Chino Moreno

Last updated

Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno 2014.jpg
Moreno with Deftones at River City Rockfest in San Antonio, 2014
Background information
Birth nameCamillo Wong Moreno
Born (1973-06-20) June 20, 1973 (age 51)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1988–present
Member of

Camillo "Chino" Wong Moreno [1] [2] (born June 20, 1973) is an American musician who is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project groups Team Sleep, Crosses, and Palms.

Contents

Moreno is known for his dramatic tenor voice [3] and distinctive screams. In 2007, he was placed at number 51 in Hit Parader 's "Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time". [4]

Early life

Moreno was born in Sacramento, California, the second of five children. His mother is of Mexican and Chinese descent and his father is Mexican. [5] The nickname "Chino" is the Spanish-language term for Chinese people, shortened from "Chinito" (little Chinese one), a moniker "given to him as a kid by his uncles because he looked predominantly Asian, when most Mexicans are mestizo." [6]

He grew up in the Oak Park area and attended C. K. McClatchy High School, [7] where he met Abe Cunningham and Stephen Carpenter, with whom he founded Deftones in 1988. Before becoming a professional musician, Moreno had a day job at Tower Records' shipping department. [7]

Career

Deftones

Circa 1988, Moreno started jamming regularly with his middle-school friends Abe Cunningham and Stephen Carpenter, leading to the formation of Deftones. Within two years, the group started playing club shows. They were signed to Maverick Records after one of their representatives saw them play in Los Angeles. Their first commercially released album was Adrenaline (1995), produced by Terry Date. While the album wasn't an instant success, extensive touring, word-of-mouth, and Internet promotion built the band a dedicated fan base, as well as helping Adrenaline to sell over 220,000 copies without the singles "7 Words" and "Bored" (as well as their music videos) receiving any airplay. For 1997's Around the Fur , the band expanded its sound, spending more time with Date, and giving more thought to the album's production. The record was highly anticipated and propelled Deftones to fame in the alternative metal scene on the strength of radio and MTV airplay for the singles "My Own Summer (Shove It)" and "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)".

White Pony was released in 2000 to critical acclaim and unprecedented commercial success. Frank Delgado had become a full-time band member, adding new elements to the band's music, while Moreno himself contributed guitar lines in addition to vocals. With influences of new wave, dream pop, and trip hop, the album is considered a turning point for the band in terms of experimentation. Singles "Change (In the House of Flies)" and "Digital Bath" supported the album's release. A single entitled "Back to School (Mini Maggit)" was released as a rap-influenced reinterpretation of White Pony's closing track, "Pink Maggit". While commercially successful and a fan favourite, the band have previously strongly objected to its publication, although it is unclear whether this is still the case. [8] White Pony was subsequently re-released with "Back to School (Mini Maggit)" as the album's opening track. For the song "Elite", Deftones received the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

In 2001, Moreno developed a throat injury due to heavy screaming and was forced to miss at least four shows. He suffered inflammation on his right vocal cord and partial paralysis of the left vocal cord. During the rest of their supporting tour, bassist Chi Cheng took over vocal duties that required screaming while Moreno sang the softer melodies of the lyrics, despite recommendations by doctors to hold off from singing to allow time for recovery as well as rumors that the band would be cancelling the remaining stretch of the tour with Godsmack and Puddle of Mudd. [9]

The eponymous Deftones was released in 2003, and saw the band being praised for the heavy album's progression and originality in the midst of declining creativity in contemporary metal. Moreno was quoted as saying, "It's all on record. We told motherfuckers not to lump us in with nu metal because when those bands go down we aren't going to be with them." B-Sides & Rarities saw release in 2005, bringing together unreleased and obscure material accrued since 1995. 2006's Saturday Night Wrist was completed after a protracted and tumultuous recording process, nearly leading to Moreno's departure from Deftones. Later he said it had been "a seriously unhealthy experience" and he "wasn't sure if [he] was going to return" at the time the band was on a self-imposed hiatus. After eventually finishing the album in early 2006, Moreno claimed it to be more of a compromise between all of the members' influences, ranging from their brutal and brooding heavy signature seen on Adrenaline and Around the Fur to the more experimental sound heard on White Pony and Deftones. However, the band saw a significant decrease on the album's first week sales compared to their two previous releases.

Moreno at Hellfest 2018 Hellfest2018Deftones 01 (cropped).jpg
Moreno at Hellfest 2018

Deftones were working on an upcoming album with the working title Eros , when bassist Chi Cheng was severely injured in a car accident in November 2008, remaining in a minimally conscious state and later a partially conscious state up until his death in April 2013. In 2009, the group had recruited Sergio Vega for his replacement and announced an indefinite delay of Eros, stating "... we realized that this record doesn't best encompass and represent who we are currently as people and as musicians." [10] With Vega, the group began work on a new album, Diamond Eyes , which was released on May 4, 2010. It saw the release of the popular singles "Rocket Skates", "You've Seen the Butcher" and "Diamond Eyes". In November 2012, Deftones released their seventh studio album, titled Koi No Yokan . "Leathers", "Tempest" and "Swerve City" came out as its singles. 2016 saw the release of their eighth studio album Gore . In 2020 Deftones released their ninth studio album, called Ohms , which garnered significant critical praise.

Side projects

During the making of Deftones' White Pony , Moreno began work on a side project, Team Sleep. The group released their self-titled debut album in May 2005.

In March 2011, Moreno stated to be working on a new side project known as Crosses, featuring Far guitarist Shaun Lopez and Chuck Doom. Moreno described the project as "minimal and soothing, and it's sort of like the stuff I like listening to when I'm not screaming my head off." [11] Their debut self-titled EP was released on August 2, 2011. EP 2 appeared the next year.

In April 2012, it was announced that Moreno had joined former Isis members Jeff Caxide, Aaron Harris and Bryant Clifford Meyer in a side project by the name of Palms. Their first album was released on June 25, 2013.

In April 2016, Moreno teamed up with guitarist Dr. Know of Bad Brains, drummer Mackie Jayson (Bad Brains, Cro-Mags); jazz keyboardist John Medeski of Medeski, Martin, and Wood; and bassist Chuck Doom (Team Sleep, Crosses) to form the supergroup Saudade. They released their first single through BitTorrent Bundle on April 28, 2016. [12] [13]

Moreno has also made a number of guest appearances on numerous younger groups' songs, such as "Bender" by Sevendust, [14] "Paralytic" by Dead Poetic, [15] "Vengeance Is Mine" by Droid, [16] "Caviar" by Dance Gavin Dance, [17] "Surrender Your Sons" by Norma Jean, [18] and "Reprogrammed to Hate" by Whitechapel. [19] In 2009, Moreno recorded a song with Thirty Seconds to Mars to appear on their album This Is War , but was not finished. On May 2, 2010, he performed "The Kill" with 30 Seconds to Mars.

In June 2016, the Secret Solstice music festival announced that Moreno would perform at Thrihnukagigur in what will be the first ever public concert inside the magma chamber of a volcano. [20]

In 2019, Moreno was approached to score the seventh episode of Hulu's Into the Dark horror anthology series, entitled "I'm Just F*cking with You". [21]

Artistry

Moreno playing guitar in 2013 Rock in Pott 2013 - Deftones 03.jpg
Moreno playing guitar in 2013

The biggest vocal influences on Moreno include Faith No More's Mike Patton, Bad Brains's H.R., the Smiths's Morrissey and Prince. [22] His musical influences consist of a wide range of styles and genres, including the electronic bands Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Depeche Mode, Thompson Twins and the Human League. [23] Other inspirations include the Cure, Bad Brains, PJ Harvey, the Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, Public Enemy, Duran Duran, the Smashing Pumpkins, Portishead, Helmet, Jawbox, Faith No More, Slayer, Hum, Kool Keith, Alice in Chains, Tool, Girls Against Boys, Jane's Addiction and Weezer.[ citation needed ] For Revolver he selected five non-metal records that influenced him: the Cure's Pornography , Helium's No Guitars , Mogwai's EP+2 , My Bloody Valentine's Loveless and the Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream . [24] He also made a list of his thirteen favourite albums for The Quietus , containing Small Craft on a Milk Sea by Brian Eno, Sunset Mission by Bohren und der Club of Gore, Fever Ray's self-titled album, Venus Luxure No.1 Baby by Girls Against Boys, Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol, You'd Prefer an Astronaut by Hum, Saturdays = Youth by M83, Black Noise by Pantha du Prince, Love Deluxe by Sade, Talkie Walkie by Air, Born to Mack by Too Short, The Blue Moods of Spain by Spain and Standards by Tortoise. [25]

In an August 1998 interview with Spin , Moreno stated "I was one of those kids who thought heavy metal was devil music. I can't say I'm really a metal fan or a hip hop fan, cause there's so many crappy bands out there. I just like a little bit of everything. I think other people are starting to think that way too." [26] Regarding the influence of female artists such as PJ Harvey, Moreno said he was aware that people considered him to be gay, adding, "I really love girly stuff." [26]

In relation to his often ambiguous yet image-heavy poetic lyrics, he said, "[Sometimes] my lyrics don't deal with specific topics. I write down on paper the feelings of the moment, it's not easy to explain the contents of the lyrics or give a logical sense to the words. What I write is also a reaction to the music we make, so the Deftones' sound is not pop, it doesn't communicate happy feelings. Paradoxically my favorite songs of the album talk about love, in a clearly different view." [5]

Collaborations

Moreno also featured in the low-budget video for the song "Carpe Diem" by fellow Sacramento hardcore act Will Haven. In 2007, he produced their album The Hierophant. Moreno makes a brief cameo in Limp Bizkit's alternate video for their 1997 single Counterfeit, seen on the single's bonus disc. [34]

Personal life

Moreno has been married twice. He was married to his first wife, Celeste Schroeder, from 1994 to 2006; they had two children. [35] He married his second wife, Risa-Mora Moreno, in 2012 [35] and the couple has one daughter. Moreno and his family have resided in Bend, Oregon since 2013. [36]

Moreno was a frequent smoker for most of his life, though he reports that he quit in 2007. [37]

Discography

With Deftones

With Team Sleep

With Crosses

With Palms

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deftones</span> American alternative metal band

Deftones is an American alternative metal band formed in Sacramento, California in 1988. They were formed by frontman Chino Moreno, lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter and drummer Abe Cunningham, with bassist Chi Cheng and keyboardist and turntablist Frank Delgado joining the line-up in 1990 and 1999, respectively. The band's experimental nature has led some critics to describe them as "the Radiohead of metal".

<i>White Pony</i> 2000 studio album by Deftones

White Pony is the third studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on June 20, 2000, through Maverick Records. It was produced by Terry Date, who produced the band's first two albums, Adrenaline (1995) and Around the Fur (1997). Recording sessions took place between August and December 1999 at Larrabee Sound Studios in West Hollywood and The Plant Recording Studios in Sausalito, California.

<i>Around the Fur</i> 1997 studio album by Deftones

Around the Fur is the second studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on October 28, 1997, by Maverick Records. The songs "My Own Summer " and "Be Quiet and Drive " were released as singles with accompanying music videos. The album was certified gold by the RIAA in 1999, and was later certified platinum in 2011.

<i>Adrenaline</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Deftones

Adrenaline is the debut studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on October 3, 1995, by Maverick Records. The majority of the album was produced by Terry Date, while a hidden track titled "Fist" was produced by Ross Robinson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abe Cunningham</span> American musician

Abraham "Abe" Benjamin Cunningham is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the alternative metal band Deftones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Carpenter</span> American guitarist

Stephen "Steph" Carpenter is an American musician, known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of the alternative metal band Deftones.

<i>Deftones</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Deftones

Deftones is the fourth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on May 20, 2003, by Maverick Records. The album features a strong change in musical direction from the band's previous albums, ranging from some of their heavier compositions to moody trip hop and shoegaze influences. It was also the band's last release to be produced by Terry Date until Ohms in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Team Sleep</span> American rock band

Team Sleep is an American experimental alternative rock/post-rock group led by singer/guitarist Chino Moreno. Moreno is better known for fronting the Sacramento-based alternative metal band Deftones. Other recent members include guitarist Todd Wilkinson, keyboardist and turntablist CrookOne, bass guitarist and keyboardist Rick Verrett, drummer Gil Sharone, and bassist Chuck Doom, with past members Zach Hill, Rob Crow, Mary Timony, and Dan Elkan contributing significantly to the band’s debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medeski Martin & Wood</span> American jazz band

Medeski Martin & Wood is an American jazz fusion band formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards, Billy Martin on drums, and Chris Wood on bass. The band is influenced by musical traditions including funk and hip hop and is known for an unconventional style sometimes described as "avant-groove".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Medeski</span> American jazz keyboardist and composer

Anthony John Medeski is an American jazz keyboard player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood. He plays the acoustic piano and an eclectic array of keyboards, including the Hammond B3 organ, melodica, mellotron, clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, Wurlitzer electric piano, Moog Voyager Synthesizer, Wurlitzer 7300 Combo Organ, Vox Continental Baroque organ, and Yamaha CS-1 Synthesizer, among others. When playing acoustic piano, Medeski usually plays the Steinway piano and is listed as a Steinway Artist.

Will Haven is an American metal band from Sacramento, California. Formed in 1995, the group released albums through several labels and toured with acts such as Deftones and Soulfly before going on hiatus in 2002. They regrouped in 2005 and have continued to record and tour since. Throughout their history, they have released seven full-length albums as well as two EPs and a live DVD. Their musical style has been described as a combination of many metal and hardcore subgenres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Know (guitarist)</span> Musical artist

Gary Miller, better known by his stage name Dr. Know, is an American musician, who rose to prominence as the guitarist for the Washington D.C. hardcore punk band Bad Brains, who were critically acclaimed for their innovative musical style and are regarded as one of the greatest and most influential punk rock bands of all time. Critic Rick Anderson praises Miller's "ability to meld the raw directness of hardcore punk with an almost supernatural virtuosity without sacrificing the power of either approach".

<i>B-Sides & Rarities</i> (Deftones album) 2005 compilation album by Deftones

B-Sides & Rarities is a compilation album by alternative metal band Deftones, consisting of a CD and a DVD. The CD compiled previously released and unreleased B-sides, while the DVD featured multimedia content, including a complete videography. It was released in 2005 by Maverick Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back to School (Mini Maggit)</span> 2001 single by Deftones

"Back to School (Mini Maggit)" is a song by American alternative metal band Deftones. It is an altered version of the song "Pink Maggit" from the band's 2000 album White Pony. Shortly after the album's initial release, in a contentious move by the band's label Maverick, it was re-released with "Back to School (Mini Maggit)" added on. The song's style has been described as nu metal as well as rap rock.

<i>Saturday Night Wrist</i> 2006 studio album by Deftones

Saturday Night Wrist is the fifth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on October 31, 2006, by Maverick Records. Despite early contributions that were later scrapped, it marked the departure of Terry Date, who had produced the band's first four albums. It was also the last Deftones album with bassist Chi Cheng, as well as the last album of his career and his lifetime, prior to being involved in a serious car accident in 2008, which put him in a coma. He eventually died five years later from cardiac arrest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital Bath</span> 2000 single by Deftones

"Digital Bath" is a song by the American alternative metal band Deftones. The song was released as a promotional single from their third studio album, White Pony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deftones discography</span>

The discography of Deftones, an American alternative metal band, consists of nine studio albums, three extended plays, three compilation albums, five demo albums and 22 singles. Their back-catalogue of B-side material encompasses 52 tracks. One release is certified gold by the RIAA in recognition of shipments exceeding 500,000 copies, and three are certified platinum for exceeding one million copies. They have sold over 10 million albums worldwide.

Eros is the working title of an unreleased album by American alternative metal band Deftones, with tentative release dates in 2008 and 2009. The band spent time recording the album from April to November 2008 at The Spot in Los Angeles. The November 2008 car accident of bassist Chi Cheng forced the band to initially hold off on releasing the album, however, and they later shelved the album indefinitely in a creative decision to move forward. With Cheng in a coma, Deftones recruited former Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega and released Diamond Eyes instead in 2010. In the years that followed, the band has had mixed feelings about finishing and officially releasing Eros at some point down the road. The recording sessions of this album marked the first time in five years, since their self-titled fourth album, that Deftones had worked with Terry Date.

<i>Diamond Eyes</i> 2010 studio album by Deftones

Diamond Eyes is the sixth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on May 4, 2010, by Reprise Records. It was the first album to feature bassist Sergio Vega, who replaced original bassist Chi Cheng. An album tentatively titled Eros was originally intended to be the band's sixth full-length release following Saturday Night Wrist (2006), but was not finished due to Cheng entering a coma after a serious car accident that occurred in November 2008, eventually resulting in his death in 2013. The band continued on with Vega as his replacement, and the release of Eros was put on hold in favor of Diamond Eyes in June 2009.

<i>Gore</i> (Deftones album) 2016 studio album by Deftones

Gore is the eighth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on April 8, 2016, by Reprise Records. Its release was met with critical acclaim, debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200; it is the band's fifth album to debut within the chart's top-ten and is their highest-charting since their 2003 eponymous album.

References

  1. ↑ "Case No. 9-97 DIVISION OF LABOR STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT, California" (PDF). dir.ca.gov. January 12, 1998.
  2. ↑ "Chino Moreno | Yamaha Artists".
  3. ↑ Loudwire Staff (February 7, 2023). "10 Best Rappers in Rock Music". Loudwire. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Hit Parader's Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time". Hearya.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Chino Moreno Bio". Yamaha Corporation. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009.
  6. ↑ Eneida I. DelValle (May 28, 2013), are-rockers-too-says-deftones-lead-singer/ "Latinos are Rockers too" says Deftones lead singer. NBC Latino, accessed 11 July 2019 Archived April 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
  7. 1 2 "Band Members Bio". Deftonesworld.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2006.
  8. ↑ Lash, Jolie (September 16, 2000). "The Deftones Add New Single to "White Pony"". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 10, 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Injury Snags Deftones Tour". MTV. Archived from the original on July 26, 2001.
  10. ↑ "Deftones myspace blog entry for June 24, 2009". June 24, 2009. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  11. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (March 30, 2011). "Deftones Frontman Excited For Tour, 'Covers' Album, New Side Project". Noisecreep . Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Saudade – Saudade". bundles.bittorrent.com. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  13. ↑ Pearce, Sheldon (April 28, 2016). "Deftones' Chino Moreno Forms Supergroup Saudade With Bad Brains, Cro-Mags Members, John Medeski". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  14. ↑ Gottlieb, Meredith (October 15, 1999). "Deftones' Chino Moreno: "I'm Not 'Pony 1'"". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  15. ↑ MTV News Staff (August 4, 2006). "For The Record: Quick News On Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, Kevin Federline, Rob Zombie & More". Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  16. ↑ Droid at Discogs
  17. ↑ Dance Gavin Dance at Discogs
  18. ↑ Harris, Chris (July 17, 2008). "Norma Jean Snare Chino Moreno For Guest Spot; Plus Amon Amarth, Every Time I Die & More News That Rules, In Metal File". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  19. ↑ Harris, Chris (March 31, 2010). "Whitechapel, 'A New Era of Corruption' — New Album". Noisecreep. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Deftones' Chino Moreno to Play Inside an Icelandic Volcano for 20 Lucky Fans". Billboard. June 14, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  21. ↑ Kaufman, Spencer (February 12, 2019). "Deftones' Chino Moreno scores music for Hulu's Into the Dark horror series". Consequence. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  22. ↑ Dunn, Sam (2010). "DEFTONES' Chino Moreno on vocal influences and nu metal | Raw & Uncut". Bangertv.com (video). Toronto: Banger Films (published June 27, 2017). Event occurs at 1:08-1:17 and 2:39-3:52. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  23. ↑ Madden, Emma (December 11, 2020). "Deftones Talk 'Ohms' Album of the Year Nod, 'Black Stallion,' Fave Music of 2020". Revolver. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  24. ↑ Deftones Frontman Chino Moreno Recommends Five Non-Metal Albums for Metalheads. Archived August 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Revolver. June 15, 2011.
  25. ↑ Bakers Dozen: Deftones' Chino Moreno Chooses His Top 13 Albums. The Quietus. November 23, 2010.
  26. 1 2 Spin. August 1998.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[ full citation needed ]
  27. ↑ "Artist". Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  28. ↑ "DEFTONESWORLD.com – It's all about the deftones". Deftonesworld.com. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Bassnectar – Hexes feat. Chino Moreno". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  30. ↑ "- YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Caroline Polachek – "Hit Me Where It Hurts (Toro y Moi Remix)" (Feat. Chino Moreno)". December 9, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Trippie Redd – GERONIMO ft. Chino Moreno (Official Visualizer)". February 18, 2021. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  33. ↑ "Polyphia – Bloodbath (feat. Chino Moreno) (Visualizer)". October 27, 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  34. ↑ "Limp Bizkit: Counterfeit (Version 2)". IMDb .
  35. 1 2 Sciarretto, Amy (March 11, 2012). "Deftones Singer Chino Moreno Marries". Loudwire . Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Deftones play hometown show in Bend". June 29, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Deftones' Chino Moreno Talks On His Early Clashes With Hardcore Kids, Unreleased Palms Material & Madonna Gifting Him A Naked Poster". September 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.