1997 Rock Album Climbs the Charts Nearly 30 Years Later

The 1997 album Around the Fur by alternative metal band Deftones is still getting love from fans. 29 years following its release, the record secured the 43rd spot on Billboard's Top Rock & Alternative Albums during the week of May 23, 2026.

In a 2018 interview with Revolver, Deftones' singer Chino Moreno and guitaristStephen Carpenter discussed making their 1997 record.

Moreno shared that Around the Fur is his "favorite record." He explained that after the surprising success of his and his bandmates' first album, 1995's Adrenaline, they were given "a chance to make a second record [Around the Fur] on a major label." Moreno said the band made a point to differentiate themselves "from all [their] peers on that record," making Around the Fur an influential album for the new metal genre.

"It really like opened up from being what was then new metal or whatever the new genre was," said the musician, now 52, in the 2018 interview.

In addition, Moreno said that the process of creating and recording the album "was a great experience." He also shared that he was experiencing intense emotions during his early 20s, which is evident throughout the record.

"I was probably angrier than I've ever been in my life, but I was probably happier than ever in my life. On every emotion was like the pinnacle of all those emotions, and that record was very dynamic for those reasons. That some of the saddest parts on that record are really sad. Some of the angry parts on the record hurts," said Moreno while speaking to Revolver.

Chino Moreno & Stephen Carpenter Opened up About the Band's Dynamic

During the Revolver interview, Moreno said that he believed the dynamic of Deftones, which also included Abe Cunningham, Frank Delgado, and the late Chi Cheng, who died in 2013 at 42, couldn't be replicated.

"I was very confident knowing that what each one of us had to offer, individually and together collectively, couldn't be f--ked with. There wasn't another Stephen, there wasn't another me, there wasn't another Abe. We were all actually really good friends, having this moment in time," said Moreno in the 2018 interview.

Carpenter shared similar comments about the band's genuine and sometimes passionate friendships.

"The music is actually a side effect of all of our friendships. I mean, that's just what we do as friends when we all get together, hang out, that's what we do. If we're writing music, most of the time in our session is us just hanging out. I mean, we'll jam here and there, get into a couple of arguments, smoke some weed, drink some drinks, jam some more," said the guitarist to Revolver.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 8:48 PM.