Nearly A Year After Brutal Assault, Madina Lake's Matthew Leone Returns To Stage

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 2, 2011 9:30PM

Wonderful news from the Madina Lake camp: Matthew Leone is set to rejoin Madina Lake on stage for the first time since suffering a horrendous beating coming to the aid of a battered woman.

If you'll recall, Leone was on his way to a bar in West Town when he witnessed an alleged domestic assault in progress. Leone came to the woman's aid and subdued the husband carrying out the attack. Once Leone called the authorities, the husband escaped, then proceeded to beat Leone so badly that a third of Matthew's skull was removed in order to prevent further pressure on his swelling brain.

The road to recovery has been slow, but progress has been made and Chicago's music community rallied around Madina Lake and Matthew Leone with benefit shows. All the while, the band has continued to release new music.

The April 23 show at the Metro will be Madina Lake's first concert with Matthew Leone in ten months. Tickets for the show go on sale March 5.

Even if Madina Lake's music isn't your particular cup of tea, only the most heartless among us wouldn't recognize this news for what it is: A heroic return for a Chicago citizen who acted in a way that even the bravest among us wouldn't have. For that, everyone should be glad.