The Smashing Pumpkins Rock for Fallen Madina Lake Bassist

When Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone was seriously injured while intervening in a domestic dispute last month, fellow Chicago rocker Billy Corgan vowed to help. Tuesday night, his band The Smashing Pumpkins did just that, throwing a sold-out show at Chicago's Metro that raised over $80,000 for the ailing musician whose health insurance had lapsed just months before.

"I was inspired by Matthew's courageous defense of a woman he didn't even know," Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan said of planning a benefit concert that was announced on July 20. "What pushed me to do the benefit for his medical fund was how much he is loved by close friends of mine who know him well."

Leone was on the way to meet a friend for a drink in late June when he came across a man assaulting his wife. The bassist called the police and stepped between the assailant and his victim. Leone soon became a victim himself. "The guy did things I can't even type," twin brother and Madina Lake singer Nathan Leone wrote at his blog. The suspect, identified as Justin Pivec, has since been arrested and is currently awaiting a court hearing.

In the days following the accident, Leone had a third of his skull removed. His medical insurance had expired just two months prior to the incident. Today, he's in stable condition and awaiting further brain surgery.

"I was blown away by the Chicago community coming together to put this benefit on so quickly," Corgan said. "It put an emotional charge into our show that was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I was absolutely honored to be standing on the Metro stage, my musical home, showing our support for one of our own."

The Smashing Pumpkins played their first show on the same stage in 1988. This time, the band's lineup was a bit different. Gone are guitarist James Iha, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and bassist D'Arcy Wretzky. In their place were Jeff Scroeder, Mike Byrne and Nicole Fiorentino.

"I spoke to his family at the benefit and they all said that it didn't surprise them at all that he did what he did to stop an injustice," Corgan said.

Between encores he threw his guitar on the auction block. It sold for $10,000 — just a small fraction of a big rock and roll give.

To donate to his cause, visit the Matthew Leone Fund at Sweet Relief.

Photo by krissikes via Wikimedia Commons.