Rock News – Nov 5th 2008

Chi Cheng, bassist for Sacramento-based rock band Deftones, has been hospitalised for injuries resulting from a serious car accident which occurred on Monday, November 3. Cheng is currently under doctors supervision in an Intensive Care unit. He is in a serious but stable condition. Cheng’s mother urges everyone to say a prayer for his recovery. No further details about Chi’s condition are available. Members of his band, Deftones, along with family and friends request privacy at this time.

Contributions from Queen guitarist Brian May have apparently been axed from Guns N’ Roses’ new album, Chinese Democracy. May recorded lead guitar parts for the track Catcher N’ The Rye way back in 1999. A leaked sleeve note suggests that his playing has been removed. When told of the news May responded: ‘Ah… well, I did not know this! Well, it is a shame, perhaps… I did put quite a lot of work in, and was proud of it. But I could understand if Axl wants to have an album which reflects the work of the members of the band as it is, right now. I do have mixes of the tracks with my guitar on, work tapes at the time, but they will remain private, out of respect for Axl.’

Swedish all-female band Crucified Barbara have posted their new single, Sex Action, on their MySpace page. The track comes off their second full-length album, Til Death Do Us Party, which is now scheduled for release in February 2009. The album was originally going to be out on November 19. You can check out Crucified Barbara’s brand new song (i.e. the aforementioned Sex Action) here.

Rumours of frontman Peter Gabriel reuniting with Genesis have resurfaced now that the band have a new box set, Genesis: 1970-1975, to promote. Gabriel was the first to propose the idea of reuniting Genesis in 2004 when he wanted to do a handful of performances of the 1974 concept piece The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. He later backed off that idea in order to concentrate on a solo album, but it did lead to keyboardist Tony Banks, singer/drummer Phil Collins and bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford reuniting for a tour in 2007. ‘We’ve never said never about it,’ Banks told Billboard.com. ‘I know Phil would be quite happy with the idea of just playing the drums; it would be quite fun for him. Mike and I are certainly happy to do it. I know Steve [Hackett] is keen as well. I think it’d be down to Peter more than anyone else.’

As Led Zeppelin continue their search for a new singer (apparently), former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell is the latest name to enter the frame. However, Cornell said he’s surprised at recent rumours that he’s been asked to deputise for Robert Plant. ‘I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn’t to say I won’t be,’ Cornell told MTV. ‘I’ve heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it’s just an online rumour or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss tour.’ (We assume that’s a joke of some kind.) Regardless of whether Cornell receives that Zep phone call, he might have too much on his plate. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo album, Scream, will be released soon, and he plans on touring to promote it.

(Via Classic Rock.)