DEFTONES SHELF 'EROS', ARE BEING WEIRD

Deftones bassist Chi Cheng remains unable to perform following critical injuries sustained in a car crash in November. Meanwhile, the band has carefully and slowly played a few dates with Sergio formerly of Quicksand. That's all old news but what sent my bowtie spinning is a report that Eros, uncompleted at the time of the accident, will not be the sixth Deftones record. Via Blabbermouth:

The songs recorded for Eros are very special to us as they are the latest with Chi (and we certainly hope not the last); they have history and significant meaning to us. However, as we neared completion on Eros, we realized that this record doesn't best encompass and represent who we are currently as people and as musicians. We collectively made the decision that we needed to take a new approach, and with Chi's condition heavy on our minds while doing so.

[We decided to return] to the studio to do what we felt was right artistically. Our inspiration and unity as a band is stronger than it has ever been before and we needed to channel that energy into our music, and deliver to our fans what you rightly deserve: the best Deftones record that we can make. The decision to hold off on releasing Eros has no connection with Chi's condition or anything associated. This was, and is, purely a creative decision by the band to write, record, and deliver an amazing product. As a result, we feel like this [?? - ed.] is the best record we've ever written. And although Chi is not playing bass with us, his presence is dramatically felt in our hearts and on our minds every day when we step into that studio, and you will feel it in the music.

This is so weird. The emphasis in this statement is placed on three points: 1) Eros'sesses non-release is unconnected to Cheng's injury; 2) the 'unity' and 'inspiration' is now 'stronger' than ever -- despite Cheng's absence; 3) the band plans to record and release their 'best record' -- again without contributions from Cheng. I've been wall-staring for an eternity and the most-positive scenario I can come up with is that they want to write to and for Cheng a brand new album that will stir him to recovery. That or I guess the band feels Eros reeks and simply must not be released. Maybe they're gunshy after the ill-executed self-titled album in 2003 and brilliant Saturday Night Wrist. Weirrrrd.

SAVE CHI

Ok I'm not trying to be Captain Bringdown but the latest Chi Cheng news sucks. The Deftones bassist/great interviewee has been in a coma for a while now but after suffering a dangerous infection late in April, things were looking up on the 17th. Though as of Wednesday, he's again in bad shape. according to a distressing plea at OneLoveForChi.com:

Send out healing etc to our brother Chi... Another day of the episodes that they can not find the source of. He is in ICU again. Please…. find what it is this time… Chi we are praying for you.

According to OneLoveForChi.com, 97% of their goal $50,000 has been raised for Chi's bills. Health insurance crapped out after around 90 days, so he needs it. The way I see it is that I'm pretty sure that if I bumped into Chi, I'd buy him $40 worth of drinks/joints/dinner in no time. So it's a no-brainer. PETA's supposedly donating 20% of Chi T-shirts proceeds and the Korn guys and Slipknot's Jim Root are doing a charity song. Save Chi. 

OH FUCK **SUPER OH FUCK UPDATE**

It is reported today that Deftones bassist/awesome dude Chi Cheng is in a coma. Fuuuuck. From Billboard: 

Frontman Chino Moreno confirmed Cheng's condition but declined to give further details. "I don't know everything that's going on -- I just know it's very serious," Moreno told the Sacramento Bee, adding that he was on his way to a San Jose hospital to be with Cheng's family. The accident was confirmed by Warner Bros. Records, who said Cheng was in "serious but stable condition" but did not provide specifics.

And Chino's statement on Deftones In Studio blog:

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. 

UPDATE: According to HardDrive Radio, Deftones bassist Chi Cheng is still in a coma in a San Jose, California, hospital following a car crash in nearby Santa Clara on Monday (November 3). The auto accident occurred as he and his sister (who was driving) were leaving their older brother's memorial service.

BRANDI C. AVENGED TWOFOLD

If there's one lesson to take away from VH1's I Love Money, it's Karma Is A Bitch. To wit: Last week, my dear sweet rollergirls Brandi C. and Mmmmegan found themselves in the crosshairs of Pumkin (above left) and Toastee, those treacherous toads. And I'm here to say that Brandi C.'s retaliation was pure masterstroke: Between jags of adorable blubbering, a plan was hatched to cut losses and fix the rat finks for good. So, at elimination, Brandi cut short the proceedings with a heart-rending resignation, saving Megan from certain doom. By this time, P + T's dirty dealings had been exposed; Toastee was thrust into Brandi C.'s vacated spot and then eliminated. This week, that revolting slag Pumkin followed. And Megan remains. 

Sure, we miss Brandi C. But her defeat is overshadowed by the brilliant kamikaze maneuver that saved Megan and then some. We can never repay her but as a token of our appreciation, we throw the HooM! Horns all off up in Brandi's scene. It may not be much, but it's something; likewise, if your life is a bucket of shit at the moment, Metal has placed atop it a pretty flower (via Blabbermouth commenter defsteve) in form of a radtastic full show bootleg of Deftones' surprise show Thursday at Spaceland in Silver Lake. This band is very, very hungry and ArtistDirect reviewer Rick Florino struggles to contain himself. Download here and rock in tribute to Brandi C.!

SPEND FIVE, SIX NIGHTS WITH DEFTONES

Hot off their, what, third masterpiece, Sacramento's Deftones are already popping up around the interslice to talk up their forthcoming sixth album, Eros. There is very little to dislike about the quintet, though frontman Chino Moreno's um antics may be a start. So the guy's a world-class shit talker. So what. His targets are deserving and hey, drugs make you catty and chatty. Let's see you pound a boulder of meth, endure a package tour playing before both Linkin Park and Metallica, and keep a smile on your rosy fucking cheeks. Maybe I'm being charitable because Deftones rule; whatever the case, Moreno was punished so let's focus on getting excited about his band's 20th (huh??) year. Moreno tells Rock Sound:

We’re trying to plan something where we’ll play five or six nights in a couple of cities; each night will be dedicated to one of our records and we will play it in its entirety. That would be special for us and a special anniversary thing for the fans, so we’ll see what happens. It’s definitely a party, and also a celebration of all the work we’ve done over the years.

TERRY DATE: KING OF METAL PRODUCERS?

This won't be the last time I nut all over a producer, but Terry Date is awesome. I mean, c'mon:

• Overkill -- The Years of Decay, Horrorscope
• Dredg -- Catch Without Arms
• Pantera -- Cowboys From Hell, Vulgar Display of Power
• Soundgarden -- Badmotorfinger
• 24-7 Spyz -- Strength In Numbers
• Metal Church -- Blessing In Disguise

Unimpressed by the above list? Well, retard, go fuck yourself because you are stupid, you stupid fucking retard. While Date is renowned as one of earth's best and most versatile sound engineers, it's HooM!'s opinion that no producer draws better performances out of bands. Or hides deficiencies as well, like a Hubie Brown (above) of loud rock production. Plus, we're not even including the four brilliant Deftones records helmed by Date*. And things are proceeding nicely on production of the quintet's forthcoming sixth album Eros. From Blabbermouth:

Deftones drummer Abe Cunningham: "We're almost finished tracking our record up here at The Spot and we'll head up to Terry's studio in Seattle next month to add the final touches and begin mixing. We're all excited about how this record is taking shape, and can't wait to share it with all of you!"

* For 2006's Saturday Night Wrist, Deftones enlisted Bob Ezrin, who was on a nice run as well with Jane's Addiction's Strays and Army Of Anyone's debut