First off, sharing sad news is not the way anyone wants to start the week, but in case you haven’t heard, Deftones’ original bassist, Chi Cheng, lost his battle to recover from a devastating car accident suffered in November 2008. I had heard he was with a relative in the passenger seat of a car, not wearing his seat belt, when the accident happened after leaving a funeral service. After undergoing surgery to remove part of his brain, he remained in a coma, at times in a semi-comatose state. He battled bouts of pneumonia and other ailments, which he valiantly would recover from. He was in several facilities, including one here on the east coast in New Jersey. His Mom J. and family started the website: OneLoveForChi, where updates would be posted and donations are taken. She has released the following statetement regarding his passing:
“Our dearest family,
“This is the hardest thing to write to you. Your love and heart and devotion to Chi was unconditional and amazing. I know that you will always remember him as a giant of a man on stage with a heart for every one of you. He was taken to the emegency room and at 3 a.m. today his heart just suddenly stopped. He left this world with me singing songs he liked in his ear. He fought the good fight. You stood by him sending love daily. He knew that he was very loved and never alone. I will write more later. I will be going through the Oneloveforchi.com [charity web site made in dedication of his memory] and any other information may not be reliable. If you have any stories or messages to share, please send them to the Onelove site. Please hold Mae and Ming and the siblings, and especially Chi‘s son, Gabriel, in your prayers. It is so hard to let go. With great love and much respect, Mom J (and Chi).”
Chi was a good man, father, brother, and bandmate. He will never be forgotten. Many friends and acquaintances have posted messages @deftones and on the Deftones Facebook. Rest in peace, Chi. You fought the good fight. He was only 42….
On a lighter note, today is super busy in the hardDrive studios! Rob Zombie will be here! I watched his movie “The Lords of Salem” and listened to the new album, Venomous Rat Regenerator Vendor this weekend and enjoyed them both! Loved the fact that RADIO plays a big role in both! Will also have Queens of the Stone Age frontman Joshua Homme on the hotLine this afternoon! Listened to Like Clockwork over the weekend as well! Good stuff alll! Can’t wait to chat with both gentlemen today!…..Five Finger Death Punch will launch the first single off their new album in a couple of weeks. Can’t reveal any more, but it’s cool…..Gotta run! Gotta prepare for these interviews! More tomorrow!
