Chino Moreno recently opened up about his Deftones bandmate Stephen Carpenter’s previously undisclosed health issues. He revealed how they affected the guitarist’s performance and behavior during writing sessions and live shows. The frontman shared these details in a conversation on the Broken Record Podcast.
Moreno described how Carpenter’s condition manifested during their work together. He noted significant changes in his bandmate’s energy and engagement levels.
“Honestly, it’s crazy. We all knew that something was going on with him at the time. He was very lethargic during the writing sessions where he was there; he was present, but he just seemed run down,” Moreno said. “We’d start working on stuff, and he’d kind of come in, and he just seemed very slow. We got in a couple of arguments, a couple times where I was, ‘Dude, what’s wrong with you? Do you, like, not want to be here?’ Then he would get mad at me and be like, ‘What are you talking about? How could you ask me if I want to be here? I’m here.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I know you’re here, but you don’t seem interested in what’s going on.'”
The situation became more apparent during a Coachella performance. Carpenter’s physical symptoms became impossible to ignore.
“We were playing Coachella, maybe a few months after one of those sessions, and we got off stage, and he just came up to all of us, and he was like, ‘You guys, I’m really sorry that I played so bad.’ And honestly, I didn’t really realize it. I noticed that he was a little sloppier than usual, but he’s like, ‘I was having a hard time standing up. My hand wasn’t responding to playing these songs.’ And so I was like, ‘You need to go figure out what’s going on with you,'” Moreno continued.
Moreno explained that Carpenter initially resisted seeking professional medical help. He preferred to self-diagnose his condition.
“He’s been one of those people who have always tried to self-diagnose himself. And I’m like, ‘Dude, no, you need to go to the doctor.’ So eventually he faced up, and he went, and then you just watched him change. Once he knew what was wrong with him, then he was like, ‘Okay,’ and then he started to figure out the tools to deal with it,” he said.
Moreno described symptoms including lethargy, difficulty standing, and problems with hand coordination. These were ultimately traced to a specific medical condition that had been affecting Carpenter for years.
The PRP reported that Carpenter was diagnosed with diabetes. He had been living with this condition for years without fully accepting it until recently. The diagnosis explained the physical deterioration that had been impacting his ability to record and perform with the band.
Deftones World noted that Carpenter experienced a significant period of health deterioration from the disease. This directly affected his motor functions and overall physical capabilities. The guitarist’s symptoms were consistent with complications from diabetes, a condition that can severely impact coordination and energy levels when left unmanaged.
Since receiving his diagnosis, Carpenter has committed to actively managing his diabetes to improve his quality of life and performance capabilities. The guitarist has been working with medical professionals to develop the proper tools and strategies to deal with his condition. This has allowed him to continue his career with Deftones.
The band has continued to move forward with their work. Carpenter’s improved health management has enabled him to participate more fully in recording and touring activities. His openness about the diagnosis has shed light on the challenges musicians face when dealing with chronic health conditions while maintaining demanding performance schedules.
