Producer BOB EZRIN Says DEFTONES' Frontman Is 'Running Out On His Band'

In an interview with Canada's ChartAttack.com, DEFTONES and TEAM SLEEP frontman Chino Moreno talked about problems with legendary Canadian producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, JANE'S ADDICTION),who was behind the knobs for the DEFTONES' upcoming LP.

"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything, really," Moreno said in the article. "There were times when we really got along and I learned a lot of things from him but there were a lot of times when he's in his own world where he thinks he knows what's best and he doesn't know what's best, really. It just wasn't fun to do and it wasn't a fun record to make. The music turned out rad. It's just when you're making a record, especially when you're working on vocals, I've only worked with a couple of producers and most of the records I've done with Terry Date. The reason we chose Ezrin is because we wanted to do something different, but I learned that different isn't always good."

Responding to Moreno's remarks, Ezrin said in an interview with ChartAttack.com, "This didn't come out of the blue because he did it once before. When he was doing some press at the beginning of TEAM SLEEP people said, 'Have you finished the album yet?' He came out and said 'No I haven't and the reason why is because first we tried going to Connecticut to make the record and it was just a fucking drag. It was a terrible place and finally we've come back [to Sacramento] and it's all going to be better.'

"And I was furious with that because the reality is that everybody had a great time in Connecticut and stuff got done, except for Chino, who came unprepared, came late, missed days, didn't show up. So maybe from his point of view it was a shitty place to be, but that wasn't the fault of the venue, it was because he wasn't ready. I called him and I told him, 'Watch your mouth. Don't be saying stuff like that.'

"The other guys in the DEFTONES are patiently waiting for this album to get finished so they can get on with their lives and their careers. I think they're not happy about the fact that Chino went on the road with his side project before finishing his primary commitment.

"I hope that the TEAM SLEEP tour has inspired him and that he's ready to go back and finish the album — with whoever makes him comfortable. One way or the other, that album should be finished. It's great music and the fans of the band and the other members of the DEFTONES deserve it.

"To tell you the truth, I've never been through something like this before in the many, many years that I've been making records — I've never encountered anyone like Chino Moreno before," Ezrin told ChartAttack.com. "And to be clear, I really like him. I think he's a charming, talented, smart, well-intentioned and very artful guy, but he's got a problem with finishing things and he's a blamer. Basically, Chino's using me as an excuse for running out on his band and their album."