Deftones Perform Unreleased 'Eros' Track 'Melanie' Live for First Time Since 2008
The band surprised fans at their Dia De Los Deftones festival with a rare song.
1Unexpected Setlist Addition
During their headline set at the seventh annual Dia De Los Deftones festival in San Diego, the band performed the rare track 'Melanie'. This song, originally written for the shelved 2008 album 'Eros', had not been played live for nearly two decades. Frontman Chino Moreno remarked to the crowd that the song does not exist.
2Context of the 'Eros' Album
The album 'Eros' was in production during 2008 when bassist Chi Cheng suffered a severe car accident. Following his injury and subsequent semi-comatose state, the band halted the project to focus on a new direction. They eventually released 'Diamond Eyes' in 2010 with Sergio Vega, while 'Eros' remained permanently shelved by the group.
3Legacy of Chi Cheng
Chi Cheng remained in a medical facility for several years before passing away in 2013. The 'Eros' project became deeply associated with this tragic period in the band's history. In 2014, the band released the track 'Smile' to honor the one-year anniversary of his death, which remains the only officially released song from those sessions.
4Recent Online Leaks
The surprise performance follows reports from outlets like Stereogum and The PRP regarding an online leak of the unreleased 'Eros' album earlier this summer. These leaked files reportedly included various demos, potentially influencing the band's decision to reintroduce 'Melanie' into their live repertoire after such a long hiatus from the public stage.
5Potential for Future Completion
Chino Moreno previously expressed openness to finishing 'Eros' as an experimental project. He noted in 2020 that the material was roughly halfway complete but fragmented. Completing the record would require writing new lyrics for decade-old compositions, a process Moreno described as emotionally complex given the history tied to the unfinished studio recordings.
6Festival Curation and Scope
The Dia De Los Deftones festival at Petco Park featured a diverse lineup including The Neighbourhood, AFI, and Converge. The event serves as a curated showcase for the band, blending various musical genres with art installations and local vendors. This year marked the seventh installment of the annual event, which continues to grow in scale.
7Recent Band Activity
Deftones released their 10th studio album, 'Private Music', in the summer of 2025. The record received significant critical acclaim, including a five-star rating from NME, and was named one of their top albums of 2025. The single 'Milk Of The Madonna' also achieved recognition as a standout track from the band's recent creative output.
8Significance of the Performance
Reintroducing 'Melanie' serves as a rare bridge between the band's past and their current trajectory. By acknowledging a song that technically does not exist in their official discography, the band highlights the enduring mystery of the 'Eros' era. Fans continue to speculate whether this performance signals a shift in the band's archival strategy.