On April 13, 2013, Chi Cheng, bassist of DEFTONES, passed away at the age of forty-two after spending nearly five years in a semi-comatose state following a devastating car accident on November 4, 2008. Cheng's melodic bass lines were a cornerstone of DEFTONES' sound, providing the warm, atmospheric foundation beneath Chino Moreno's ethereal vocals and Stephen Carpenter's crushing guitar work. His playing on landmark albums like "White Pony" and "Around the Fur" helped establish DEFTONES as one of the most innovative and emotionally resonant heavy bands of their generation. The metal community had rallied around Cheng throughout his hospitalization, with benefit concerts and fundraisers demonstrating the deep connection fans felt to the gentle musician. His passing was mourned across the entire heavy music spectrum, and DEFTONES dedicated subsequent work to his memory, ensuring that Chi Cheng's contributions to their genre-defying sound would never be forgotten.
