DEFTONES’ Chino Moreno Reflects On ‘Around The Fur’: “It’s One Of My Favorites — If Not My Favorite Record — Of Ours”

Deftones frontman Chino Moreno recently spoke with Revolver in a wide-ranging new interview covering the band’s latest album ‘private music,‘ their TikTok resurgence, his ongoing sobriety, and creative evolution. While not the main topic, Moreno also shared his enduring affection for the band’s classic 1997 album ‘Around The Fur.‘

Moreno explained how the quick recording process and Seattle setting helped shape that record’s lasting energy:

“There’s something special about each thing. With ‘Around The Fur’, that was written and recorded in Seattle at Studio Litho, which is Stone [Gossard] from Pearl Jam’s studio. We did that really quick. There was something about catching lightning in a bottle with that record. Still to this day, it’s one of my favorites — if not my favorite record — of ours. It’s this unbridled energy that we captured in that moment. That record definitely stood the test of time. And I love it for that.”

He went on to contrast those early sessions with the more fluid creative approach the band now embraces:

“I think we’re a little spoiled now. We all like to be home, so being in one place for four months would probably not be the most comfortable thing for any of us. At the age we are now, even touring, we try not to tour over a month at a time until we take a break. But as far as being in different places, I think there’s something neat about that, too. Some of the songs on the new record were literally inspired by a morning swim on Zuma Beach [in Malibu].

I came back from swimming and sat down with my guitar and came up with the song ‘i think about you all the time’. It was literally just a moment in time that wouldn’t have happened if I would’ve been locked away in a studio somewhere else, perhaps. The Joshua Tree sessions, I feel like those songs capture us being in the desert in July, hot as shit. I think every place helped shape the songs and gives the album a little bit more dynamic ebb and flow.”

Moreno also revealed that he originally wanted to title the band’s 2003 self-titled album ‘Lovers,’ but that idea was shot down by guitarist Stephen Carpenter.

“I never feel comfortable just naming the album myself, or naming the batch of songs. I’m always really self-conscious about it because there’ve been times where I’ve suggested a title to an album and no one liked it. The [2003] self-titled record I wanted to call ‘Lovers‘. And Stephen [Carpenter] was like, ‘No way. That’s the dumbest name I ever heard.’ I ran out of ideas and we needed a name. So we just ended up with self-titled.”

Moreno later used that name for the “Hexagram” single b-side, ensuring the title still found a place in the band’s catalog.

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