A CONVERSATION WITH DEFTONES

RockRevolt Magazine recently had the chance to sit down and chat with the powerhouse that is Abe Cunningham from Deftones. As humble as he is talented, Abe let us in a bit on what is next for them, their upcoming tour, and their recent release, Gore, sure to be another chart-topping smash for the band whose sound constantly keeps the fans on their toes.

Some of you may not know this, but Abe grew up around music. His father and stepfather were both musicians, and being around them drove Abe to teach himself music as well. He had no formal training, and instead he looked to musicians like Stewart Copeland (the Police), Ginger Baker (Cream), and Mitch Mitchel (Jimi Hendrix Experience) as influences. The Deftones was his first band, and he started it at age 15 out of a garage in 1988. In 2016, twenty-eight years later, they are tighter as a band and have a more cohesive sound than ever. Don’t believe me? Scroll through their discography and play a few tracks from each. They’ve always sounded amazing, but the latest release, Gore, truly showcases what these guys can do. I promise.

When it comes down to the writing of their songs, Chino Moreno is the lead writer. He puts his own twist and meaning into his lyrics, and there is no better example of that than on the new album. Deftones has always been a lyrically powerful band, with such hits as “Change”, “My Own Summer”, and “Minerva”. But, the vibe from the new stuff, like “Prayers/Triangles” and “Doomed User” really speaks to me as a fan and listener. There is something different, more mature, in these lyrics that I didn’t know I was missing. He says that their goal is always to have fans take a message away from their lyrics and sound, and I have to wonder what the fans will take away from the new release, Gore. I don’t want to give away any spoilers; pick it up and take a listen for yourself.

Two years ago this month, the band suffered a great loss when their bassist, Chi Cheng, passed away due to complications from a 2008 car crash that had left him in a coma for a while. The loss of Chi affected the band in a profound way, and Abe says that what they miss the most about him is who he was. “He was always smiling and happy,” Abe told us with a heavy sigh, remorse still tinged his voice. “We celebrate Chi; he is still with us today.” Though he says they have had some sad moments, they know to keep it positive for Chi. It’s what he would want them to do.

Though Deftones has seen its share of members leaving for whatever reason and being replaced, Abe says that the fact that they are a real band is what keeps them together and working as hard as they do to sound better every album. “It feels like I am married to four other dudes,” he says with a laugh. “We enjoy it. We are passionate. It’s a roller coaster ride, that’s for sure, but we’re in it for better or for worse.” It is that passion and drive to continually deliver and to stay together for the long haul that makes Deftones a powerhouse band in the industry today. “I think the success that we’ve had, being as gradual as it has been, has kept us down to earth and gave us the drive to keep going.”

The band heads out on a wall-to-wall international tour in May, and they hope to reach out to all of the fans, at all of their venues, and connect with them. When asked how they manage to connect with fans who may not have come to see them specifically at a show or festival, Abe chuckles and says, “That’s the quest, man. That’s the challenge. You have to give it your all and hope it’s enough. Everyone is welcome at a Deftones show; the band is tight, we’re having a great time, and we hope to see you all out there.” For sure, this tour is one that is not to be missed!