Can you remember what your expectations were on the eve of [Deftones’ 1995 debut] Adrenaline being released? JonnyT
I was very excited that we were about to put out a real record, on a real record label. I was a little scared as well – we were this new band, putting ourselves out there. The label sent us physical copies of Adrenaline when it came out – I think we even got cassettes back then. It was so exciting to open it up and have something tangible to hold. But we had no sense of the longevity it would enjoy. I didn’t anticipate people would still be listening to it, or even that we’d still be a band this many years later. We still have nerves, obviously, whenever we release something. But we also have a sense of confidence, especially with this new record.Do you find your creativity burns brightest in hardship? Or can peace be just as potent? shenead
There’s something to be said for both, and our music has that dichotomy built into its DNA – a lot of our songs have that yin and yang within them. There’s a lot more peace than chaos in our lives at the moment, and I’m happy it’s that way. A lot of our earlier records were made when life was more crazy, and we were able to capture that. But with this record, there’s some of that beauty that comes with this invigorated time we’re living in now. But it’s always good to be able to yell and scream sometimes, right? The pandemic was really difficult for everybody, but as someone who was spoilt by having this outlet my whole adult life, to be able to tour and play shows and express myself … I really came to a dead stop during Covid. It really affected me. Making music – to be able to express emotions, good and bad – has definitely been a gift.Deftones in 1996, (from left) bassist Chi Cheng, singer Chino Moreno, turntablist Frank Delgado, drummer Abe Cunningham and guitarist Stephen Carpenter. Photograph: Gie Knaeps/Getty ImagesI work at HMV in a small town and we sell at least five copies of 1997’s Around the Fur to teenagers every week – way more than Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours or Nirvana’s Nevermind. To what do you ascribe its longevity? DameHedwig
