Deftones frontman Chino Moreno has definitively addressed the fate of the band’s unreleased sixth album “Eros,” stating it will likely never be completed, in a recent interview with The Guardian.
The album was abandoned after bassist Chi Cheng was left comatose following a car crash in 2008. Cheng later died from complications in 2013. When asked directly about whether the record would ever see release, Moreno provided a clear response.
“We’re always asked about ‘Eros.’ It will most likely never see the light of day,” Moreno said. “That would involve going back to that period and resurrecting unfinished things, and somehow bringing them to completion. ‘Dallas’ is the only song that was anywhere near finished.”
The singer explained the band’s current creative philosophy, which focuses on capturing present moments rather than revisiting past work.
“This new album started with ideas we’d been working on alone, through the pandemic. And when we got together to actually start making the record, none of us wanted to look back at those ideas from the pandemic – we wanted to capture the moment we’re in today,” he continued. “So going back to try to capture what was happening back during ‘Eros,’ and finishing those ideas, doesn’t really make sense.”
The tragic circumstances surrounding the “Eros” album remain deeply connected to Chi Cheng’s devastating accident and its lasting impact on the band.
Wikipedia reported that Cheng’s accident occurred when the vehicle flipped multiple times after colliding with another car traveling at 60 mph in Santa Clara, California. Cheng was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car. He remained in a coma for several years. His sister, who was wearing a seatbelt, sustained only minor injuries.
Chi Cheng was not only known as the Deftones’ bassist but also as a poet and spoken word artist. Khoolood noted that he released an anthology titled *The Bamboo Parachute* with proceeds supporting charities and music programs for youth, showcasing his commitment to artistic expression beyond music.
After Cheng’s accident, the band faced the difficult task of continuing without their longtime bassist. Wikipedia documented that Deftones enlisted Sergio Vega, formerly of Quicksand, as a live and then full-time replacement bassist to help the band move forward during this challenging period.
The decision to shelve “Eros” represents more than just creative differences. It reflects the band’s inability to separate the unfinished work from the trauma of losing their friend and bandmate. The album remains a painful reminder of what might have been. Only fragments like “Dallas” serve as glimpses into that lost creative period.
The comments come ahead of Deftones’ upcoming 10th album, “Private Music.”
