"For some artists, the interview is a chore, a painful duty it is to force for the good of the group. For others, it turns out to be a fun exercise. Matthew Leone is clearly positioned in the second category. The smile from ear to ear and full of good will (as I have rarely seen), bassist of Madina Lake seemed even happier than me at the approach of the interview."
Click here to read the original interview and here the (Google) translated interview.
A dark tale from a band bouncing back from extreme adversity.
In Rock Sound Issue 155 Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone admits that, unfortunately, not all recent offers of help have had his best interests at heart.
“People threw benefits in our name and kept the money,” he admits. “I would say sadly that a large amount of money that people so lovingly thought they were giving to me never actually found me. I’m a little reluctant to admit that, as anyone who gave anything in my honour created an energy that definitely reached me, so ultimately it worked and saved me – it wasn’t in vain even though some bad guys got it. There were a lot of wolves wearing sheep’s clothes. Many swarmed us saying they loved and cared and then as soon as we came out of critical condition or it slipped out of the media, we never heard from them again.”
When one mentions Disneyland, perhaps the most immediate connotation is “The happiest place on Earth” – a location built around innocence and happiness where one can engage in childlike celebration.
Such is not the case for Madina Lake.
Appearing: December 16th at Mojoes in Joliet with Me Talk Pretty.
“We called [our situation] ‘Disneyland’ to try to cushion the blow on our own end,” quips bassist Matthew Leone. In late 2009, the band were dropped by Roadrunner Records, which had released the group’s Attics To Eden only months prior. It sparked a run of bad luck that was of cartoonish proportions.
“Once the record deal was gone, [our] management company just absolutely disappeared,” he recalls. “From booking agents to everybody, as soon as the band gets dropped, nobody’s conviction really [held] enough weight to stick by the band. Everybody bailed. So, we were sitting here as a band that is left sort of with nothing but our conviction, our hard work, and belief that it will ultimately work out.”
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Congratulations to @MadinaLake bassist Matthew Leone and his new wife Autumn! Hope you have a long and happy life together. See you in Nov!
This tweet from Kerrang was posted today, congrats to the happy newly weds! Seems like they were married in Las Vegas.
Madina Lake rocker Matthew Leone has returned to the stage less than a year after he was left fighting for his life in a coma – and he admits he was terrified of performing live again.
The bassist was subjected to a savage beating in Chicago, Illinois in June last year (10) after intervening in a domestic dispute between two strangers.
He made a remarkable recovery after undergoing brain surgery following the attack, and he wowed fans by returning to the stage at the band’s gig in their hometown of Chicago last month (23Apr11).
Leone tells Kerrang! magazine, “I was really scared. By the time we started with Never Take Us Alive, everything came back to me and felt normal. All that fear just disappeared and the energy of the fans carried me along the whole way.”
Frontman Nathan Leone – Matthew’s twin brother – adds, “We wanted to do this show so badly so we could be Madina again… We’re all so proud of him.”
After nearly a year of recovery, Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone will join his band onstage for a hometown show on April 23 at the Metro in Chicago. The event marks the first time Leone will play a stateside show with the band since he intervened during a domestic dispute last summer, leaving the bassist in a coma and hospitalized with severe brain trauma.
Madina Lake have not performed together in the U.S. in 10 months, and they will be in support of their new album, Dresden Codex. Super Happy Fun Club, Static Summer and Stay Golden are also on the bill.
You can read our exclusive first interview with Leone since the incident here.
You lot have honoured Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone by voting him your Hero Of The Year in the 2010 Kerrang! Readers’ Poll.
Matthew was brutally assaulted in June of this year after intervening in a domestic dispute in his native Chicago. He was left in a coma and fighting for his life.
“Being called a ‘hero’ is pretty damn awkward,” he tells Kerrang!. “Regardless, to hear your words and to snatch your killer vibrations is inspiring and profoundly appreciated. The pathetic act of a man beating a woman is the ultimate cowardice. If you’re a victim, don’t tolerate it. You’re better than that. Thanks for the nod and, I must admit, being recognised for getting my ass kicked is kind of enjoyable!”
For the full list of K! Readers’ Poll winners, check out this week’s Kerrang! magazine.
