Alternative metal band Deftones have been around since the mid-1990s. But what was their first song?
The Deftones’ first album was Adrenaline, released on October 3, 1995. The first single from the album was released on December 17, 1995—“7 Words”.
Let’s take a look at how the Deftones formed and what led up to the release of their debut album, which was eventually certified platinum, 13 years after its release, in 2008.
Listen to “7 Words”—Deftones’ first single:
What’s in a Name?
Stephen Carpenter (lead guitar) thought up the band’s name by combining “def”—a hip hop slang term—with “tones,” which had been used by other bands such as The Quin-Tones and The Harptones. “Deftones” is also a play on the term “tone deaf.”
The Beginnings of Deftones
Stephen was 15 years old when he was hit by a car, while on a skateboard. Unable to get around for several months, he started learning guitar in order to pass the time.
Stephen learned songs by bands such as Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death, and Metallica. He went to school with Chino Moreno (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Abe Cunningham (drums) at C. K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento.
After graduating from school they stayed friends, and were all part of the skateboarding scene.
Stephen liked heavy metal, and Chino was into hardcore punk. The three started to jam together in Stephen’s garage from around 1988. They recruited their bass guitarist Dominic Garcia around the same time.
The band had to adjust when Abe left to join rival band Phallucy. Dominic started playing drums instead of bass and they recruited a new bassist—Chi Cheng.
The band recorded a demo with four tracks soon after. The makeup of the band changed around again, with Abe coming back to play drums and Dominic leaving.
The band started to play at clubs in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and managed to secure gigs alongside major bands such as Korn. While playing a show, a Maverick Records representative heard the Deftones and offered them a record deal.
Adrenaline, the band’s debut studio album, was released on October 3, 1995.
The album didn’t initially sell very well, but through a dedicated fanbase, word-of-mouth, and the Internet (which was quickly gaining traction at the time), the album spent 21 weeks on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, reaching number 23.
The album is now widely considered a crucial record of the 1990s nu metal movement.
Asked about the album’s success, Chi pointed out the band’s perseverance, saying, “We’ve been together for almost eight years, on the road for two, and we do it with honesty and integrity—and the kids can tell.”
The album reached certified gold status on July 7, 1999, and was certified platinum on September 23, 2008.
Tragedy Strikes
On November 4, 2008, Chi was in a serious car accident. The vehicle flipped three times and Chi, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle. The crash left him in a coma.
A website—Oneloveforchi.com—was made to raise funds for Chi’s medical expenses and to keep fans updated on his progress. Fans could also record voice notes, to be played to Chi while he was still in a coma.
Over the years, Chi’s health showed signs of improvement, as well as turns for the worse, but on April 13, 2013, Chi suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and died in hospital. Chi’s mother wrote a heartbreaking note to her son’s fans:
Our dearest Family,
This is the hardest thing to write to you. Your love and heart and devotion to Chi was unconditional and amazing. I know that you will always remember him as a giant of a man on stage with a heart for every one of you. He was taken to the emergency room and at 3 am today his heart just suddenly stopped. He left this world with me singing songs he liked in his ear. He fought the good fight. You stood by him sending love daily. He knew that he was very loved and never alone.
With great love and “Much Respect!” Mom J (and Chi).