SMASHING PUMPKINS To Play Benefit Concert For MADINA LAKE Bassist

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS will perform a benefit concert next Tuesday, July 27 at Chicago's Metro to raise money for medical care for Matthew Leone, bassist for Chicago band MADINA LAKE. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, July 21 at noon.

Last month, Matthew Leone was hospitalized with severe brain trauma after intervening to stop a woman he passed on the street from being beaten by her husband. Matthew had left twin brother Nathan's Chicago apartment to meet a friend at a bar a few blocks away when he walked past the man beating his wife on the 1300th block of Ohio St. Even though the attacker was twice his size, Matthew immediately intervened and managed to subdue the attacker but as he waited for police to arrive, the attacker suddenly turned on Matthew, beating him severely. He then walked away with his wife, leaving Matthew unconscious on the street. Matthew was taken to UIC Hospital for emergency brain surgery wherein a third of his skull was removed to alleviate swelling. He's currently in stable condition awaiting an additional brain surgery to reapply the removed portion of his skull. The suspect is currently charged with aggravated battery causing serious bodily harm and out on bail pending a forthcoming hearing.

As a musician, Matthew spends most of his life on tour and unfortunately his medical insurance had lapsed just two months prior to the incident. Friends of the band and the Chicago music community are rallying to help provide for Matthew's medical needs.

There will be a raffle for tickets. Individuals can enter the raffle as many times as they wish for $10 each entry.

A majority of the venue will be sold to raffle winners. Each winner will receive two tickets to the concert. Tickets are not transferable and winners must show ID matching their raffle entry.

Raffle tickets will be available for sale through Metro web site only beginning Wednesday July 21 at noon at MetroChicago.com. The raffle will end at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2010, and winners will be notified via email at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2010. There will also be a very limited amount of balcony VIP tickets put on sale for those fans who want to make a larger donation and ensure entry into this special event for $100 each.

Balcony VIP tickets will go on sale Wednesday, July 21 at noon. Additionally, a limited amount of soundcheck VIP tickets will be available for $500 each. The soundcheck VIP event (approximately 30 minutes),set for the late afternoon, includes a meet-and-greet/photo with the PUMPKINS and merchandise items, plus a seat at a table in the balcony for the show; this package is priced at $500 per person. Soundcheck VIP tickets will be available Wednesday, July 21 at noon at MetroChicago.com.

All proceeds from the raffle and concert will go to the Matthew Leone Fund at Sweet Relief.

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.

For more information on Sweet Relief, visit www.sweetrelief.org.

Metro is the club where, on October 5, 1988, the PUMPKINS truly landed on the musical map. They also chose the venue for a farewell concert on December 2, 2000, a four-hour-long show that featured 38 songs spanning the group's career at that time.

The PUMPKINS have a long history of supporting other Chicago musicians.

"Matthew and I have been completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of compassion and support during this impossible time," said Nathan Leone, Matthew's twin brother and MADINA LAKE bandmate. "It has proved that there are far more amazing people in the world than any other kind and we're grateful beyond words.

"Being among the biggest SMASHING PUMPKINS fans in the world, we still haven't processed the fact that they are contributing in such an unprecedented way. Not only is this going to be a monumental event in our lives but more importantly it's a massive statement against domestic violence, violence against women and violence in general."