Deftones Vocalist Chino Moreno Reacts To Fans Finding Him At His First-Ever Concert, Praises Depeche Mode & Duran Duran

Deftones frontman Chino Moreno is the latest guest to appear on NPR’s World Cafe, where the influential vocalist and guitarist reflected on his musical upbringing, the band’s tenth studio album ‘private music’, and the artists who shaped his creative path.

Among the most striking moments of the conversation was Moreno revisiting the first live concert he ever attended — an experience that would prove deeply formative. At just 16 years old, Moreno found himself front row for Depeche Mode during their World Violation Tour stop in Sacramento, CA.

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That July 22, 1990 performance at the Cal Expo Amphitheatre recently resurfaced online after fans astonishingly located footage showing a teenage Moreno standing along the barrier. The rediscovered images prompted Moreno to reflect on how impactful that night truly was.

Chino (16) at Depeche Mode concert 1990
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“I just remember it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen,” Moreno recalled.
“I’d already loved Depeche Mode… I think I was in sixth grade when I got my first Depeche Mode cassette, and it was the album ‘Speak & Spell’, which is still probably one of my favorite Depeche Mode records.”

Moreno explained that the Violator era marked a turning point for the band, as Depeche Mode transitioned into mainstream radio rotation — a stark contrast from the underground appeal they held when he first discovered them through his older sister.

“I felt very privileged to be listening to music that nobody at school was listening to,” he said.
“They’re from England and it’s so far away — especially when you’re that age, that seems like a world away.”

The irony of that concert being his first live show isn’t lost on Moreno, especially given Deftones’ later connection to Depeche Mode. In 1998, the band covered “To Have And To Hold” for the tribute album ‘For The Masses’.

Moreno’s admiration for influential new wave acts didn’t stop there. During the same interview, he once again praised Duran Duran — another band he has repeatedly cited as a major inspiration. Deftones have previously covered “The Chauffeur” and “Night Boat”, further cementing that influence.

Speaking on Duran Duran vocalist Simon Le Bon, Moreno highlighted the abstract lyricism and cinematic imagery that captivated him as a kid.

“I would read his lyrics and they were so abstract, but there was a lot of imagery in them,” Moreno explained.
“I didn’t need to know what he was singing about… I just thought it was awesome how he painted these pictures.”

Moreno also addressed the perception that Duran Duran were unfairly dismissed in the 1980s due to their image.

“They got a bad rap… because they were considered a boy band,” he said.
“But musically they were, and still are, very talented. Simon’s melodies and lyrics were always captivating to me.”

When discussing why Deftones chose to cover “The Chauffeur” during the Around The Fur sessions, Moreno admitted the decision felt intentionally unexpected.

“It was probably so odd for us to choose a song like that to cover,” he said.
“I thought no one would expect this, so let’s try it… we pulled it off.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Moreno touched on more recent material from ‘private music’, including the track “Ecdysis”. While the term refers to the shedding of skin, Moreno said the title ultimately took on a metaphorical meaning tied to environmental reflection.

“The lyrics were written during the L.A. fires,” he explained.
“It was more or less just observing what I see in the world… the planet repairing itself in a way.”

The discussion also acknowledged Deftones’ continued rise in popularity. In 2025, the band officially crossed into arena-headlining territory, with a growing multigenerational fanbase discovering their catalog.

According to Moreno, that longevity comes from deliberate choices made decades ago.

“We always tried to do things a little left of center,” he said.
“I just wanted us to stand on our own two feet… and continue to have our own identity apart from what was then nü-metal.”

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