Chino Moreno performing on stage with Deftones
Music

Deftones Revive Rare Track 'Risk' Live for First Time in 15 Years at European Tour Opener

Chino Moreno and company kicked off their European run in Vienna with a 21-song setlist featuring a long-lost emotional favorite.

By Nina BrooksPublished Updated 2 min read

Deftones just launched their latest European tour with an unexpected tear-jerker for their most dedicated followers. Frontman Chino Moreno and the Sacramento alternative metal legends took over the METAStadt stage in Vienna on August 16, offering up a packed 21-song set list that catered to every era of their storied career. Yet the true shock of the evening arrived when the group pulled out a deeply emotional track that had been completely absent from their live shows for fifteen years. During the high-voltage opener, which featured an opening set by hardcore outfit Show Me The Body, the band launched into "Risk." The performance marked the very first time Deftones have played the song in front of a live audience since 2011. Videos captured by ecstatic concertgoers quickly began circulating online, showing the crowd reacting to the long-awaited resurrection of the fan-favorite track.

Deftones setlist tour summer 2026 The band's opening night performance in Austria balanced classic anthems with brand-new material. While long-time fans cheered for career staples like "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)," "Feiticeira," and "Swerve City," the group also dedicated significant setlist space to their recent studio effort, *Private Music*. Audiences witnessed live debuts and rare performances of several new cuts, including "My Mind Is A Mountain," "Locked Club," "Infinite Source," and "Milk Of The Madonna."

Chino Moreno performing on stage with Deftones
Chino Moreno performing on stage with Deftones

Meaning behind Deftones song Risk The revival of "Risk" carries a profound history that resonates heavily with the band's community. Featured on the iconic 2010 record *Diamond Eyes*, the composition was crafted during a dark period for the group following a devastating 2008 car crash that left founding bassist Chi Cheng in a coma. Cheng fought for years before sadly passing away in April 2013 at 42 years old. Moreno has frequently cited "Risk" as one of the most emotionally charged pieces of music the group has ever recorded. Reintroducing the solemn track into their current stage routine honors Cheng's legacy while cementing the bond Deftones share with multiple generations of fans who continue to flock to their international dates. With their summer European run officially underway, excitement is building over what other long-lost gems the band might dust off next. If their opening night in Vienna is any indication, audiences on this tour can expect a setlist filled with raw energy, heavy nostalgia, and deeply personal highlights.

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People also ask

When did Deftones last play Risk live before 2026?
Deftones last performed 'Risk' live in 2011 before bringing it back for their tour kickoff in Vienna.
What is the meaning behind the Deftones song Risk?
The song was written for their 2010 album Diamond Eyes following the 2008 car crash that put late bassist Chi Cheng into a coma.