Matthew Leone - Hero, Saint or Downright Stupid?

On June 29^th the bassist of rock band Madina Lake was brutally attacked after he intervened in a domestic violence dispute just round the corner from his brother's apartment building. This led to Leone suffering from a broken jaw, broken nose and a severe brain haemorrhage which forced the doctors to remove a 3^rd of his skull to allow the brain to swell and do what needs to be done. Two surgeries later Leone is walking, talking and even picking up his bass again.

When asked how recovery was coming Leone was more then happy to share with Alt press.

            “The second surgery was the one that was almost too difficult of a challenge to handle. It was just a lot of pain and some metaphysical experiences I’m still trying to come to terms with. But the general recovery took a long time. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the reaction from musical community and everyone sending good vibrations my way was one of the reasons I was able to recover so quickly. I got a lot of e-mails, letters and videos that kids put up on YouTube that were statements to me. That really kept me positive and humbled. I’m a guy who doesn’t like a lot of attention, so it was sort of embarrassing to have this spotlight on me—especially for getting my ass kicked.”

            In august the band took to the stage at the Sonisphere festival for the first time without Matthew. You can tell for twin brother and front man Nathan Leone that this was one of the hardest things that he had to do. However on stage it was more than certain that this performance was for one man only and that man is Matthew Leone.

The entire Chicago music scene came together to help their hometown fellow Musician; the band’s close friend and label assistant Ryan Manno came together with the rest of the Chicago music scene to help pay Matthew Leone’s medical bills due to not having any medical insurance. Manno did this by getting bands to play a 2 day benefit event concert for Leone. Also at the event all ticket price money went to Leone, also they had exclusive bids on eBay, such as other musicians’ rare merchandise to help fund his medical bills.

The fans also did not hesitate to help; they made wristbands saying ‘Matthew Leone is our hero’ to sell, they donated through websites to contribute to the bills, and every chance they got at Sonisphere they would well wish Matthew through his brother.

Matthew however says that he only survived this ordeal because of the fans. Here is what he had to say to Alt Press:

            “I just can’t thank everyone enough. It’s so flattering and humbling. It demonstrated to the world how incredible the music community is. It was a demonstration of compassion and generosity and selflessness in a world where selfishness prevails. The music community conveyed that it’s actually a community. Also, I’m so grateful for the fact that the focus is on the good that’s come out of it. That’s the way the world is left a better place: instead of anger being contagious, beauty is contagious.”

Whilst talking to front man Nathan Leone in August he said that while Matthew was unconscious in hospital he read him letters and emails that were sent to him by the fans and believes that this was what helped Matthew recover and get out of the coma he was in. One of his band mates, drummer Dan Torelli, said:

            “It was weird not having Matthew on that tour with us because there was various things that Matthew did on stage that we would feed off. It’s hard seeing his space on stage empty, he is the one that would keep us all together cos we generally do our own thing on tour and he would always pull us back to the norm.”

When Alt press asked Matthew if he had heard anything from the man that attacked him he had a lot to say.

           “No, he’s requested to talk to us a few times. But to me, he’s a nothing. He’s a wife-beater we got off the streets. If you focus your energy on that, it’s gonna consume you in a bad way. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothes who needs to be behind bars (Pivec was charged with Attempted First Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery Causing Serious Bodily Harm and Aggravated Battery in a Public Place.). That couple have two kids—they had just had them. People say to me, “That’s so sad for the kids that their father went to jail.” I don’t know their histories, but I would assume maybe he grew up seeing his father beat his mother. So his kids would have grown up seeing their father beat their mother and the cycle would perpetuate. To me, this was the best thing that could happen, even though it’s in a painful way. It illustrates to these kids that it’s not okay to do that. Nathan and I lost our mother in a car accident when we were 12, and she was just the most amazing, beautiful spirit I’ve ever seen on the planet. We have three older sisters. Women are just absolutely marvelous, beautiful creatures and in no way, shape or form can it be tolerated that they’re treated like that. So I’m just grateful that stopped.”

            Some people say that Leone was down right stupid and should have just left the matter between the couple. Others say he is a hero and everyone would remember his act of kindness of years to come. I however say that Matthew is a saint, having met him on numerous occasions. Matthew is the guy that would bend over backwards to help anyone so it is no surprise to me that he intervened. Matthew Leone protected that woman and now it is our turn to protect him by helping with the medical bills.