Grammy award-winning rock band Deftones got together for their first jam over 20 years ago.
All best mates, they forged a career out of doing what they loved - making loud music.
But as they put the finishing touches on album number six, their bassist Chi Cheng was involved in a serious car accident, sending him a coma.
“To think, I was 15 years old when I first started in a band with these same guys,” says frontman Chino Moreno. “I’m 36 years old now, so it’s well over half my life I've been doing this.”
This is the first we've heard from Deftones in a while - a new single and record called Diamond Eyes. Thing is, this is not the record his band set out to make three years ago.
“About half way through, about a year and a half through, we had some devastating news with our bass player,” says Moreno. “Pretty much when we were getting ready to finish the record we’d been working on, that happened, and everything was at a halt at that point.
They locked that record in a vault. Moreno says it may see the light of day at some stage, but he wants to see what happens to his friend first.
“He has a head trauma, so until he starts communicating they really wont' know – but to me, the last time I saw him, he looks really good, he looks like he’s in there and he’s healing… he’s gonna make it.”
After some discussion, the remaining band members started over. The resulting record is out today.
“I think its one of our most cohesive records - immediate and optimistic.”
As usual, Moreno’s unique vocals are at the forefront, a distinctive calling card from day one.
Back in 2001, a frontman’s worst nightmare: all the straining partly paralysing one of his vocal cords. But Moreno assures us he's now taking care of himself, and the voice.
“I’ve been doing just like, a bit of a health kick, and it helps with my voice. I mean, I spent so many years just like, screaming and drinking and living like I thought I should be living – it makes it hard on your self.”
Deftones are planning a trip to New Zealand to show off the new record - the new, new record. Moreno says while he loves the Big Day Out, he hopes this visit will be a stand-alone show.
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