Guitarist Stephen Carpenter once again did not perform with his Deftones bandmates during the group’s live show yesterday, August 17th. His continued absence has sparked some concern from fans, as Carpenter also missed a pair of shows at the start of this month in Chicago, IL. At the time, the band cited a “sudden illness” as the reason for him not taking part.
Carpenter once again missing yesterday’s show, which was held at the Golden Gate Park Polo Field in San Francisco, CA, does not appear to have been explained by the alternative metal favorites. That concert was headlining by System Of A Down and also saw The Mars Volta and more perform.
Last month found Carpenter open up on his issues with anxiety and how they have impacted his touring with the band, primarily when it comes to overseas shows. That situation has snowballed somewhat since May of 2022, when he initially announced he would be sitting out international touring with the outfit
Last month found Carpenter discussing his continued struggles with anxiety and touring, telling Rock Feed.
“I’m sure you’re aware that I haven’t traveled internationally now for awhile… It’s just simple. I think, like every single one of us wrangles with getting on a plane in some way… And so for me, that anxiety, when it came around, it was was right around the time of when the pandemic started and I had already just made that decision.
And that was because we were getting ready to go on on a trip, we were going to travel to this far-off destination, and I was like, ‘Look, you know, if I got to go all that way and then get stuck out there and then they want to jab me with something. I was like, There’s no way I’m going to do that.’ I mean, that’s crazy. And so that didn’t happen.
I was just like my decision was simple. Like all the anxiety that I deal with when it comes to that, I was like, look, I can just put a stop to this by just not doing it anymore. And it’s like, I’m going to lose out. You know, it’s a bummer. I mean, obviously I want to go out there and I want to perform those shows and be around all the people that support us and enjoy us.
But I’m like, It’s a decision I made for myself, and there’s people that understand, and people that don’t understand. And for all those that don’t understand, maybe one day they will, I don’t know. Maybe they never will.”
Since scaling back his live commitments with the group, guitarist Lance Jackman has been brought in as the band’s touring guitarist/backing vocalist, filling in when necessary. As has been the case at recent live shows from the group, Shaun Lopez (Crosses, Far, etc.) also took part in the band’s set last night, guesting on additional guitar. The setlist for last night’s show ran as follows:
“Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)”
“My Own Summer (Shove It)”
“Tempest”
“Swerve City”
“Diamond Eyes”
“Digital Bath”
“Needles And Pins”
“Cherry Waves”
“Feiticeira”
“Lotion”
“Rosemary”
“Rocket Skates”
“Change (In The House Of Flies)”
“Genesis”
“7 Words”
However, while Carpenter‘s mental health struggles may have prevented him touring with the band on a full-time basis (he missed the group’s last five concerts, three of which were domestic shows), he remains actively involved in their creative output. Carpenter partook in the sessions for the group’s upcoming follow-up to 2020’s “Ohms“. Recording for that tenth studio album began winding down this past spring, with release details pending.
Fan-filmed footage from yesterday’s set can be found below:
