Matthew Leone
Encyclopedia
Matthew Jon Leone is the bassist of rock
band Madina Lake
. He was born on May 13, 1981. Matthew is two minutes older than his identical twin Nathan Leone
, who is the lead vocalist in Madina Lake.
, Illinois
. He has a twin brother and three older sisters: Allison, Jill and Paula.
When Matthew and Nathan were 12 years old, their mother was killed in a car accident.
Matthew landed a sports scholarship to go to college in Indianapolis
, Indiana
at Butler University
. He pursued professional soccer in the United States and for nine months in Florence
, Italy
. Matthew also shortly attended Columbia College
studying Music management.
Matthew plays mainly with his index and middle fingers, but has been seen playing with a pick on rare occasions.
Matthew and his brother Nathan
then formed their first band, The Blank Theory
, in 1998. In the early days of The Blank Theory, they also formed an independent label called 4 Alarm Records which also included The Frogs
, The Pinehurst Kids, and Monkey Paw.
Nathan and Matthew appeared on a special edition of Twin Fear Factor
, which they won. The $50,000 was the start up money for Madina Lake
. The band's first self-produced EP, The Disappearance of Adalia
, came out in early 2006 around October. Later that year, they were signed to Roadrunner Records
and created their first full length album entitled From Them, Through Us, To You
, which was
released in March 2007.
He cites the alternative rock
bands The Smashing Pumpkins
, Muse
and Nine Inch Nails
as his favorite bands and biggest influences.
Matthew loves philosophy and hopes to one day pursue a career as a writer. He is the author of The Auspice- a mythological story about the fictitious town - Madina Lake, and "Scorched Earth"- and the basis for the band. The book is expected to be released in segments, which can only be put together by clues found by fans, through the band's website in 2008. Many of the songs also relate to the book in pieces.
Often getting muddled up with his twin brother Nathan, Matthew had a black streak in his hair for a long while, in a interview with Kerrang when asked why the black streak had gone he replied "Well, to be quite honest it's one of those things you do for a minute and happens to be captured on film forever. I imagine a decent percentage of adults aren't too pumped to see their senior photo. To them i say, 'imagine if it were your Freshman record cycle photo'""
apartment. Matthew was trying to help a woman who was being beaten by her husband, and although Matthew subdued him, the man severely attacked Matthew from behind. Matthew was in critical condition, and doctors removed one-third of his skull while waiting for the swelling in his brain to go down.
On July 1, 2010, Nathan Leone said that Matthew's condition had improved. Matthew had been in and out of consciousness during the previous three days after suffering a broken jaw, a broken nose and a fractured skull. Nathan said, "It was touch and go for a while there, but at this point, things are starting to turn around, which is wonderful. The first couple of days, [Matthew] couldn't recognize me or say anything coherent, but this morning he did. And now he's aware and talking and moving around a little, which is wonderful. So the prognosis is getting better by the hour."
Nathan also said that Chicago police have made an arrest in connection to the assault. He added that while he was at his brother's bedside, Nathan read emails and comments posted online from fans and claims the support helped save Matthew's life. "The outpouring of support has been amazing," Leone said. "Every band we've ever toured with, every Facebook
and MySpace
outlet has been going crazy with love and support. We've heard from friends, fans, neighbors, labels and management. It's honestly overwhelming. When something horrible happens, you're inclined to despise humanity, but this proves how many amazing people there are in the world."
The Leone brothers do not have health insurance, but Nathan says, "We'll deal with that when we have to." Matthew was allowed home and wore protective headgear until doctors could re-attach parts of his skull. Matthew underwent a second successful surgery on July 21 to re-apply the removed portion of his skull.
On July 2, Chicago Police arrested 33-year-old Chicago resident for the beating of Matthew. He was also charged with battery for the beating of his wife, who had minor injuries. She dropped the charges the next day. On August 21, 2010 Nathan stated in his blog that additional charges had been filed against him, including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery in a public place.
Leone was voted "Hero of the Year" by readers of Kerrang!
magazine because of his efforts.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Madina Lake
Madina Lake
Madina Lake an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A in 2005.Madina Lake released their debut album From Them, Through Us, to You through Roadrunner Records on March 27, 2007...
. He was born on May 13, 1981. Matthew is two minutes older than his identical twin Nathan Leone
Nathan Leone
Nathan Daniel Leone is the lead singer of rock band Madina Lake. He was born on May 13, 1981. Nathan is three minutes younger than his identical twin Matthew Leone, who plays bass in Madina Lake.- Early life:Nathan grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois...
, who is the lead vocalist in Madina Lake.
Early life
Matthew grew up in the suburbs of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. He has a twin brother and three older sisters: Allison, Jill and Paula.
When Matthew and Nathan were 12 years old, their mother was killed in a car accident.
Matthew landed a sports scholarship to go to college in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
at Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
. He pursued professional soccer in the United States and for nine months in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Matthew also shortly attended Columbia College
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
studying Music management.
Career
Matthew picked up the bass for the first time at the age of 21. Seeking professional instruction, he was turned down by his first teacher, who said that his hands were too small to ever play the bass. He never went to another teacher, instead deciding to teach himself.Matthew plays mainly with his index and middle fingers, but has been seen playing with a pick on rare occasions.
Matthew and his brother Nathan
Nathan Leone
Nathan Daniel Leone is the lead singer of rock band Madina Lake. He was born on May 13, 1981. Nathan is three minutes younger than his identical twin Matthew Leone, who plays bass in Madina Lake.- Early life:Nathan grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois...
then formed their first band, The Blank Theory
The Blank Theory
The Blank Theory was a five-piece rock group from Chicago, Illinois.They self-released two albums, Blinding Process in 1998 and Catalyst in 2000. Catalyst included the track "Nevermind" which was featured in a segment of MTV Road Rules. While the first two independent releases were hard edged indie...
, in 1998. In the early days of The Blank Theory, they also formed an independent label called 4 Alarm Records which also included The Frogs
The Frogs (band)
The Frogs are an American rock music band founded in 1980, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by brothers Jimmy and Dennis Flemion. The brothers mainly write and perform short, catchy pop songs, but they are also known for their improvised home recordings which are delivered in a comedic style, and often...
, The Pinehurst Kids, and Monkey Paw.
Nathan and Matthew appeared on a special edition of Twin Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
, which they won. The $50,000 was the start up money for Madina Lake
Madina Lake
Madina Lake an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A in 2005.Madina Lake released their debut album From Them, Through Us, to You through Roadrunner Records on March 27, 2007...
. The band's first self-produced EP, The Disappearance of Adalia
The Disappearance of Adalia
The Disappearance of Adalia is the first release from Madina Lake self released on October 3, 2006. It garnered the attention of Roadrunner Records which ultimately led to their signing to the label. Songs "House of Cards", "One Last Kiss", "Here I Stand" and "Adalia" were re-recorded for their...
, came out in early 2006 around October. Later that year, they were signed to Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
and created their first full length album entitled From Them, Through Us, To You
From Them, Through Us, to You
From Them, Through Us, to You is the debut album by Chicago-based rock band Madina Lake. The album was released in the United States on March 27, 2007 via Roadrunner Records; it was released a day earlier in the UK....
, which was
released in March 2007.
He cites the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
bands The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
, Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
and Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
as his favorite bands and biggest influences.
Matthew loves philosophy and hopes to one day pursue a career as a writer. He is the author of The Auspice- a mythological story about the fictitious town - Madina Lake, and "Scorched Earth"- and the basis for the band. The book is expected to be released in segments, which can only be put together by clues found by fans, through the band's website in 2008. Many of the songs also relate to the book in pieces.
Often getting muddled up with his twin brother Nathan, Matthew had a black streak in his hair for a long while, in a interview with Kerrang when asked why the black streak had gone he replied "Well, to be quite honest it's one of those things you do for a minute and happens to be captured on film forever. I imagine a decent percentage of adults aren't too pumped to see their senior photo. To them i say, 'imagine if it were your Freshman record cycle photo'""
Assault and hospitalization
On June 30, 2010, Nathan Leone reported on his blog that Matthew had been hospitalized after being assaulted in the street near Nathan's ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
apartment. Matthew was trying to help a woman who was being beaten by her husband, and although Matthew subdued him, the man severely attacked Matthew from behind. Matthew was in critical condition, and doctors removed one-third of his skull while waiting for the swelling in his brain to go down.
On July 1, 2010, Nathan Leone said that Matthew's condition had improved. Matthew had been in and out of consciousness during the previous three days after suffering a broken jaw, a broken nose and a fractured skull. Nathan said, "It was touch and go for a while there, but at this point, things are starting to turn around, which is wonderful. The first couple of days, [Matthew] couldn't recognize me or say anything coherent, but this morning he did. And now he's aware and talking and moving around a little, which is wonderful. So the prognosis is getting better by the hour."
Nathan also said that Chicago police have made an arrest in connection to the assault. He added that while he was at his brother's bedside, Nathan read emails and comments posted online from fans and claims the support helped save Matthew's life. "The outpouring of support has been amazing," Leone said. "Every band we've ever toured with, every Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
outlet has been going crazy with love and support. We've heard from friends, fans, neighbors, labels and management. It's honestly overwhelming. When something horrible happens, you're inclined to despise humanity, but this proves how many amazing people there are in the world."
The Leone brothers do not have health insurance, but Nathan says, "We'll deal with that when we have to." Matthew was allowed home and wore protective headgear until doctors could re-attach parts of his skull. Matthew underwent a second successful surgery on July 21 to re-apply the removed portion of his skull.
On July 2, Chicago Police arrested 33-year-old Chicago resident for the beating of Matthew. He was also charged with battery for the beating of his wife, who had minor injuries. She dropped the charges the next day. On August 21, 2010 Nathan stated in his blog that additional charges had been filed against him, including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery in a public place.
Leone was voted "Hero of the Year" by readers of Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine because of his efforts.
Equipment
- Music Man StingRayMusic Man StingRayMusic Man StingRay is an electric bass guitar by Music Man, introduced in 1976.- History :In 1971, Fender employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, unhappy with the way CBS was managing the company, left their positions with Fender to start their own venture. First known as Tri-Sonic and then later...
Bass guitar - FenderFenderFender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
Jazz Bass - AmpegAmpegAmpeg is primarily a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, though they also manufacture guitars to a small extent...
SVT Head and 8x10 Cab
UK touring equipment
- MarshallMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
MB450H Head through 4x10 and 1x15 Cab - Music Man Prototype Bass