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Date Posted: 10:25:30 08/10/03 Sun
Author: FlashCard
Subject: My Story at The Deftones Video Shoot

I wanted to share my feelings and thoughts of my short lil’ time at The Deftones Video Shoot on August 8th, 2003 I received notice last week of the video shoot; however, there were no details as of yet on the location or time. I felt excited about knowing that there is that one chance I have to, not see this band live, but to meet a band “live”. I found out two later of the location in Simi Valley and I made sure of making the shoot. I drove close to two hours and found myself in the middle of nowhere at a skate park in Simi Valley. I walked up to the window and I asked “where is the Deftones video shoot” … the guy looked at me and said “to your right”. I walked around the corner and sure enough there was close to 1,000 people standing on the side of the building in nearly 100-degree weather. I sat in the sun with everyone for close to two hours, meeting people and fussing about getting inside since it was so damn hot!! We finally got inside the skate park around 4:15pm and I couldn’t believe what was happening. I ran inside (I was about the 100th person that went inside, not bad for showing up later than those standing in line for 5 hours). I looked and I saw the Deftones equipment just sitting in the middle of the skate park (drums, pa, bass amp, guitar amp). There were fans starting to swarm around the equipment when the security began to escort everyone to make a large circle around the equipment. I was stuck behind two of the largest people I have ever seen, I had started to think my luck had run out. After about 30 minutes, all of the fans had been placed around the equipment and the excitement was way intense. As for myself, I was standing about 3 feet behind the drummer. I got a very good look at his set-up (his drum set-up is the *ish). The Director of the video shoot introduced himself and went over some simple instructions to follow. Then I saw him wave his hand in the air looking towards an open door near the side of the building. Then I heard a bunch of screaming starting to unfold. It was the Deftones walking in. They shook every single hand as they came through, taking pictures, signing autographs, having small chat with people as they walked through the sea of the crowd. I could not believe my eyes… the entire group was standing less than 10 feet from me. Chino walked by and I said “your new album is the shit, I can’t wait for the next one”. He looked at me with sincere appreciation and said “thanks bro”. I got some small chat with the keyboard/sample player, he was cool, but I think he was wasted. Then came Abe, little did I know he I and would be chatting the whole entire day. He is the drummer of the band. My impression of him was totally wrong. I thought he was the quite one in the band, the one that is always silent. But was I wrong. He came up and sat on his drum set, looked back at me and the people near me and said “What the fuck is up!”. He had a mixed drink (I think he said Gatorade and Vodka). The bass player had a cigarette and a Coors light. After about 10 minutes of “meet and greet” the band got this determined look on their faces. The Director called out to the engineer for the first take of the video. There were very few instructions for the crowd so they said “rolling” and all of a sudden, I heard the loudest sound system in the entire fucking world. I’ve been playing music in bands my whole life, I’ve heard some sick ass sound systems in my days, etc. But this shit was loud!! Like I could not even talk to the person next to me loud, Like you couldn’t even hear the fans yelling loud. That’s why I think it was at such a high volume, was so that the band can hear what they are playing against. So the first take starts, the song is “Hexagram”, the first song off their latest album. The song in the video starts off with a simple guitar riff that is anticipating in a way. As the song is beginning the band starts this unusual “swarming” appeal where they are moving around like they are getting ready to bat the 9th inning. Then, “BOOM” the whole band comes in, and Chino went ape shit. He unloaded every bit of energy into his unique movement, cultivating vocal presence, and all that he brings to the table. This was better than a live show, cuzz they didn’t have to forfeit any of their stage/video presence because of trying to play the song live. On the first take, it was too funny but I’ll try my best to explain. The crowd (un-properly trained at first) started closing the circle that was formed around the band. So two minutes into the first take, the whole crowd swarmed around the band squeezing the gap between the band and the cameramen. The funniest part is that the Director and cameramen were enjoying the chaos. By the end of the first take, the band and crew were laughing because the crowd was going so crazy that they forget to give the band room to shoot the video. After the take, the escorted everyone back about 15 feet to their original spots to shoot again, while explaining to everyone in the front to stay were they are and told everyone in the back to not push forward. After the first take, I made my way up to the front and noticed that I was standing right with the band. It was too good to be true, honestly. A band that has in so many ways inspired my style just as Prince/NPG, P-Funk, and many others inspired my friends New Roll Soul. Just as Biggie and many others have inspired my good friend Sol-t, The Deftones have been a main source of inspiration for many years and it was just too good to be true. It wasn’t like seeing just another band. I was seeing a band that has brought everything to the table. They have shoved every critics words down their own throats by releasing relentless albums, that if you give enough time to – just as the band does, you will see true imagination and creativity at work. Ok, where was I. We had made it through the first set of takes (3 takes). And the Director had called for a 5-minute break. The band came back about 10 minutes later, again, ready for action. It was like they loved it so much that they didn’t want a break. The bass player Chang brought came back with a drink for some people to sip on. I took a sip and past that shit. They finally called out for the next take and the song began, and the crowd as well as the band was loose. Chino jumped onto a speaker and danced around like a maniac. He came up to the drum set, stood on the drumhead, and belted out the song. There was a moment where he looked directly at me when he was singing. I was way stoked. After another 3 takes the band took one more 15 minute break, and we were back to doing it one more time. On the last take, I asked Abe, the drummer, for a drumstick and he was unsure if he could since he only had two left to finish the video shoot. So I waited till the last take and before I could ask, he turned around and handed me his drumstick, then signed it for me. I gave the drumstick to Saj, my drummer, as a gift. I felt like since he couln’t make it to the video shoot, it was the least I could for a band that brings him the same inspiration. This was event the drumstick he used in the video!! It was even the drumstick in his right hand!! LOL. So that’s how my story with The Deftones ends, a day I will never forget.

-Nick

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