Smashing Pumpkins Put on Benefit Show for Injured Bassist Matthew Leone

Chicago - Chicago's own Smashing Pumpkins took a tour detour to help one of their own.

Tuesday night, The Metro was rocking with a benefit show to help raise money for Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone, who was nearly beaten to death trying to be a good Samaritan last month.

Smashing Pumpkins lead singer and guitarist Billy Corgan has never met Leone, but heard about the tragic situation and knew he wanted to do something to help.

"The thing that struck me is his act was so heroic and so noble, and obviously really tragic circumstances, and secondarily, the people that I know who know him personally spoke so highly of him as a character as a person and said it didn't surprise them that he had done this," Corgan said while sitting in his dressing room before the show.

Leone had just left his twin brother's apartment June 30 when he saw a man beating his wife. Leone came to the woman's rescue, but was himself attacked and left unconscious on the sidewalk by her husband.

Leone's medical bills could top $250,000.

"When I realized he had a serious financial situation, and I also felt the emotion of the moment sometimes is important to capture. So next thing I know, I started making phone calls and it went from maybe I could do something, to maybe I could play an acoustic show by myself, to let's have the Smashing Pumpkins back at the Metro," Corgan said. He hoped the concert could raise $60,000.

Nathan Leone and his brother are huge Smashing Pumpkin fans. Leone said having their idols put on a special show just to help them out is unbelievable.

"It's a surreality that I can't really put into words; its just a magical thing," Nathan Leone said. "Matthew tends to be shy and a little bit reclusive about things like that, and the attention this has caused, he's just very grateful and appreciative of, but a little humbled."

The Smashing Pumpkins are actually on tour and had just shipped all their equipment to Asia for an upcoming show in Tokyo, so the concert Tuesday was a scramble, requiring borrowing instruments and equipment to make it happen.

Corgan said he plans to continue his efforts to help Leone.

"I'm interested in the long-range prognosis for this person," he said. "I'm not seeing this as you know, just do something for today and everybody move on. I want to make sure that he's okay six months from now, a year from now."

Nathan Leone said Madina Lake was supposed to go to the United Kingdom for two weeks of concerts, but with his brother's condition, the band was going to cancel. He said Matthew, who was well enough to go home from the hospital a few days ago, insisted they go, so they will leave Wednesday.

Leone still requires home care 24/7, but is talking and can take short walks. His brother hopes Matthew can start physical therapy in four to six weeks, and if things go well, perhaps rejoin the band in about three months.