Matthew Leone
Matthew Leone |
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Matthew Jonathan Leone (pronounced: Lee-own-ee) is the bassist of rock band Madina Lake. He was born on May 6. [1] Matthew is three minutes older than his identical twin Nathan Leone, who is the lead vocalist in Madina Lake.
Early life
Matthew grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. He has a twin brother and three older sisters.
When Matthew and Nathan were 12 years old, their mother was killed in a car accident. [2]
Matthew landed a sports scholarship to go to college in Indianapolis, Indiana at Indiana 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.
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 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 and Muse as his favorite bands and biggest influences. [3]
Matthew loves philosophy and hopes to one day pursue a career as a writer. He is the author of The Auspice Book- a mythological story about the fictitious town - Madina Lake - 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.[4]
Equipment
Music Man StingRay Bass guitar
Ampeg SVT Head and 8x10 Cab
