Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno |
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Chino Moreno (born Camillo Wong Moreno June 20, 1973) is an American musician. He is the lead singer and guitarist in Deftones and Team Sleep.
Biography
Moreno was born in Sacramento, California to a Mexican father and a Mexican/Irish/Native American/Chinese mother;[1] the latter being the origin of his Spanish nickname Chino, which means "Chinese" in Spanish. He was the third of five children. Deftones were quite close with Dana Wells, the stepson of Max Cavalera of Sepultura and Soulfly, and when he died, Chino was one of the pallbearers at his funeral.
In relation to his often ambiguous yet image-heavy poetic lyrics, Moreno quotes: "[Sometimes] my lyrics don't deal with specific topics. I write down on paper the feelings of the moment, it's not easy to explain the contents of the lyrics or give a logical sense to the words. What I write is also a reaction to the music we make, so the Deftones' sound is not pop, it doesn't communicate happy feelings. Paradoxically my favorite songs of the album talk about love, in a clearly different view."[1] Despite this, Chino has been known to write songs about social issues such as racism, prostitution, urban violence, and drugs. However, even these songs can be rather vague and cryptic.
Vocal Damage
In 2001 Moreno developed a throat injury and was forced to miss at least four shows. He suffered inflammation on his right vocal cord and partial paralysis of the left vocal cord. During the rest of their supporting tour, Chi Cheng took over vocal duties that required screaming while Chino sang the softer melodies of the lyrics, despite recommendations by doctors to hold off from singing to allow time for recovery as well as rumors that the band would be cancelling the remaining stretch of the tour with Godsmack and Puddle of Mudd. [2]
Music
During the making of Deftones' White Pony, Chino began work on a side project, Team Sleep. Chino's influences include such bands as The Cure, Bad Brains, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, Duran Duran, The Smashing Pumpkins, Depeche Mode, Glassjaw, Helmet, Ugly Kid Joe, Jawbox, Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Hum, Kool Keith, and Weezer, and claims that Deftones' 2006 album, Saturday Night Wrist, is more of a compromise between all of the members' influences, ranging from their brutal and brooding heavy signature seen on Adrenaline and Around the Fur to the more experimental sound heard on White Pony and Deftones. Chino recently worked with post-hardcore band Norma Jean, on their album The Anti Mother. Chino has also worked with the band Dance Gavin Dance in the song titled "Caviar."
With Deftones especially, he typically writes lyrics in second person.
Equipment
Guitars
- Gibson 1961 SG
- Fender Mustang
- Fender Jaguar
- ESP Viper 301
- Epiphone G-400
Amplifiers & Cabinets
- Orange Music Electronic Company KT88 180watt Amplifier
- Orange Music Electronic Company 4x12 Cabinets
- Marshall 1960B 4x12 Cabinet
- ISP Technologies Vector SL 600 watt 15" Guitar Subwoofer cabinets
Effects
- Boss CE5 Chorus
- Boss DD6 Delay
- Range of other Boss effect pedals.
Microphones
- Shure SM58 Microphone
Collaborations
- "Wicked" - Ice Cube cover from Life Is Peachy by Korn (1996)
- "Will To Die" - from In This Defiance by Strife (1997)
- "First Commandment" - from Soulfly by Soulfly (1998)
- "Bender" - from Home by Sevendust, credited as "Pony One" (1999)
- "(Rock) Superstar" - from Skull and Bones by Cypress Hill (2000)
- "Danger Girl" - from Tried + True by Tinfed (2000)
- "Pain" - from Primitive by Soulfly (2000)
- "Things!" - from Hesher by Hesher (2001)
- "The Hours" - from White People by Handsome Boy Modeling School (2004)
- "Red Sky" - Thrice (appeared during the band's live set at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas in 2005 [1]
- "Paralytic" and "Crashing Down" - from Vices by Dead Poetic (2006)
- "Zombie Eaters" - Faith No More cover from The Undercover Sessions by Ill Niño (2006)
- "Rock for Light" - from Family Compilation Vol. 3 by Bad Brains (2006)
- "A Day In The Life Of A Poolshark (remix)" - from A Day In The Life Of A Poolshark by Idiot Pilot (2006)
- "Fistful of Nothing" - Runs Astray by Atomic Six (2007)
- "Vengeance is Mine" - from Droid by Droid (2007)
- "Wall" - from HAKAI by Wagdug Futuristic Unity (2008)
- "Caviar" - from Dance Gavin Dance (album) by Dance Gavin Dance (2008)
- "Surrender Your Sons..." - from The Anti Mother by Norma Jean (2008)
Chino also featured in the low-budget video for the song "Carpe Diem" by fellow Sacramento hardcore act Will Haven. In 2007, he had produced their album The Hierophant.
Discography
With Deftones
With Team Sleep
- Team Sleep (2005, Maverick Records)
References
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External links
- 1973 births
- 1980s singers
- 1990s singers
- 2000s singers
- 2010s singers
- American heavy metal singers
- American rock singers
- Nu metal singers
- American male singers
- American songwriters
- American singers
- Irish Americans
- Mexican Americans
- Chinese Americans
- Americans of Native American descent
- Living people
- Musicians from California
- People from Sacramento, California
- Deftones members