Deftones tour dates and recording resume as Chi Cheng continues recovery

While bassist Chi Cheng continues his long recovery from a late November car accident, his bandmates in alternative metal band Deftones are now trying to resume touring and recording in his absence.

The group returned to the concert circuit this year with an April 5 performance at Bamboozle Left in Irvine, CA. The Deftones are following that performance with more time in the studio and an August tour of several major European festivals. Full details of the Deftones’ itinerary are listed below.

“Chi always wanted to keep working and never slow down, which is why we feel confident in returning to the stage at Bamboozle in April,” the Deftones explained on their official blog. “Chi would want it, and we want to make sure we’re keeping his legacy alive.”

Mexican musician Sergio Vega is filling in for Cheng for live performances and studio sessions. With Vega’s participation, Deftones plan to release their sixth studio album, “Eros,” in October 2009. The group had been working on new material for the record up until a November 2008 car accident left Cheng in a coma.

In the months since the late fall accident, Cheng’s recovery has been slow. At the end of the year, he was transferred from the hospital ICU to a brain rehabilitation center, but went back to ICU later due to complications arising from an infection.

“Our fallen comrade has not made significant progress as of late, but continues to fight on from his accident,” wrote Cheng’s bandmates in their statement. “Doctors are working feverishly to return our brother to us, and we continue to hold out hope and faith that Chi returns to the life he has waiting for him and can join us on stage once again.”

Friends and family post regular updates on the bassist’s health on OneLoveforChi.com, a site they created in March to raise money for Cheng’s on-going care and medical expenses. According to an early update on the site, Cheng’s health insurance stopped paying for his care after the first month-and-a-half of his hospitalization.

Deftones itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)