Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Deftones surprised fans at their Dia De Los Deftones festival on November 7 by bringing material from their long-shelved album “Eros” back into the live set. The group reportedly performed “Melanie”, a song associated with the 2008 sessions, marking an exceptionally rare return for the track.
The band had been working on “Eros” when bassist Chi Cheng was seriously injured in a car accident in 2008. The album was subsequently shelved, and the group moved on to record “Diamond Eyes”, released in 2010.
The distinction matters because Deftones previously performed another “Eros” song, “Smile”, at their festival in 2019. The latest performance is therefore a return of a different piece of the unreleased project, rather than the first live appearance of any “Eros” material since 2008.
Cheng died in 2013, and the album has never received an official full release. Its unfinished history has made songs from the sessions especially significant to longtime listeners.
The festival appearance once again highlights the lasting interest in “Eros” and the band’s willingness to occasionally revisit a difficult chapter of its history. No official release plans for the shelved album have been announced.
Setlist:
Deftones is an American alternative metal ensemble established in Sacramento, California, in 1988. The founding members included frontman Chino Moreno, lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter, and drummer Abe Cunningham, while bassist Chi Cheng and keyboardist/turntablist Frank Delgado joined the collective in 1990 and 1999, respectively.
Following the stabilization of their lineup in 1994, Deftones secured a recording contract with Maverick Records and subsequently released their inaugural album, “Adrenaline”, in 1995. Extensive touring and organic promotion contributed to the development of a loyal fanbase for the band.
Their sophomore album, “Around the Fur”, released in 1997, achieved platinum certification in the United States. The band further advanced their acclaim with their third album,” White Pony”, released in 2000, which signified a shift from their earlier, more aggressive style to a more experimental approach; the track “Elite” was awarded the Grammy for Best Metal Performance.
