Deftones were working on their upcoming sixth studio album Eros, writing songs since Fall 2007. Chino Moreno described the album as weird, unorthodox, featuring a lot of atmosphere and sound scaping, and having a "fuck you, I hope you die!" style aggression. Recording started on April 14, 2008; the album was initially to be released early in 2009, but was delayed. On November 4, 2008, bassist Cheng was seriously injured in a car accident in Santa Clara, California. As a result of the injuries sustained in the crash, Cheng has remained in a minimally conscious state since that time. Following the accident, Cheng's bandmates and mother, Jeanne, began using the Deftones blog to post updates on Cheng's condition. On December 9, 2008, it was announced that Chi had been moved into the care of an unnamed hospital that "specializes in the care and management of traumatic and non-trauma related brain injuries". In late January 2009, the band released a new statement, stating that "our fallen comrade has not yet made significant progress", and that friend of the band Sergio Vega(formerly of Quicksand would be taking over as bassist in Cheng's absence, as he had done temporarily in 1998. On April 5, the band played their first show without Cheng (since 1998) at the Bamboozle Left Festival in Irvine, California. In May 2009, it was revealed that Chi Cheng is no longer in intensive care.
On June 23, 2009, Deftones announced on their official website that "Eros" will be delayed indefinitely, saying that as we neared completion on Eros, we realized that this record doesn't best encompass and represent who we are currently as people and as musicians. And although those songs will see the light of day at some point, we collectively made the decision that we needed to take a new approach, and with Chi's condition heavy on our minds while doing so. We needed to return to the studio to do what we felt was right artistically. They also said "The decision to hold off on releasing Eros has no connection with Chi's condition or anything associated. This was, and is, purely a creative decision by the band to write, record, and deliver an amazing product. Deftones played some European dates in mid-2009, with shows in Amsterdam and the United Kingdom, including the Reading and Leeds Festivals. Brian "Head" Welch and his long-time friend Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, along with members of Sevendust, Slipknot, and other miscellaneous rock bands recently recorded and released an instrumental song for Chi, with the benefits going towards Chi and his family. The song is titled "A Song for Chi". On October 2009, as stated on the Deftones official website, the band toured with Slipknot on select dates touring parts of Canada as well as some US cities through the month of November. They were also selected to be part of the Smokeout festival in California supporting Cypress Hill as well as others. To aid in the fund-raising for Chi and the Cheng family, the band announced two benefit shows in Los Angeles for November 19 and 20. On the 19th, the show was opened by P.O.D. and Cypress Hill. The Deftones set itself contained many guest appearances by friends and peers of the band including Tommy Lee, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan of Linkin Park and members of Cypress Hill,Incubus, and Team Sleep. Vocalist Rodleen Getsic also joined Deftones to reprise her performance on "Knife Party. The second night's performance included a second appearance by Puciato and contributions from members Mike Muir and ex-Suicidal Tendencies members (and current Metallica bassist) Rob Trujillo and Rocky George, Dave Lombardo of Slayer, Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom, and System of a Down members Daron Malakian, John Dolmayan, and Shavo Odadjian. The website www.oneloveforchi.com was launched by Deftones fan Gina Blackmore about four months after Cheng's accident. The site is a platform for updates and information on Cheng's condition, as well as serving as an auction site for items donated by friends of the band. All proceeds raised by the One Love for Chi website are donated to his family in order to provide him the best possible medical care. Items auctioned on the site have included rare and autographed pieces from the likes of Sevendust, Alice in Chains, Nikki Sixx, and Chris Cornell as well as others. Deftones released their sixth album, Diamond Eyes on May 4, 2010. The release of it was pushed forward from the initially reported May 18 release date, most likely due to the entire album having been leaked onto the Internet in March 2010. On February 23, 2010, the album's first single Rocket Skates" was available for free download at www.gunsrazorsknives.com. The album was produced by Nick Raskulinecz. Former bassist, Sergio Vega, plays bass on the album, substituting for ailing bassist Chi Cheng. Deftones have been confirmed to play Download Festival in 2010 in an announcement made via the official Download Festival website on January, 25th 2010. They are also confirmed to play Rock on the Range 2010 (May 22 and 23) and Vive Latino 2010 (April 24). They also played a one-off London show on May 12. Deftones released the official music video for the album's first single, on March 10. On March 15, Deftones debuted their first radio-ready single Diamond Eyes. Both "Diamond Eyes" and "Rocket Skates" received very positive reviews from fans and critics alike, many making comparisons of the two singles' style and sound to that of material from their album Around the Fur, Deftones released the official music video for the album's second single, Diamond Eyes, on April 13. Deftones are mapping out more US headlining tour dates prior to their joint outing with Mastodon and Alice in Chains this fall on the BLACKDIAMONDSKYE tour; The band’s newly announced dates will begin in on the West Coast in California in August and will take the band across the Midwest through the Southeast. The tour kicks off in Ventura, CA on August 6 and wraps up in Cleveland on September 14. Teaming up with bands Mastodon and Alice in Chains, Deftones will be going on tour fall 2010 in the United States and Canada. The tour is called a portmanteau of the three bands' latest albums Diamond Eyes, and Crack the Skye. There is currently a petition on Australian website Dripping Acid Airwaves to bring Deftones and the Blackdiamondskye tour to Australia and NZ. The site also features the 'Put On Your Goggles' mash-up promo video for the tour which has received extensive play on YouTube. Big Day Out 2011- Deftones have been confirmed as a headlining act in this year's installment of the Big Day Out Festival in Australia and New Zealand beginning in Auckland on Jan. 21, 2011 In early September 2010, Deftones announced an UK tour, which is their first tour in the UK since 2007. On October 28, 2010, Deftones released the official video for "You've Seen The Butcher" filmed by Jodeb Films. Diamond Eyes was named the iTunes 2010 Rock Album of the Year.
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