Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter recently opened up about his struggle with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes and how it affected the creation of the band’s latest album. He detailed this in an interview with Premier Guitar.
Carpenter explained how his undiagnosed condition impacted both his physical well-being and the band’s creative process during the making of their record “Private Music.”
“I had no clue what I was going through. I’d just been so out of it for the past four or five years – all the things that go with poor diet and poor exercise, that’s what I experienced,” Carpenter said. “During the whole writing process, I was just tired, but I was not connecting how I felt to what I was doing.”
The guitarist described how his condition worsened during the recording process. This created significant physical challenges.
“When we went in to start tracking the music, thankfully, we got all of our scratch tracks done, because shortly after that, something had got me all messed up,” he continued. “Like, every day, I was just shy of crying from pain that was in my right arm. I couldn’t even move it.”
Carpenter managed to complete his guitar parts once his condition improved slightly. He did this despite the difficulties.
“I did what I could to just take care of myself – at least, as best as I understood what I was going through. And thankfully, when it was time to actually track my guitar parts, my body was feeling better, and I was able to physically do what I had to do,” he said.
Carpenter reflected on his approach to dealing with the unknown health issues at the time.
“I just thought it was old-man life shit. I was self-medicating, hoping I was doing the right thing, and always hoping things would get better so I wouldn’t have to do any of that,” he explained. “But unfortunately, you can only kick a can so far down the road before you run out of road.”
The guitarist expressed gratitude for finally receiving a proper diagnosis and for his bandmates’ support throughout the difficult period.
“Type 2 diabetes was affecting me on a number of levels for a long time, and I’m grateful to have that information now and be able to deal with it,” Carpenter said. “I’m also really grateful to everyone else in the band – their positive energy really carried me through that period of time, and really carried us through the making of the album.”
Carpenter’s health struggles occurred during the creation of what would become a significant milestone for the Sacramento-based band. The album represents another chapter in Deftones’ extensive discography, which has spanned over three decades since their formation.
Oreate AI reported that “Private Music” marks Deftones’ 10th studio album, released on August 22, 2025, via Reprise Records. The album features 11 tracks that showcase the band’s continued evolution while maintaining their signature atmospheric sound that has defined their career.
The release includes notable singles that helped build anticipation for the full album. Music industry sources indicated that the lead single “My Mind Is a Mountain” was released on July 10, 2025, followed by “Milk of the Madonna.” Both singles demonstrated the band’s ability to blend heavy and melodic elements despite the challenging circumstances surrounding the recording process.
Deftones’ journey to their 10th album has been marked by consistent innovation and resilience. Wikipedia documented that the band has maintained their core lineup through various challenges over the years, with Carpenter being a founding member alongside vocalist Chino Moreno. Their ability to support each other through personal difficulties, as evidenced by Carpenter’s recent health battle, reflects the strong bond that has kept the band together through decades of musical evolution.
The completion of “Private Music” under such challenging circumstances adds another layer to Deftones’ reputation for perseverance. Rockfreaks.net confirmed the album’s release through Reprise Records. This highlights how the band managed to deliver a complete artistic statement despite the physical and emotional toll of Carpenter’s undiagnosed condition during the creative process.
