Tribe.net. Local Connections $item.owner.firstName http://boredoms.tribe.net/thread/5405a26c-199a-4e6d-b84b-6827ce4c4475#05845a8f-ecb9-420d-822f-7209edacf495 2005-11-07T22:55:58Z 2005-11-07T22:55:58Z

Mana "China" Nishiura, drummer for DMBQ, Shonen Knife and girlfriend of Seiichi Yamamoto passed away last Friday due to injuries stemming from a horrible car accident in New Jersey. She was tragically killed in a three-vehicle accident near the Delaware Memorial Bridge on the afternoon of November 4th shortly before 1 p.m., after the Econoline van carrying her band, DMBQ, had crossed the bridge from New Jersey near Carneys Point in Salem County. A Mitsubishi Eclipse clipped the van's left rear fender. The van spun out of control, and careened over a barrier on the ramp to Route 40. The van - carrying the four band members and their tour manager Michelle Cable, from San Francisco - then rolled several times down an embankment and into the path of a Ford pickup truck. Mana was ejected from the van and she died at the scene. The other passengers were being treated last night for non-life-threatening, but serious, injuries. Her family was notified by the Japanese Embassy of the tragedy. "China", (her stage name - which she enjoyed) was the support drummer for Shonen Knife from Year 2001 through 2004, and was with them on their North American Tour in 2003. She was a tremendous talent - a session drummer in Japan who performed with many bands there, and she was much respected and in demand for her drumming skills and ability to play many styles. Her great energy and vitality in the live shows she played with Shonen Knife made her an instant favorite with all their fans, wherever they performed. Mana was also a strong person with a kindly free spirit who made friends with everyone she met. She was previously drummer for respected Japanese fusion band, Rashinban. She joined the Japanese metal band, DMBQ in 2004, when they offered her an opportunity to be part of their first American tour when their previous drummer Yoshiko became pregnant. Mana's work with them was a driving force in the success of their stage shows. Mana was a huge baseball fan, (her favorite team was the Hanshin Tigers), and she enjoyed a continuing dialogue with friend Mamiko Nakagawa about baseball in Japan. Mamiko Nakagawa is the webmaster for Mana's China-Mana Personal Homepage in Japan and a longtime fan, and friend, of Shonen Knife. China's homepage: http://china-mana.hp.infoseek.co.jp/english.html DMBQ's homepage: http://www.dmbq.net/ Shonen Knife's homepage: http://shonenknife.com/mainpage.html As for the other members of the band: Shinji Masuko, lead singer of DMBQ was released from the hospital yesterday after being treated for moderate injuries. Once they are well enough to board a plane, the remaining members of DMBQ will be needing to make their long journey home, which no doubt will be made longer by the fact they are on the east coast instead of the west where they need to be to get back to Japan. A paypal account has been set-up but I am waiting for verification prior to endorsing it.

$item.owner.firstName 2005-11-07T22:55:58Z