Chi Cheng, Bassist of Deftones, Injured in Car Accident

[Spitfire DSO]

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/arts/06arts-005.html?ref=arts

Deftones Bassist Injured in Car Crash


Compiled by DAVE ITZKOFF
Published: November 5, 2008
Chi Cheng, the bassist for the Sacramento hard-rock band Deftones, was injured on Monday in a car crash in Santa Clara, Calif., that has left him comatose, The Sacramento Bee reported. According to The Bee, the band’s lead singer, Chino Moreno, confirmed that Mr. Cheng, 38, had been injured but did not give specifics about the accident or Mr. Cheng’s condition. Deftones, which was founded in 1988, has released five studio albums, including 2000’s “White Pony,” which earned the band a Grammy Award for the song “Elite.” The group has been recording a new album, titled “Eros” (Warner Brothers) since April.

[Spitfire DSO]

Defective, I don't know about you, but my heart stopped when I read that.

[Spitfire DSO]

And from the Deftones blog, from their site:

"Chi

Hello everyone,

It deeply saddens me to inform you all that our brother Chi Cheng was involved in a terrible car accident last night. He is currently in a Northern California Hospital in serious, but stable condition. I am on my way up North right now to be by his side along with the rest of our band mates and family. Chi is one of the strongest people I know, and I'm praying that his strength will get him through this. Please say a prayer for him as well.

-chino "

[hot chief DSO]

That is just awful :(
I'll add him and his caregivers to my prayers <3

[BewareTheReaper]

.....wow.....i'm at a loss for words. that's horrible. i'm stunned.....and sad :mavsad:

[hot chief DSO]

This story is taken from Sacbee / Our Region

'Serious but stable,' Deftones' Chi Cheng remains in coma
rleibrock@sacbee.com
Published Thursday, Nov. 06, 2008

Deftones bassist Chi Cheng remains in a coma in a San Jose hospital today after a car accident in Santa Clara County on Monday.

According to an update posted by Deftones singer Chino Moreno on the band's blog today, Cheng's condition is "serious but stable."

"We, along with the entire Cheng family, would like to extend our gratitude to everyone that's said a prayer or sent out their positive thoughts to Chi," Moreno wrote.

"Your support means more than you know."

Details of the accident remain vague. A spokesman for Warner Brothers records, the Deftones label, declined to comment on Cheng's status.

Cheng, 38, was born in Stockton. He also is an accomplished poet, and in 2000, he released a CD of his poetry, "The Bamboo Parachute."

The Deftones formed in Sacramento in 1988 and released their debut album "Adrenaline" on Madonna's Maverick Records label in 1995. Since then, the hard rock band has sold millions of records. Its biggest-selling release was the 2000 album "White Pony," which sold more than 1 million copies, achieved platinum status and earned the band a Grammy Award for best metal performance for the song "Elite."

The band had been working on its sixth studio album, "Eros," set for a spring 2009 release.

Sacramento show promoter Jerry Perry, who has known Cheng and the rest of the members of the Deftones since the late 1980s when they started playing local clubs, called Cheng "the sweetest guy ... he's just the most unassuming rock star ever."

"Chi is just a very mellow guy -- a Buddhist poet," Perry said. "We just all love him, and I hope he's going to be OK.".

In his blog post, Moreno asked fans to pray for his friend -- and to buckle up.

"During his recovery process, Chi's mother has asked that each day we spread a little bit of good in his name," Moreno wrote. "Today, she has asked that you all remember to buckle your seat belts, and remind those you love to buckle up. By doing something so little in his name, you will be helping him find the strength to recover."

[hot chief DSO]

DEFTONES Bassist Still In Coma - Nov. 20, 2008
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=109303

The Pulse of Radio reports that DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng has not shown any further signs of coming out of his coma, according to a new post by his mother, Jeanne. Cheng was gravely injured in a November 3 car crash in northern California and remains unconscious and in the hospital. Although he showed some signs of response last week, Jeanne now wrote,
"Chi's condition remains the same — serious, but stable. He still lies in a coma, however his vitals (heart, lungs, and blood pressure) all exhibit very stable functions and doctors have begun removing much of the excess monitoring equipment. Chi remains strong in his fight to recover."

Cheng's mother has been posting at the DEFTONES' studio blog but will now start her own to keep fans updated on her son's progress, saying, "DEFTONES will continue to update you on Chi's condition when there's a significant change in his condition."

Cheng is 38 years old and is a poet as well as a musician. He released a CD of his poetry called "The Bamboo Parachute" in 2000.

Cheng has been a member of DEFTONES since its formation in 1988. The band released its debut disc, "Adrenaline", in 1995 and scored a platinum record with 2000's "White Pony".

The group has been recording its sixth album, "Eros", with a spring 2009 arrival in the works.

[Spitfire DSO]

:mavsad:

[hot chief DSO]

yeah, it doesn't look good :(
They also stopped releasing any details... I'm curious to know exactly what happened.

I hope he just needs this time for his body to recover and he comes out of it.