New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ RoadRunner Records) - The
Smashing Pumpkins will perform a benefit concert next Tuesday, July 27th at Chicago's Metro to raise money for the medical care of Matthew Leone, bassist for Chicago-based band Madina Lake. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday July 21st at noon RIGHT HERE. Further ticketing information is below. Support will come from Kill Hannah.
Earlier this month, Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone was hospitalized with severe brain trauma after intervening to stop a woman on the street from being beaten by her husband. 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 turned on Matthew, beating him severely and leaving him unconscious in 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 has been charged with Aggravated Battery Causing Serious Bodily Harm and is 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, where each winner will receive two tickets to the concert. Tickets are non-transferable and winners must show ID matching their raffle entry. Raffle tickets will be available for sale through Metro's website ONLY beginning Wednesday, July 21st at noon. The raffle will end at 2pm on Saturday July 24th, and winners will be notified via email at 5pm on Saturday July 24, 2010.
There will also be a very limited amount of balcony VIP tickets: These tickets will go onsale 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 21st at noon at the same location.
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 also be available Wednesday, July 21st at noon.
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 organization providing 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 Smashing 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's twin brother and bandmate Nathan Leone comments, "Matthew and I have been completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of compassion and support during this impossible time. 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."
For more information, and especially for info on how to donate if you're not in the Chicago area and able to attend this show, go right here.
