Stephen Carpenter of Deftones has long been known for his controversial beliefs, including his views on flat Earth theories, 9/11, and atomic weaponry. However, in a recent interview with Rock Feed, he discussed a more relatable concern: his anxiety surrounding air travel, particularly in the context of the pandemic.
Carpenter revealed that his decision to stop touring internationally was partly driven by fears related to the pandemic. He mentioned a specific anxiety about being stuck abroad and being forced into lockdowns or medical interventions, which influenced his choice to avoid international travel. While he acknowledges that getting vaccinated might mitigate some of these fears, he chose to prioritize his mental health by limiting his travel.
“I’m sure you’re aware that I haven’t traveled internationally now for awhile… It’s just simple. I think, like every single one of us wrangles with getting on a plane in some way… And so for me, that anxiety, when it came around, it was was right around the time of when the pandemic started and I had already just made that decision.
“And that was because we were getting ready to go on on a trip, we were going to travel to this far-off destination, and I was like, ‘Look, you know, if I got to go all that way and then get stuck out there and then they want to jab me with something. I was like, There’s no way I’m going to do that.’ I mean, that’s crazy. And so that didn’t happen.
“I was just like my decision was simple. Like all the anxiety that I deal with when it comes to that, I was like, look, I can just put a stop to this by just not doing it anymore. And it’s like, I’m going to lose out. You know, it’s a bummer. I mean, obviously I want to go out there and I want to perform those shows and be around all the people that support us and enjoy us.
“But I’m like, It’s a decision I made for myself, and there’s people that understand, and people that don’t understand. And for all those that don’t understand, maybe one day they will, I don’t know. Maybe they never will.”
In the interview, Carpenter expressed his gratitude towards his bandmates for their support, noting that they understand his decision, even if it means missing out on performing internationally. He also mentioned his appreciation for Lance, who steps in for him during live performances. Despite the difficulties and the impact on his enjoyment of touring, Carpenter remains committed to his well-being and the band’s continued success.
Carpenter’s transparency about his anxiety and the steps he’s taking to manage it is commendable. It’s clear that he values both his mental health and the support of his band, hoping that one day he might feel comfortable enough to resume international tours.
“I always just fell asleep before takeoff. You know, it was actually takeoff, I would wake up, but then I would go right back to sleep. I was like, ‘Alright’, and just go back to sleep. That’s the easiest way for me to handle all this… But, yeah, I just think, like I said, for me, I was like, I can either keep feeling like this forever every time I do this, or I could just stop feeling like this and just not do it.
“And like I said, it’s not easy… I’m missing out on not getting to go and enjoy something that I used to enjoy all the time, and that was a tough, tough thing to deal with. But, you know, the other thing is, in, like you said, you know about the guys [his bandmates], they got my back. But they at the same time, they would love me there too. So that’s not the easiest thing. But I’m very grateful that we have our friend Lance, who actually steps in and does all my parts of the of the music.
“And I’m just very grateful that I have that to give for the other guys so they can go, because they want to keep going. So I was like, I don’t want to get in the way of that. That’s my number one reason. My number one reason was I literally can end all that anxiety by just not doing it. That was my number one reason. Number two is, the last thing I want to do is go to any place far-off, and then they’re just going to go into lockdown because they felt like it, and I become a refugee somewhere where I can’t even get back to my house.
“I was like, at minimum, in this country. I could walk myself home if I had to. It might take a long time, but I’m gonna get there.”
