Deftones frontman Chino Moreno recently opened up about his decision to embrace sobriety and how it has transformed his relationship with performing. He shared these insights in a new interview on Deftones’ YouTube channel with Zane Lowe of Apple Music.
The vocalist discussed how the pandemic period led him to reconsider his approach to life and music. He ultimately chose sobriety as something he had never tried before.
“Going through all that [pandemic period], and then coming out of it and then, just realizing that I want to do something, try something different, right?” Moreno said. “And then, realize [sobriety] was something I’d never tried before… I felt like I woke up. And then, really the way I think, with the shows [and] writing and everything. When I started writing again, it was just like, everything is a lot clearer.”
Moreno reflected on his previous relationship with alcohol and performing. He revealed a troubling pattern he had developed over the years.
“And funny enough — not funny — but when I would play shows, I would have fun playing the show,” he continued. “Before the show, [I’d have] a drink, a beer, a shot, whatever, and go on stage, you know, to get to feel like I need that to get out there and be loose and be silly and have fun, whatever.”
The singer then shared a particularly revealing insight about his inability to watch his own performances. This became a turning point in his self-awareness.
“But I would never watch… I would never be able to watch any live performance of myself,” Moreno explained. “And if one would come on, I would just cringe, and I couldn’t look at it. And that clicked [with] me all of a sudden, I was like, ‘why can’t I even watch myself?’ And it really made me understand I was just not really happy with myself. I knew I could do better. I knew there was a better version [myself.]”
Moreno concluded by describing how sobriety has enhanced his connection to the music and his performances.
“I just feel like more present, and I feel more inside the music, you know what I mean?” he said. “I’m not doling it, you know I mean? It’s just, it’s a lot more. I don’t know I can’t explain exactly what it is but it’s awesome, and it’s fun.”
Moreno’s candid discussion about sobriety reflects a significant personal transformation. This transformation has deep roots in his past struggles with substance abuse throughout Deftones’ career.
Louder Sound documented that Moreno has previously battled with heavy drug use, particularly during the recording of Deftones’ 2006 album Saturday Night Wrist. The vocalist described this period as “a seriously unhealthy experience” where he wasn’t sure if he was going to return to the band. This highlighted the severity of his substance abuse issues at the time.
The recording sessions for Saturday Night Wrist were particularly challenging for the band. Deftones World reported that Moreno’s drug problems created significant tension within the group. His struggles with cocaine and other substances during this era nearly led to his departure from the band he helped found. This demonstrated how addiction had begun to overshadow his musical career.
Beyond his substance abuse struggles, Moreno has also explored various creative outlets throughout his career that reflect his evolving artistry. Stereogum noted that he has been involved in side projects including the electronic-tinged group Crosses. This allowed him different musical expressions outside of Deftones’ heavier sound.
These past experiences provide crucial context for understanding the significance of Moreno’s current sobriety journey. His ability to recognize and address his relationship with substances, combined with his renewed clarity in both performance and songwriting, represents a major milestone in both his personal life and artistic development. The interview reveals how this transformation has not only improved his stage presence but also enhanced his creative process with Deftones.
