White Noise: Metallica’s Hammett Selling Porsche, COB Guitarist Isn’t Superman, Deftones Bassist Improving

What a weekend! Restful, sun-soaked, and abounding with baseball, breakdowns, and barbecues. Like any good weekend should. But now, its back to the grind. Noisecreep has a busy week ahead, too. We'll be bringing you some exclusive news from Devin Townsend, plus our interview with the Chariot, and we've got Iwrestledabearonce stopping by the office this week to talk about their new album, "It's All Happening." There's all that and much, much more in the way of metal on the way for you this week. For now, here's all the latest metal news you need to know. More metal than your mama's kettle...i t's White Noise.

+ So, as you're probably aware by now, Deftones bassist Chi Cheng was involved in a horrific car accident just before Election Day, and he's been in and out of a coma ever since. There hasn't been much good news to report on the situation, but any improvement in Chi's condition is cause for hope. According to a number of reports, Chi is now breathing on his own, and, while he has regained some consciousness, is not completely out of his coma yet.

Sources say Chi is now able to track things with his eyes, and can say a few words, but he is by no means better. Cheng, 38, was on his way back from a memorial service for his brother at the time of the crash. The Deftones are still eyeing a fall release for their forthcoming LP, "Eros," and recently performed a set at Bamboozle Left in California, with former Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega in Chi's place. It is not clear just how much of "Eros" had been recorded prior to the accident.

+ Want to own a unique piece of Metallica memorabilia? Well, a 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 that once belonged to Kirk Hammett is once again available on eBay. If you've got that kind of money to spare in this recession, good for you. According to the auction page, Hammett gave the car to his tour manager, after the two made a bet in 1991 over whether the band's "Black Album" would sell more than 10 million copies. It did.

+ Swine flu! Scary, right? Well, can you blame Arch Enemy, then, for rescheduling its May 8 tour stop in Mexico City? The band, who claim the date switch was "out of our hands," will be making it up on August 20... so long as there's no swine flu pandemic killing everyone off like in "The Stand."

+ For a minute there, we thought Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho was like Claire from "Heroes." Even with a broken shoulder, dude was still getting up on that stage every night for more than a month on the band's tour with Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, God Forbid, and Municipal Waste. Then, we learned the guitarist's secret: Painkillers. But, painkillers can only do so much, and it seems Laiho needs to rest his limbs. Hence, after playing a three-song set in New York last week, Bodom has pulled out of the tour completely. According to reports, Laiho was advised by doctors to stop playing, and warned if he didn't, the injury could get significantly worse. Laiho should be back in playing shape in three weeks.

+ DUDE! Coalesce are done recording the songs for their new EP, and will begin mixing the effort this week. According to the PRP, the EP will be out later in the year, but the band's new album, "Ox," is still on course for a June 9 release.

+ A Static Lullaby, Vanna, Asking Alexandria, Motionless In White, and Tides of Man will be touring under the "Blaze Of Glory" banner starting on June 18 in Cleveland, Ohio. Dates run through July 19 in San Diego, California.

+ There's been a lineup shift in black metal outfit Negura Bunget. "We are sorry to announce that [guitarist and vocalist] Hupogrammos and [guitarist] Sol Faur have ended their journey along Negura Bunget," the band says in a statement. "Our paths are now apart. We wish them all the best on their new endeavors (their new project will be announced at a later time). Meanwhile, a new Negura Bunget line-up is assembled, which will continue the path started almost 15 years ago. Rest assure[d], we are keen to prove there is more to be said by this band, and we will work to fulfill our spiritual endeavor relentlessly." New to the band is a dude named Corb and another dude named Spin.

+ Job For A Cowboy need fans to help them shoot a video for their track "Regurgitated Disinformation." The shoot is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, in Philadelphia, and any fan who can make it is invited out to be part of the video.