Chi Cheng interviewed by "Guitar.com" July,2000 <----> He may spend his evenings pumping out rib-rattling rhythms, but DEFTONES' bassist CHI CHENG does some of his heaviest work with just a pen and paper. - After years of poetry writing and the occasional coffeehouse appearance, Cheng has released the compelling "Bamboo Parachute" a collection of 25 riveting and eclectic poems. The spoken-word disc is available only through Deftones official web site ­ www.deftones.com ­ and at the bandıs live concerts. - Says Cheng, who is currently touring with Deftones in support of their critically-acclaimed third Maverick disc "White Pony,": "I had six booksı worth of material sitting around collecting dust. Although Iıd like to get published, I convinced myself that I didnıt have time to deal with all those rejection notices. Instead, I decided to cop out and do a spoken-word album." - "Bamboo Parachute" is priced at under eight dollars per copy (depending on where and how you purchase it), with half of the proceeds going to homeless teens and WEAVE, a Sacramento-based non-profit agency specializing in domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and victim assistance. Says Cheng: "I think people should be more involved within their own communities. In addition to WEAVE, Iım starting a music program for homeless teens in Sacramento. Theyıre good kids who are just trying to get by, and music means a lot to them." - As Cheng tells it, he began writing poetry at age 17, encouraged by a high school English teacher, and later by his college professors. "After I left school, theyıd ask me to come in and speak to their advanced poetry class," he says. Surprisingly, though he likes "Kerouacıs stream of consciousness and Bukowskiıs rawness," - Cheng admits to not reading much poetry. Says Cheng: "Unlike music, which I choose to do, poetry is something I have to do. Itıs like my head gets flooded with all this crazy shit and I have to write it down. Music, however, is much more of a release." - Of "Bamboo Parachute," which features poems entitled "The Small Black Box," "The Inside of My Pocket Knife," and "Whiter Than God," Cheng says: "These are my odd reflections on life, and hopefully they'll be applicable to everybody intrinsically. For example, everybody looks at a Matisse differently, but it still means something to each person." - However, donıt feel badly if some of the discıs material goes over your head. Laughs Cheng: "It is pretty wacky stuff. I'll read something to my wife, and she'll look at me and say, I don't know what the hell you're talking about."