Chino Moreno
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
- Jun 22
- 4 min read
He does not an extravagant personality and his appearance is very modest and normal but he is a talented vocalist, musician and part of a great band!!
= Born Camillo Wong Moreno on June 20, 1973, in Sacramento, California. He grew up in the multicultural working-class neighborhood of Oak Park, the youngest of three children in a household rooted in Mexican and Chinese heritage.
= His father was a Mexican immigrant and his mother of Mexican-Chinese descent. The nickname “Chino” (Spanish slang for "Chinese") was given to him early on due to his appearance and stuck through school and beyond.
= As a child, he was quiet, artistic, and introverted. He became interested in drawing and skateboarding, often channeling his energy into creative and physical outlets.
= Music became a major influence during his adolescence. He was exposed to a diverse mix of genres at home, including Latin music, soul, and funk, but it was the 1980s new wave, post-punk, and metal scenes that captivated him — particularly artists like Depeche Mode, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Iron Maiden.
= During his early teenage years at C. K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento, he met Stephen Carpenter and Abe Cunningham, who shared his passion for music, skateboarding, and boundary-pushing sound. They bonded over bands like Faith No More, Bad Brains, and Duran Duran.
= Despite not having formal vocal training, Moreno began experimenting with singing and screaming styles while jamming with friends in garages and local rehearsal spaces.
= In 1988, at just 15 years old, he co-founded "Deftones" with Stephen Carpenter and Abe Cunningham. The band began playing backyard parties, skateparks, and small venues around Sacramento, gradually developing their heavy, groove-driven, and emotionally charged sound.
= Known for his versatile vocal style, Moreno blends screaming, whispering, and melodic singing — often within the same song — creating a unique emotional texture that helped shape the identity of "Deftones".
= Debuted with "Deftones" on their first album, "Adrenaline" (1995), a raw and intense record that set them apart from the nu-metal movement, despite often being grouped with it.
= He reached critical acclaim with "Deftones"' third album "White Pony" (2000), which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy Award for "Elite". This record marked a shift toward a more atmospheric and experimental sound, heavily influenced by Moreno’s expanding musical palette.
= Chino contributed significantly to the band’s songwriting and lyrical themes, often revolving around love, loss, fantasy, violence, and emotional introspection. His abstract and poetic lyrics became a defining element of "Deftones"' identity.
= Deftones issued nine albums to this day: "Adrenaline" (1995), "Around the Fur" (1997),"White Pony" (2000), "Deftones" (2003), "Saturday Night Wrist" (2006), "Diamond Eyes" (2010), "Koi No Yokan" (2012), "Gore" (2016) and "Ohms" (2020).
= He played a major role in "Deftones"' musical evolution, from the heavy alt-metal riffs in "Around the Fur" (1997), to the ambient beauty of "Saturday Night Wrist" (2006), to the layered sophistication of "Ohms" (2020), which charted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.
= Besides his main band he founded several high-profile side projects:
"Team Sleep" – A dream-pop and shoegaze-influenced collective blending ambient rock with downtempo electronica. Their debut album was released in 2005 to critical praise, featuring guest musicians like Mary Timony and Mike Patton.
"Crosses (†††)" – Formed in 2011 with guitarist Shaun Lopez and Chuck Doom, the project fuses synth-pop, darkwave, and trip-hop. Their self-titled debut (2014) and follow-up "Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete." (2024) earned acclaim for their brooding, cinematic soundscapes.
"Palms" – A post-metal supergroup with members of "ISIS" (the band), known for expansive, atmospheric compositions. Their debut album (2013) received strong reviews from the alternative and metal press.
= Collaborated with artists such as Trent Reznor, Tech N9ne, Mike Shinoda, and Deadmau5, showcasing his ability to adapt across genres from industrial to hip hop to EDM.
= He also have guest appearances include contributions to songs by Sevendust, Lamb of God, Far, Dance Gavin Dance, Phantogram, Polyphia, and others — often adding his signature melodic aggression or ambient textures.
= Beyond music, Moreno has expressed interest in graphic design and visual arts, often contributing to album concepts and aesthetics. He was involved in curating the visual direction for both "White Pony" and "Koi No Yokan".
= Has made rare but impactful appearances in documentaries and interviews discussing mental health, identity, and the emotional weight of artistic expression — topics that deeply resonate through his lyrics.
= Known for being media-shy and private, but has gradually become more engaged in fan interaction through curated setlists, vinyl releases, and exclusive merchandise drops for "Deftones" and "Crosses".
= Despite early vocal strain and personal struggles, Moreno has matured into a more disciplined performer, often prioritizing vocal longevity and subtlety in later works with "Deftones".
= He is regarded as one of the most innovative vocalists in modern rock and metal, influencing artists across genres with his genre-blurring vision and emotionally intense performances.
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