DMBQ / Shonen Knife Tragedy

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DMBQ
DMBQ

A letter from Todd P:

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Hello

It is with a lot of grief and weariness that I announce that tonite's DMBQ and friends show @ Club Exit has been cancelled following a tragic car accident today.

DMBQ's van rolled from I-95 in Delaware en route from Baltimore to Brooklyn this afternoon. All members of the band have been hospitalized, as well as Michelle Cable from Panache Magazine and booking, who has been managing their tour.

Mana "China" Nishiura did not survive the accident. China was DMBQ's drummer, as well as the drummer in Shonen Knife. China will be missed.

Michelle Cable is conscious following surgery for a head injury. The other members of DMBQ are stable but sedated and are expected to recover.

That's all the information I have.

None of the bands tonite nor I felt up to a rock show following the news.

We are tentatively planning to continue with tomorrow's show @ Kingsland Tavern as a benefit to cover DMBQ's travel and medical expenses. If the bands and I decide we can't go through with the show, I'll send out a cancellation.

Thank you for you support and your understanding.

Todd

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MANA
Mana

Mike sent me a thread on the I Love Music message board: "Impossibly sobering. I was at the show and everyone was just sort of standing around looking at each other, not knowing what to say or how to say it."

photo of DMBQ by Bill Miller.

DMBQ was also scheduled to perform at the WFMU Record Fair today.

posted at 10:57 AM on November 5, 2005 in music | Comments (12)

Comments (12)

Unbelievable. I'll echo the "impossibly sobering" comment. DMBQ staged one of the heaviest, most psychedelic, most *alive* shows anyone could ever hope to see. Rest in peace, China.

Posted by john | November 5, 2005 11:41 AM

awful, awful news.

Posted by dk | November 5, 2005 12:20 PM

I was never a fan of either band but could definitely appreciate their music and what they were doing. Whenever I hear of a tragedy like this, where a young, hard-working musician's life is so tragically snuffed out I feel a great sense of loss; even if I didn't so much like the music. Whether you're moderately famous or still struggling, being a musician is not easy. The pay stinks, you're on the road a lot, each show has it's own potential for disaster... it takes a lot of effort and perserverance and it kills me when someone participating in the struggle of music dies so grotesquely and unexpectedly. RIP. All of you, please take care.

Posted by Anonymous | November 5, 2005 4:42 PM

We've set up a PAYPAL donation account for DMBQ and Michelle from Panache booking/magazine:

dmbqpanache@lovepumpunited.com

thanks for your help

Posted by mookie | November 6, 2005 2:56 PM

Man
They were just at my house in Charleston SC. They are great friends of all of us down here. China will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to her and the rest of the entourage.
Rest in Peace

Posted by Mark Crary | November 7, 2005 1:54 PM

Michelle's my roommate and pretty much like my sister and this entire situation is incredibly sobering. I really don't know how to feel right now. Michelle just threw a birthday party for China at our house right before they went on tour and I can remember her laughing and having a great time. She was an awesome drummer and I know she'll be missed deeply. Rest in peace, China. Send your prayers out to Michelle too 'cause she's gonna have a long road to full recovery.

Posted by Jon C | November 7, 2005 8:56 PM

Posted by Jon C | November 7, 2005 8:57 PM

To any of you who posted (and of course this applies to those who did not post and see this) who knew China--

I'm doing a short piece about the tragedy for Roctober magazine, and I'm trying to collect some personal memories from those who knew her in their own words. I'd like much of the piece to be your words. If you could contact me at pearlygrates@yahoo.com, I would certainly appreciate it.

Posted by Joel Calahan | November 29, 2005 6:14 PM

Having my head buried under so much other crap, I had not known of China's death until right now. I am absolutely crushed. I saw Shonen Knife and DMBQ with China all in the same year. I had the pleasure of meeting China after the DMBQ show in San Francisco. She was such a perky and personable gal. We all have lost a talented musician and beautiful person. Ganbatte, ne, China-san.

Posted by Yoshitaka Umeda | December 7, 2005 1:30 AM

i really sorry ti hear that.. but i dunno well when the accident happent exactly? thx 4 the awful information..

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