Today, we think of Deftones as world-weary art-metallers who perform music that sounds like a magenta dream sequence. But we all had to start somewhere, and for these boys from Sacramento, it was playing funk metal that bordered on reggae. Now, a new video has surfaced of one of the band’s earliest shows in 1992, and it’s a testament to how far Deftones have come.
It’s hard to figure out what’s most startling about this video from a cable access show in ’92, discovered and posted by DeftonesLive — the music, or how young frontman Chino Moreno looks.
The former illustrates how interesting and perhaps a little bizarre alternative metal was during its infancy, with bands not simply incorporating Red Hot Chili Peppers bass lines but also trying to bring in entirely new genres of music.
That said, hearing lyrics about ‘the most high’ from this sweet, gangly version of Chino is juuuust adorable, which isn’t always the word that comes to mind when listening to Deftones, so that might win.
Check out Deftones performing “Answers” on cable access TV in 1992 below:
While they might not play “Answers,” Deftones will be touring America with Gojira and Poppy later this year, so catch them live at one of the following dates:
Deftones/Gojira 2021 Tour Dates:
August 12 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory
August 14 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
August 15 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
August 17 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion
August 19 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ RBC Echo Beach
August 20 – Laval, QC, Canada @ Place Bell
August 21 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
August 23 – Boston, MA @ Agganis Arena
August 24 – New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
August 27 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia
August 28 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Summerstage
August 29 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem
August 31 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Petersen Events Center, University of Pittsburgh
September 2 – Indianapolis, IN @ Amphitheater at White River State Park
September 3 – Nashville, TN @ Nashville Municipal Auditorium
September 4 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
September 6 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
September 7 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
September 8 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
September 10 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
September 11 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheatre
September 14 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre
September 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
September 18 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
September 21 – Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater
September 22 – Portland, OR @ Theatre of the Clouds at Moda Center
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Words by Chris Krovatin
