Marraskuussa 2008 pahaan autokolariin joutunut Deftones-basisti Chi Cheng on menehtynyt 42-vuotiaana. Uutinen on jossain määrin yllättävä, sillä niin Deftonesin kuin Chengin perheenjäsentenkin mukaan muusikon toipuminen on ”toki ollut hidasta, mutta edistystä on kuitenkin tapahtunut koko ajan”.
Chengin sydän kuitenkin pysähtyi lauantaina aamupäivällä (Suomen aikaa) eikä tehohoitokaan enää pelastanut miestä.
Muusikon äiti on julkaissut seuraavan tiedotteen:
”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).”
Chengin muistolle: