Metal singers push their voices to the limit, often at the cost of their own health. Deftones’ frontman Chino Moreno learned this the hard way in 2001 when his relentless screaming led to a serious throat injury mid-tour.
The Injury That Changed Plans
It happened during Deftones’ co-headlining run with Godsmack and Puddle of Mudd. Moreno’s right vocal cord swelled up, while the left one lost mobility, making it nearly impossible for him to perform. The tour had kicked off on July 13 at the Gorge Amphitheatre and was set to wrap up on September 7 at Alltel Pavilion in Raleigh, but the injury threw a wrench into those plans.
Deftones had to cancel four shows, including one in their hometown of Sacramento. Doctors advised Moreno to stop singing altogether to prevent permanent damage, raising the possibility that the band might have to drop out of the tour entirely.
The Show Must Go On
Instead of bowing out, they found a workaround: bassist Chi Cheng took over screaming duties while Moreno focused on the softer, melodic parts. Moreno wasn’t just dealing with an immediate setback. So, his recovery came with strict lifestyle changes despite his solution to stay on tour. To avoid further damage, he had to work with a vocal coach and cut out smoking, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and caffeine.
More Health Issues Over The Years
This wasn’t the last time Moreno’s body took a hit on tour. In 2003, during a Chicago show, he suffered a groin injury so severe that blood pooled behind one of his testicles. Chi Cheng later told MTV.com that the pain was so intense Moreno couldn’t even stand for days, forcing the band to adjust their schedule.
Then, in 2017, he broke the top of his foot at Belgium’s Groezrock festival, leading to a canceled German show. Deftones assured fans it was a minor setback and aimed to continue the tour as planned, but ticket holders for the canceled show were refunded.
