Deftones have officially parted ways with bassist Sergio Vega. Vega confirmed the news with a video statement, saying, “I didn’t want to have to make a video about this, but after the recent band photo posted on Deftones‘, Spotify, I feel the need to clear the air. I’m not very good at this. So I wrote out a statement and I will read it to you now.”
Vega went on to talk about his friendship with the Deftones, which goes back to 1995. After working with the band off and on for years he had asked repeatedly about becoming a permanant member.
He explained, “I had worked with the band for 12 years, and at the start of every album cycle, I asked about becoming an official member, but the contract would be improved instead. COVID was a breaking point for a lot of people. And I started to question my place In the band, and the future that I wanted for my career. I really started to need something stable, because at that point, my contract with them was canceled. One day I got a call from the guys about an internal band situation, and they asked me if I was solid, and that I would have to fly out to LA to help work it out. Right away.”
He continued, “I said, Of course, I was all in, and we can handle my situation later. But I can’t go back to my old contract. Our respective management had a conversation to discuss a new contract, and they offered me the same deal. At that point. It was clear there was no opportunity for growth for me. So I declined the offer. And then I call the guys immediately to see where the miscommunication was to resolve it. But there was no response.”
He added, “A couple of days later, I received an email from their lawyer that their offer was withdrawn, and that they wished me the best. So I left the band in early last year, and since then, I’ve been focused on my band Quicksand, as well as working as a producer and writer for other artists and projects. And I’m mentioning this because there was some speculation about me selling my gear and quitting music altogether.”