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After 15 Years, Deftones Bring Back "Risk" in Vienna to Honor Chi Cheng

Deftones kicked off their 2026 summer European tour in Vienna with a 21-song set, reviving "Risk" for the first time in 15 years — a track written for late bassist Chi Cheng that left fans especially moved.

After 15 Years, Deftones Bring Back "Risk" in Vienna to Honor Chi Cheng

Out of the 21 songs on the setlist, what really made fans hold their breath wasn't a new track — it was an old song that had vanished for 15 years. Deftones launched their 2026 summer European tour last night (August 16) at Vienna's METAStadt, with Show Me The Body opening. Midway through the set, the band brought back "Risk" — the first time they'd played it live since 2011.

"Risk" appears on 2010's Diamond Eyes, written while bassist Chi Cheng was in a coma following his 2008 car accident. Frontman Chino Moreno has described it as "one of the most moving, most heartfelt songs" the band has ever written. Cheng passed away in April 2013 at age 42. Bringing this song back to the stage after all these years carries an obvious weight.

The night's set spanned all eras of the band's career, also including four tracks from last year's album Private Music: "My Mind Is A Mountain," "Locked Club," "Infinite Source," and "Milk Of The Madonna." The encore closed out with "Cherry Waves," "My Own Summer (Shove It)," and "7 Words." Clips from the show have already surfaced on social media.

The tour continues on to Berlin, with stops at Cabaret Vert and Pukkelpop festivals along the way. On August 23, the band will headline the "Outbreak edition" of All Points East at London's Victoria Park, sharing the bill with IDLES, Amyl And The Sniffers, Interpol, and AFI. Before the month is out, Deftones will also play outdoor shows with IDLES in Dublin and Edinburgh.

The band has also confirmed they'll return to Petco Park in San Diego on November 7 for the seventh annual Dia De Los Deftones festival. Speaking to NME last year about the secret to the band's longevity, Moreno said: "At this stage, we can really look back and be grateful that we're still able to create, and that people still care." He added: "Generations of people are into what we do. When we get on stage and see new faces alongside familiar ones out there, it's really inspiring — I don't think any of us ever expected it to turn out this way."

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