Chino Moreno performs with Deftones, the influential alternative-metal band formed in Sacramento, California. Moreno is the group’s lead vocalist and one of its primary lyricists.
Deftones began in Sacramento in the late 1980s, when Moreno, guitarist Stephen Carpenter, and drummer Abe Cunningham started playing together. Bassist Chi Cheng later completed the early classic lineup. The band released its debut album, Adrenaline, in 1995, helping establish its intense blend of heavy guitars, atmospheric textures, and dynamic vocals.
Although Deftones are often grouped with the late-1990s nu-metal movement, their music has consistently drawn from alternative rock, post-hardcore, shoegaze, and experimental metal. Albums such as Around the Fur, White Pony, and Diamond Eyes expanded their sound beyond a single genre. Moreno has also worked on side projects including Team Sleep, Crosses, and Palms, but Deftones remains his best-known band.