DEFTONES - DEFTONES BASSIST 'RECOVERING WELL' AFTER CAR CRASH

DEFTONES BASSIST 'RECOVERING WELL' AFTER CAR CRASH

Chi Cheng, the bass player of US rock band the Deftones, is recovering well after a serious car accident last week (November 3rd).

The 38-year-old has been in a coma in an intensive care unit in California since the crash but is now said to be responding to treatment.

His band mate Chino Moreno said that Sunday saw "the first signs of [fans'] prayers in action".

"Chi was able to hear and respond to his father's request to move his lower lip," he wrote on the band's blog. "His father also administered a tendon reflex test, of which both legs responded with movement.

"Doctors continue to remain optimistic, and the energy at the hospital remains very positive."

Moreno also thanked the off duty EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) who helped Cheng after the crash.

"It was by the Grace of God that these three individuals happened to be travelling on the road with medical gear in tow at the time of the accident," he added.

"If not for them, the chances of Chi making to the hospital alive would have been poor."

Formed in the late 80s, the Deftones released their debut album Adrenaline through Madonna's Maverick Records in 1995.

They won a Grammy award in 2000 for the song Elite from their White Pony album and have recently been working on their sixth studio album Eros, scheduled for an April 2009 release.