Proceeds from Smashing Pumpkins charity gig approach $80K mark

This morning, Mark Caro of the Chicago Tribune posted a touching review of last night’s charity benefit (and nearly-22-year-anniversary!) at the Metro, played in honor of injured Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone. The Smashing Pumpkins were joined on stage by the Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, who proclaimed the day in honor of Leone, whose family was also in attendance.

According to the Tribune, the show was “triumphant and tearful, inspiring and rousing, open-hearted and generous” — plus, initial reports from the local ABC News affiliate estimate that ticket sales surpassed $60,000 ($10 raffle tickets, $100 balcony VIP tickets, $500 soundcheck tickets). The band also auctioned off a host of items to raise an additional $20,000:

[I]tems auctioned off before the Pumpkins’ set [included]: $1,600 for a bag of collectible Pumpkins memorabilia, $2,500 for a signed event poster and $4,000 to meet Corgan after the show… After a celebratory encore of “1979,” in which [Metro owner Joe] Shanahan, Nathan Leone and about a dozen others joined the band on stage, Corgan auctioned off the black Stratocaster he’d been playing and raised another $10,000.

As the Trib opines, this was certainly “a hell of a way to pay someone’s medical bills.” SweetRelief.org will continue accepting donations to Leone here.