The Story of Deftones’ Iconic Cover Art: An Accident That Became a Legend

Deftones are once again tearing through algorithms, playlists, and sold-out arenas. But long before TikTok, viral nostalgia, and the so-called "'90s revival," there was one image that spoke clearly: Around the Fur was never meant to be an album for everyone. And it certainly wasn't meant to be polite.

The cover of Deftones' second album from 1997 — a fish-eye close-up of a woman in a hot tub — became one of the boldest and most memorable visuals of the entire alt-metal era. No stylization. No marketing strategy. Just a raw moment captured at exactly the right time.

Photographer Rick Kosick arrived in Seattle to meet the band while Deftones were recording at Studio Litho. The young band was in full "live now, worry tomorrow" mode. The night ended in a rented apartment, with drinking, partying… and a bubbling hot tub in the corner. Lisa Hughes. Two photos. That was it.

No one had any idea a visual legend was being born.

When art director Kevin Reagan saw the photo, the decision was immediate. The image was slightly uncomfortable, slightly provocative — but most importantly, it perfectly reflected the music on the record: suffocating, sensual, charged with tension. Reagan barely touched the photo. No retouching, no "beautifying." Around the Fur wasn't meant to be pretty. It was meant to be real.

Lisa Hughes only learned about the image's iconic status later on. She had gotten to the apartment through friends and didn't even know who Deftones were at the time. She wasn't a groupie, as some later assumed. Just a girl at a party, holding a drink called "Silk Panties" — incidentally, the very same drink visible on the cover.

The photo is slightly erotic, slightly chaotic, deeply human. It has scratches, imperfections, and the energy of the moment. And that's exactly why it has survived for decades. While many album covers have aged, Around the Fur still feels restless — just like the music it guards.

Today, as Deftones rise to prominence once again, this image serves as a reminder of a time when metal wasn't an algorithm or a brand. It was a feeling. Chaos. Sweat. Intimacy. And a hint of danger.

And that's exactly what Around the Fur still carries today.