Shonen Knife Drummer Mana 'China' Nishiura Dies

[electrocat]

[Taro Toporific]

[electrocat]

this just happened today (friday)

[Pencilslave]

[Mulboyne]

I saw Shonen Knife last year at Daikanyama Unit with Captain Japan. Mana had replaced the old drummer - I had no idea she was doubling up with DMBQ.

It was a good gig and I'll have drink to her memory tonight.

[gomichild]

[AssKissinger]

That's so sad. Damn.

[Mulboyne]

Frank Perri "Sharing a beer with 'China' Mana and Ryuichi Watanabe of DMBQ."


"Jen and China" More photos on the Shellshag/Starcleaner site

[djgizmoe]

Holy cow. RIP.

[Mulboyne]

Frank Perri "Sharing a beer with 'China' Mana and Ryuichi Watanabe of DMBQ."

Frank Perri was a friend of China's and saw her only last week. He's been in touch with her friends and boyfriend in Japan and says her parents are making preparations to go to the US. He has a number of great pictures of China with DMBQ and Shonen Knife in his Epson gallery. Go to:

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumList?u=4159705&f=0

[Mulboyne]

Shonen Knife's page

It is with a deep sadness in my heart, that I must announce the passing of Mana "China" Nishiura. She was tragically killed in a three-vehicle accident near the Delaware Memorial Bridge yesterday (November 4) 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.
...A band [Genghis Tron] has set up a site for paypal online donations to help the DMBQ band with medical expenses, through their booking agency. The email address for paypal donations is: dmbqpanache@lovepumpunited.com

DMBQ Bulletin Board

[kamome]

Shonen Knife's page

It is with a deep sadness in my heart, that I must announce the passing of Mana "China" Nishiura. She was tragically killed in a three-vehicle accident near the Delaware Memorial Bridge yesterday (November 4) 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.
...A band [Genghis Tron] has set up a site for paypal online donations to help the DMBQ band with medical expenses, through their booking agency. The email address for paypal donations is: dmbqpanache@lovepumpunited.com

DMBQ Bulletin Board

This is all very depressing. I wish her family and friends well.

[mr. sparkle]

What a shame. She'll be missed.

[Mulboyne]

Pitchforkmedia have the story:

China will be sorely missed. Fans remember her as an intensely passionate performer as well as a soft-spoken, kind-hearted individual. Chicago photographer and designer Matt Taplinger, who housed the band when they were in town on tour in April, describes DMBQ as "some of the nicest, most down-to-earth people I had ever had the pleasure of coming in contact with." Although drummers are traditionally relegated upstage, China went to astonishing lengths to involve the audience in DMBQ's live set: A recent performance at Atlanta's Drunken Unicorn saw her dismantle her kit and pass the pieces along to audience members, eventually drumming upon the scattered bits whilst sitting atop a fan's head...At the April show, the band put on "one of the most audacious live rock n' roll experiences I'd ever witnessed," says Taplinger, "basically turning the floor of the Bottom Lounge into a baseball field and using their equipment as bats and balls." That, my friends, is rock and roll.

Frank Perri has also updated his site and published some more pictures of China.

Mana was a special person and a beautiful soul who filled everything she touched with light. She had a bright smile, a giving personality and a wicked sense of humor. And for those of us who had the chance to see her perform, we were witness to a true artist as well as a virtuoso. Mana could play deep in the pocket, but when she was allowed to be herself, then she really shined...Mana died doing exactly what she loved, on her own terms. We all should be so lucky. As her best friend, Mamiko Nakagawa said to me as we tried to make sense of all this, "Mana loved and enjoyed playing with DMBQ. She never had any regrets. She hated regrets."

Photo by Jimmy Turri of the band An Albatross.