Tuning up for Deftones

They were supposed to perform in Bangkok back in 2011 but a last-minute cancellation of Grammy-winning alternative band Deftones’ concert so annoyed some Thai fans that they took out their anger on the venue, smashing tables and chairs and damaging Thunder Dome’s glass wall.

Now the California-based band is on its way to Thailand via Australia for a gig next Thursday at Centrepoint Studio and the promoter, Rock Entertainment, is waving off about doubts about bringing the rockers back to this country.

“It was a chance in a million that the last concert was cancelled and that occurred due to a mishap in communications rather than recklessness. I knew the concert promoter and I know he’s not a reckless guy. He’s such a fan of Deftones that he even named his company, ‘Engine 9, after a Deftones’ song. He was far more hurt than the fans. I think he was just unlucky,” says Nonthadej “Tao” Buranasithiporn of Rock Entertainment, chatting with The Nation before the recent press conference at Rock Pub.

“It is a high-risk live concert but I’ve made every effort to make it less risky. Right now, I’m more worried about ticket sales, as I’ve been receiving emails from fans asking about the certainty of this upcoming concert. Last time, the tickets sold quickly so I’m hoping it will be that way again.

“It should be a good show too as I believe Deftones have prepared a extensive song list that will include a few tracks from their latest album, ‘Koi no Yokan’.”

Tao, who used to play with Outro, first heard the band after they released their second album, “Around the Fur” in 1997.

“I particularly liked their songwriting. Chino Moreno is a great guy with a terrific voice. Deftones sound ferocious but beautiful,” says Tao.

Several local rockers turned out for the press conference, among them Ebola members, vocalist Kittisak “Ae” Buapan, guitarists Wannit “Golf” Puntrikapa and Surapong “Oe” Buapan, bassist Chawalit “A” Prasongsin and drummer Pongpan Pothinimit, Sweet Mullet’s guitarist Pranat “Pap” Thamkosit and Bodyslam’s drummer Suchuch “Chad” Chaneed. None of them performed, however, handing over the responsibility for the music to Rock Academy.

“I’ve known Deftones since I started playing in the mid-1990s. The first track of theirs I listened to was ‘7 Words’ off ‘Adrenaline’. They had a strange sound, very different from heavy metal at that time. Deftones have no guitar solo and Chino’s voice is semi-rap and semi-shout. I’ve never seen them live though I have watched a video of their ‘Live in Hawaii’ concert,” says Kittisak, who formed Ebola in 1996.

“After that, I bought more of their albums and ‘Adrenaline’ and ‘Around the Fur’ are still favourite plays,” adds the vocalist who like Moreno, worked at Tower Records while studying at university.

“I love his songwriting style. I read in an magazine that he embraces what he feels and puts it into lyrics. He does that on the band’s latest album, ‘Koi No Yokan’, too expressing his feelings about his friend and the band’s former bassist Chi Cheng, who had been in a coma since a car accident in 2008 and died just last month.”

The band, who also features guitarist Stephen Carpenter, keyboardist and turntable player Frank Delgado, drummer Abe Cunningham and bassist Sergio Vega, are also playing in Singapore and Indonesia as part of the world tour.

       

 

Keep that beat

<< “Deftones Live in Bangkok” takes place at Centrepoint Studio in Soi Lasalle on Thursday.

<< The show starts at 8pm.

<< Tickets cost Bt2,000 at Thai Ticket Major outlets. Call (02) 262 3456 or buy online at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and www.TheRockPub-Bangkok.com.