The Presidents #87

Happy New Year !!

2011 was pretty amazing over all.  We released “World War III” internationally and began our 3rd touring cycle.  Europe/UK was incredible as always and we’ve only just started on the US which we will continue in a few weeks with Hawthorne Heights.  Just before that though we get to visit Tokyo and just after we finally get to go back to Australia for Soundwave 2012.

We’ve waited a long time for this year.  We’re expecting a verdict in Matthew’s case as well as a complete re-launching of WWIII.  Madina’s planning a 2nd single as we speak and we’re working on a Madina DVD as well as the official release of  The Madina Lake Trilogy.  All of which can be found athttp://www.madinalake.com.

You’ll hear a lot more about all of that in the next couple weeks but now it’s time I share with you a more personal story.  A dream really..   you see I woke up one morning a few weeks ago and decided that I absolutely must score a goal in a hockey game. now I know what your thinking.. and youre right..I’ve never played hockey.  I’ve never really even been ice skating and i really have no business doing either.    But alas, once a dream pops in my mind..  i can’t just ignore it.  Believe me I tried.  but this one just kept nagging me and nagging me.

with a few phone calls I tried to wiggle my way onto a couple men’s team but nobody took me seriously.  until that is …  I met michael.  Michael and has a rich history in the arts and ways of hockey.  see, michael understands the necessity of quenching a desire to put on some ice skates and shoulder pads, pull a giant jersey over your head, grab a stick and hit the ice.  He knows the burning sensation of handling a puck, spinning a few opponents and launching it into the netting of a gorgeous red iron hockey goal.  michael, in essence, understands me. Not only does michael understand me..  he also plays on a real hockey team called the Hayanissport Presidents.

after a few drinks I managed to convince michael i was worthy of a shot.  All I asked was 2 minutes of his time…  well 2 minutes of their time,  2 minutes of ice time… as a President.

much to my delight, michael accepted.  2 days later, at approx. 11pm I was standing outside my apartment building in full pads, skates, stick and the glorious green President’s jersey…  #87…  I was on my way.

We pulled up to Johnnys Icehouse on Madison (where the Blackhawks practice) and rolled into the locker room.  Just like my dream, there were all the lockers in a neat row, pads, sticks and skates strewn about.  the sweet smell of zamboni fuel and BenGay, the sounds of sports tape ripping and Man talk popping off everywhere..  i’d arrived.

Now keep in mind..  I told Michael that I’ve never actually skated but not to worry, I was a natural athlete.  He decided not to tell anyone on the team anything about me..  but that I was a ringer – and a much needed extra substitute…

what you’re about to see is all real..  and unfortunately only a fraction of the damage I did. and even though I was asked to leave after the 2nd period…  was threatened bodily harm by players on my own team.. suffered minor contusions of the chin and elbows..  it was MY dream..  and NOBODY can take it away from me..    enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1deHIK7ntps

To say that Madina Lake have had a tough year is a massive understatement. 2010 saw the band lose their label, management and any means of recording a third album. Then things went from bad to horrendous, when bassist Matthew Leone was victim to a horrific assault, with doctors predicting that his recovery might take up to four years, if at all. However, it was with an outpouring of love and support from fans worldwide, they somehow survived, turning to Pledge Music for help in recording their latest record ‘World War III’.

With Matthew’s recovery miraculously taking only a year and a half, the full band returned to the road in support of their third effort, and DIY caught up with drummer Dan Torelli, to find out how everything’s been going.

How’re you today?
I’m good, thank you!

And how far are you into the tour: you’ve been in Europe for a while before heading here?

Yeah, we’ve done three German dates, a Holland date, two in Brussels and now we’re here. Then, we did Portsmouth, and last night was Brighton. They were awesome – never been to Brighton before which was really cool! Then Portsmouth was great, with the Wedgewood Rooms, but today is always the one we really look forward to. London’s always amazing, and normally, London’s at the end of the tour so havng it the third day in is kinda weird.

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While walking in his neighborhood one night last June, Chicago-based Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone tried to assist a woman who was being assaulted by her husband. During the altercation, the man crushed Leone’s skull. At the hospital, the rocker flatlined three times, underwent two surgeries and had one-third of his skull removed.

Because he didn’t have health insurance, Leone racked up over $200,000 in hospital bills. Leone’s idol Billy Corgan played a benefit show in July 2010 at Chicago’s Metro and raised money for the bills that are luckily almost paid off. Less than a year after the crime, Leone returned to the stage on April 23 and played his first show with the band since last May.

“The way I used to perform was just totally reckless — climb up stuff and fall down — and now since I’m completely inhibited in what I can do physically, I’m going to have to adjust to a whole new performance,” Leone tells Spinner. “That’s fine. I’m sure people will understand.”

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Hey everyone! A huge thank you to you all for pledging and being there for ML over this past year! We are now feverishly working on all of the remaining pledges that have yet to be shipped out. For anyone still waiting for your order, hang in there with us while we receive the last bit of merch this week and package and get it on it’s way to you! We can’t thank you enough for your patience and support!! love -ML

The first interview with and photo of Matthew Leone since the band started recording ‘World War 3′.
After the darkness, the dawn – Madina Lake are proceeding full-steam ahead with their new album ‘World War 3′ because, well, that’s what they do. Regardless of everything that’s happened they’re finding the strength both individually and as a band to keep on their intended path; thing is, it wasn’t just Matthew’s accident that set them back – behind-the-scenes record company shenanigans had meant Madina Lake were already fighting for their lives in the metaphorical sense even before that horrific night.

But now they’re fighting fit and ready to take on the world on their own terms – and in the new issue of Rock Sound Matthew Leone speaks exclusively about ‘World War 3′, the pain he’s in, the progress the band are making and his hopes for the future. We’ve also got the first photos of the band at work, one of which you can see below. You can read more about how the band are progressing in the magazine, but here’s an extract from the interview:

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Wonderful news from the Madina Lake camp: Matthew Leone is set to rejoin Madina Lake on stage for the first time since suffering a horrendous beating coming to the aid of a battered woman.

If you’ll recall, Leone was on his way to a bar in West Town when he witnessed an alleged domestic assault in progress. Leone came to the woman’s aid and subdued the husband carrying out the attack. Once Leone called the authorities, the husband escaped, then proceeded to beat Leone so badly that a third of Matthew’s skull was removed in order to prevent further pressure on his swelling brain.

The road to recovery has been slow, but progress has been made and Chicago’s music community rallied around Madina Lake and Matthew Leone with benefit shows. All the while, the band has continued to release new music.

The April 23 show at the Metro will be Madina Lake’s first concert with Matthew Leone in ten months. Tickets for the show go on sale March 5.

Even if Madina Lake’s music isn’t your particular cup of tea, only the most heartless among us wouldn’t recognize this news for what it is: A heroic return for a Chicago citizen who acted in a way that even the bravest among us wouldn’t have. For that, everyone should be glad.

What is the purpose of a record label? The answers to this are surely varied, and the possible responses have shifted in recent years as the music industry has begun to struggle in the digital age. But if you break it down there are a few key things a record label provides an artist: money, distribution and promotion. Unless a band are independently wealthy, funds are necessary to record and manufacture albums. Money is needed for expenses like studio time, producers and equipment rentals. Distribution is still important—although it was arguably more important before digital sales overtook physical sales. Most record labels have agreements with a distribution company that works to place their albums in retail stores. Usually, the bigger the label, the more widespread their distribution. Then there’s promotion, which involves securing press coverage, radio play, video placement and general advertising. So with that in mind, the question on many bands’ minds is: Do bands really need a record label—or do they just need a new kind of label?

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