by Deftones frontman Chino Moreno recently addressed the issue of female fans facing misogyny for their love of the band. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Louder Sound.
When asked about female Deftones fans experiencing sexist attacks on social media, Moreno offered his perspective on the broader issue of music gatekeeping and the band’s evolution.
“Yeah, I can see that. I think shaming anybody for what they like is kind of ridiculous, right? Honestly, I listened to everything in high school and hung out with everybody,” Moreno said. “I hung out with the goth kids, and with the jocks.”
The vocalist reflected on how his diverse musical influences shaped Deftones’ sound. He contrasted his approach with traditional metal expectations.
“There were different cliques, but I think the segregation started to break down, and I felt like, musically, I followed that. Stephen, back then, would write the majority of the music. And he was a straight metalhead, right? So right away the music was put into a heavy category,” he continued. “And I tried to scream along, and do whatever I could do to fit. But that’s not what came to me naturally. Naturally, I wanted to weave melody into that somehow. I think obviously Deftones is Deftones at this point, but still to this day, what is that?”
Moreno’s comments come at a time when Deftones has experienced a significant resurgence among younger audiences. This resurgence has been particularly driven through social media platforms that have introduced the band to new generations of fans.
The band’s renewed popularity has been largely driven by social media exposure. The PRP reported that Moreno has witnessed this phenomenon firsthand through his own family connections. The frontman noted how his daughter’s friends began showing interest in the band. This highlights the cross-generational appeal that has helped sustain Deftones’ relevance decades into their career.
“My daughter’s friends started showing interest in our band,” Moreno observed. He linked this renewed attention partly to social media platforms like TikTok.
This digital renaissance has contributed to what Biz Sherbert describes as a nationwide growth in alternative music scenes. The platform has brought fresh audiences to Deftones. Many younger fans are attending their first concerts after discovering the band through social media exposure.
The band’s ability to attract diverse audiences aligns with Moreno’s long-standing philosophy of musical inclusivity. This has helped Deftones maintain their position as influential figures in the nu metal revival and contemporary alternative music landscape.
