During a recent Rig Rundown interview with Youtube’s Premier Guitar channel, Deftones guitarist Stephen “Stef” Carpenter offered a candid look at the band’s creative process and his own journey over the past few years.
Chino Takes the Riff Spotlight
Stef didn’t hold back in praising Chino Moreno’s influence on the upcoming record. “On this record, Chino really came and showed up with the riffs,” Stef shared, noting that many of the core guitar parts sprang from the singer’s ideas. Rather than being surprised, Stef sounded energized: “Good on him, man… I’m stoked and proud and he inspires me right now.”
That admiration highlights a creative chemistry that continues to evolve more than two decades into the band’s career. Chino’s hands-on approach with the guitar brought a fresh spark to the sessions, and Stef made it clear that the entire group fed off that momentum.
Facing a Health Wake-Up Call
In a strikingly personal moment, Stef revealed he has been living with diabetes for years—longer than he realized. Only recently did he fully accept the diagnosis and begin actively managing it. “Otherwise I’m going to die from it, and I don’t want to die from it,” he said, adding that he now feels compassion for anyone grappling with similar challenges.
The honesty was disarming and powerful. Stef explained that the condition had been quietly deteriorating his health, but this year he committed to taking control. That decision, he admitted, reshaped his perspective on life and the urgency of self-care.
Fuel for the New Era
Despite the struggle, Stef sounded motivated and grateful. He credited his bandmates—and especially the collaborative surge around Chino’s riffs—for reigniting his creative fire. The upcoming album, in Stef’s words, is a testament to resilience and shared inspiration inside the Deftones camp.
