Chino Moreno
The haunting voice of Deftones who reshaped heavy music with atmospheric textures and introspective, poetic vulnerability.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American singer·Birthday: June 20·Generation X
Biography
Camillo 'Chino' Moreno didn't just front a band; he became the emotional core of a sound that defied categorization. Emerging from Sacramento in the late 1980s with Deftones, Moreno's approach was a revelation. Where metal was often about aggression, his vocals—a dynamic blend of whispered melody and visceral scream—conveyed a complex interior world. His lyrics, abstract and deeply personal, turned songs into landscapes of feeling. Beyond Deftones, his restless creativity fueled side projects like Team Sleep and Crosses, exploring dream-pop and electronic territories. Moreno's true impact lies in proving that heaviness could be as much about mood and vulnerability as it is about power, influencing countless artists who followed.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chino was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chino Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Chino's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As Deftones' frontman, helped craft landmark albums like 'White Pony,' which won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance.
- Pioneered a genre-blending sound that fused alternative metal with shoegaze and dream pop influences.
- Founded multiple successful side projects, including Crosses (†††) and Team Sleep, showcasing musical versatility.
Did You Know?
His stage name 'Chino' was given by friends due to his partially Chinese heritage (from his grandfather).
He is an avid fan of horror films and co-owned a Sacramento video rental store specializing in cult and horror movies.
Moreno collaborated with the electronic music producer DJ Shadow on the song 'Red Alert' in 1999.
“I've never considered us a metal band. We've always just been the Deftones.”
