Sergio Vega (bassist)

Sergio Vega
Vega performing with Deftones at Zürich Openair in 2013
Background information
Born	August 25, 1970 (age 46)
Origin	The Bronx, New York City, United States
Genres	Post-hardcore, hardcore punk, alternative metal, post-metal, instrumental rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Bass
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Island, Polydor, Warner Bros., Reprise
Associated acts	Quicksand, Deftones

Sergio Vega (born August 25, 1970) is an American musician of Puerto Rican descent. He is the bassist of post-hardcore band Quicksand, which originated in New York City in 1990. In 1995, Quicksand disbanded, although they reunited again in 1997 to tour with Deftones. After this tour, the band desired to write a follow-up to their last album Manic Compression, although tensions between bandmates caused the band to split up again, until June 2012 when another reunion was announced. Vega began playing for Deftones, replacing Chi Cheng after Cheng was involved in a car accident which caused him to enter a semi-conscious state in November 2008 and led to his eventual death on April 13, 2013. With Deftones he released the albums Diamond Eyes (2010) and Koi No Yokan (2012), and worked on the band's eighth studio album, Gore, which was released on April 8, 2016.

In 1988 he became the bass player for a New York hardcore band Collapse which released a demo and contributed a track on the 1988 New Breed cassette compilation released by Freddy Alva of Wardance records. In 1989 Sergio Vega replaces Alan Peters (ex-Agnostic Front bassist) in the New York hardcore band Absolution... In 1990, Sergio Vega was instrumental in forming the new post-hardcore band Quicksand; at the time Vega was a prominent bassist of the genre. Quicksand released their debut album, Slip, on February 9, 1993. On January 1, 1995, Quicksand released their second, and final album, Manic Compression. Later that year, Quicksand disbanded, and Sergio Vega began to DJ around New York City and Japan. The band reunited briefly in 1997 and toured with Deftones the next year. After this tour, the band desired to write a followup to Manic Compression, although tensions between bandmates caused the band to split up permanently. In 1999, when Deftones bassist Chi Cheng was unable to perform onstage during a Deftones tour due to a toe surgery, Vega filled in for him on bass.

In addition to his career with Quicksand and Deftones, Vega has released solo material. He released his first solo EP entitled The Ray Martin Sessions through the indie record label grapeOS in 2000. Vega's solo work was more similar to The Beatles than his heavier, hardcore- and metal-based work in Quicksand and Deftones. The EP was well received by music critics, the success of The Ray Martin Sessions allowed Vega to tour the US and UK. He toured with Scott Winegard and Charlie Walker (later to become members of New End Original) as well as former Orange 9mm/Helmet guitarist Chris Traynor.