Deftones Bassist Chi Cheng Passes Away
In 2008–the night that Barack Obama was elected president–Chi Cheng, bass player for the Deftones, was in a car accident with another vehicle. The crash sent his car rolling and Cheng wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and thrown from the car. His sister (his passenger) was wearing her seatbelt only sustained minor injuries.
Cheng wasn’t so lucky.
Cheng went into a coma and stayed that way until 2009 where he reached a semi-conscious state and his condition seemed to be improving little by little every year since until last night (by this year he had started being able to move his legs on command). Chi’s mother posted this on One Love For Chi (the website Chi’s family and friend set up for updates on his condition and to help raise money for his medical bills)
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 emergency room and at 3 am 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 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)
More information will be available at One Love For Chi.
This is really sad news. The last time Deftones played in Melbourne with Chi some friends of mine had entry to back stage and said Chi made time to hang out and was quite funny and seemed very genuine and down to earth – which actually makes him much more of a real 'Rockstar' in my books.