My Chemical Romance
Template:Short description Template:Pp-move Template:Pp-blp Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist
My Chemical RomanceTemplate:Efn is an American rock band from New Jersey. The band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, lead guitarist Ray Toro, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way. They are considered one of the most influential rock groups of the 2000s and a major act in the emo and pop-punk genres, despite the band rejecting the former label.
Formed in September 2001 by Gerard, Mikey, Toro, and drummer Matt Pelissier (and later joined by Iero), the band signed with Eyeball Records and released their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, in 2002. They signed with Reprise Records the next year and released their major-label debut, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, in 2004. Shortly after the album's release, Pelissier was replaced by Bob Bryar. The album was a commercial success, attaining platinum status over a year later.
The success of the band's previous albums was eclipsed by that of their 2006 rock opera concept album, The Black Parade. A major commercial success, its lead single "Welcome to the Black Parade" topped the UK singles chart. The album solidified the band's following, despite negative coverage in the Daily Mail generating controversy. The band's fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, was released in 2010. Bryar departed the band prior to the release of the album, and in 2012, they added touring keyboardist James Dewees. In 2012 and 2013, the band released a series of singles they had recorded in 2009 under the collective title Conventional Weapons. My Chemical Romance announced its breakup on March 22, 2013. They released a greatest hits album, May Death Never Stop You, in 2014.
The band announced their reunion in October 2019, with a reunion show taking place in December. They followed it up with announcements for other shows and a Reunion Tour, which took place in 2022 and ended in early 2023. They released "The Foundations of Decay", their first new release in eight years, in May 2022.
History
2001–2002: Formation and I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
The band was formed by vocalist Gerard Way and drummer Matt Pelissier in New Jersey,<ref>Sources differ in terms of where they formed: Source that say they formed in Newark:
Source that say they formed in Belleville:
- Template:Cite web</ref> soon after the September 11 attacks.<ref name="allmusic"/> Witnessing the World Trade Center towers fall influenced Way's life to the extent that he decided to start a band.<ref name="Charlotte Krol NME">Template:Cite web</ref> Shortly thereafter, Ray Toro was recruited as the band's guitarist because at the time Way could not sing and play the guitar simultaneously.<ref name="Kerrang 11 Things You Didn't know">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="alt press">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Way has said, "Music was this thing I secretly wanted to do",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and later wrote the song "Skylines and Turnstiles" to express his feelings about September 11.<ref name="Charlotte Krol NME"/>
The name of the band was suggested by bass guitarist Mikey Way, younger brother of Gerard, who was working in a Barnes & Noble when he was struck by the title of a book by Irvine Welsh named Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance.<ref name="Kerrang 11 Things You Didn't know"/> The first recording sessions were undertaken in Pelissier's attic, where the songs "Our Lady of Sorrows" and "Cubicles" were recorded. The band refers to those sessions as "The Attic Demos".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> After hearing the demo and dropping out of college, Mikey Way decided to join the band. While with Eyeball Records, the band met Frank Iero, the lead vocalist and guitarist for Pencey Prep. Following Pencey Prep's split in 2002, Iero became a member of My Chemical Romance, just days before the recording of the band's debut album.<ref name="alt press"/>
They recorded their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, just three months after the formation of the band and released it in 2002 through Eyeball Records.<ref name="allmusic"/> The album was produced by Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly after the band became friends with him while playing shows in New Jersey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Iero played guitar on two of the tracks, one of which was "Early Sunsets Over Monroeville". During this time, the band was booked at the infamous venue Big Daddy's, where it began to receive more attention.<ref name="bucks">Template:Cite web</ref> The album produced three singles, "Vampires Will Never Hurt You", "Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough for the Two of Us", and "Headfirst for Halos".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> My Chemical Romance offered free downloads through PureVolume and the social networking website MySpace, where they gained an initial fan base.<ref name="downloads">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="wired">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2003–2006: Major label signing and Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Template:Main On August 31, 2003, the band announced via their website that they had signed a deal with Reprise Records.<ref name="allmusic" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's second album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, was released on June 8, 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> A month after the album's release, the band replaced Matt Pelissier with Bob Bryar.<ref name="allmusic"/> The band released four singles from the album: "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", "Thank You for the Venom", "Helena", and "The Ghost of You".<ref name="FMQB">Template:Cite web</ref> The album went platinum in just over a year after its release.<ref name="bucks"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the beginning of 2005, the band was featured on the first Taste of Chaos tour along with The Used and Killswitch Engage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band also was the opening act for Green Day on their American Idiot tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They then co-headlined Warped Tour 2005 with Fall Out Boy and co-headlined a tour with Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect around the US.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> That same year, My Chemical Romance collaborated with The Used for a cover of the Queen and David Bowie song, "Under Pressure", which was released as a benefit single for tsunami relief on iTunes and other Internet outlets.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2006, the album Life on the Murder Scene was released, incorporating a CD and two DVDs. It included one documentary DVD chronicling the band's history, and a second DVD with music videos, the making of their videos and live performances. An unauthorized biography DVD Things That Make You Go MMM! was also released in June 2006. The DVD does not actually feature any My Chemical Romance music clips or performances but contains interviews with those who knew the band before much of their fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Things That Make You Go MMM Product info">Template:Cite web</ref> A biography titled Something Incredible This Way Comes was also released, written by Paul Stenning and published in 2006. It features information on their beginnings right through to their third album, The Black Parade.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
2006–2009: The Black Parade
My Chemical Romance started recording their third studio album on April 10, 2006, with Rob Cavallo, producer of many of Green Day's albums.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="pauseandplay">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="punknews">Template:Cite web</ref>
On August 3, 2006, the band completed shooting the videos for their first two singles from the album, "Welcome to the Black Parade" and although not released until January 2007, "Famous Last Words".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both videos were directed by Samuel Bayer, director of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", as well as the music videos for the Green Day album American Idiot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During filming for the second video, band members Gerard Way and Bob Bryar were injured. Way suffered torn ligaments in his ankle, and Bryar suffered third-degree burns on his hands and legs. Consequently, the band was forced to cancel a few tour dates.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On August 22, 2006, the band played a special one-off show at the 1,800-capacity London Hammersmith Palais.<ref name=":NME Hammersmith Palais">Template:Cite web</ref> The show was sold out in 15 minutes. Later during the show, the album title was confirmed.<ref name=":NME Hammersmith Palais 2">Template:Cite web</ref> The band were bottled during a performance at the Reading Festival by fans of the band Slayer, who performed before them at the festival; Way later described it as their "greatest victory as a show".<ref name=":2"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
"Welcome to the Black Parade" was released as a single on September 11, 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A music video for the song, directed by Samuel Bayer and starring Lukas Haas as "The Patient", was released later the same month.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single became the band's first number-one on the UK Singles Chart in October 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Black Parade was released on October 23, 2006.<ref name="JakeRichardson">Template:Cite web</ref> In the US, "Welcome to the Black Parade" reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's only top ten hit to date on the chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
The Black Parade World Tour started on February 22, 2007, featuring Rise Against and Muse as support acts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reggie and the Full Effect frontman James Dewees joined the band to play keyboards and synthesizer from there on. In April 2007, it was announced that Mikey Way would temporarily leave the tour to spend time with his new wife, Alicia Simmons-Way. Way's temporary replacement was Matt Cortez, a friend of the band.<ref name="Mikey Wedding">Template:Cite web</ref> During the third leg of the tour, as a support act for Muse, members of My Chemical Romance and their crew, along with members of Muse's crew, suffered food poisoning, and consequently had to cancel shows.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band later featured on Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour in 2007, along with Placebo, Mindless Self Indulgence, Saosin, Taking Back Sunday and HIM.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
My Chemical Romance received a range of accolades for The Black Parade. Kerrang! rated The Black Parade as the fourth-greatest album of 2006.<ref>Kerrang! Magazine. Issue 1139.</ref> In Rolling Stone magazine's ranking of the top 50 albums of 2006, The Black Parade was voted the 20th best album of the year,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 361th on their top 500 albums of all time.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> My Chemical Romance went on to win the award for Best International Band at the 2007 NME Awards, and Gerard Way also won the Hero of the Year award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> My Chemical Romance was also nominated for Best Alternative Group at the 2007 American Music Awards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
During the height of the album's popularity, British tabloid Daily Mail characterized the band and their fans as an emo "cult of self-harm",<ref name=":2"/> and published articles regarding the band with intentionally inflammatory headlines. One such article, "Why No Child is Safe From the Sinister Cult of Emo", published in 2008, linked the suicide of a thirteen-year-old British girl to an alleged "emo cult", which the tabloid used to characterize My Chemical Romance's fandom. In response to the newspaper's coverage of the band, over 300 British fans planned a march protest throughout London, ending at the tabloid's office.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite magazine</ref> However, after concerns by police, the march was called off and instead about 100 fans congregated at Marble Arch.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Daily Mail defended their position and coverage of the band, saying that it was "balanced and restrained", "in the public interest", and that they were reporting genuine concerns raised by the coroner at the inquest. They pointed towards other newspapers publishing such stories at the time, as well as to their publishing of readers' letters defending the band and positive reviews of the band's albums and tours.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2008, the band released a live DVD/CD collection titled The Black Parade Is Dead!, which includes two concerts from October 2007, the final Black Parade concert in Mexico, and a small show at Maxwell's in New Jersey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The DVD/CD was meant to be released on June 24 in the United States and June 30 in the UK, but was postponed to July 1 because of a technical fault with the Mexico concert.<ref name="Taste it TV interview">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009, an EP of B-sides from The Black Parade was released, titled The Black Parade: The B-Sides.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band then announced that they would be releasing "a collection of nine never-before-seen live videos, straight from the encore set of the Mexico City show from October 2007" during their Black Parade World Tour, titled ¡Venganza!. The release came on a bullet-shaped flash drive. It was released on April 10, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2009–2011: Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
Template:Main In February 2009, My Chemical Romance released a new single titled "Desolation Row", a cover of the Bob Dylan song. It was recorded to feature as the end credit track for the 2009 film Watchmen, an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> While working on the then-upcoming fourth album, the band originally worked with producer Brendan O'Brien, who has worked with AC/DC, Mastodon, and Pearl Jam.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In an interview with NME, Gerard Way said the band's next record would be a rock album, saying, "I think [the next album] will definitely be stripped down. I think the band misses being a rock band."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Way also commented that the next release would be less theatrical in scope, stating that "it's not going to be hiding behind a veil of fiction or uniforms and makeup anymore."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In an interview with PopEater, Way also stated that the next album will be "full of hate". He also said "over the years that we've been hearing ourselves live and hearing us on records, we kind of prefer the live. There's more of a garage feel and more energy. I'd like to capture some of that, finally. That's the goal for the next one."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On July 31 and August 1, 2009, My Chemical Romance played two "secret" shows at The Roxy Theater in Los Angeles. The shows were the first concerts the band had played since Madison Square Garden in May 2008. The band also premiered several new songs said to be from their upcoming fourth album during the shows, one reportedly titled "Death Before Disco", a song that Way said he was particularly excited about.<ref name="MCR plays at Roxy">Template:Cite web</ref> The song was since renamed "Party Poison" and was included on the new album. Way explained further in a Rolling Stone interview that "it's a completely different sound for the band — it's like an anti-party song that you can party to. I can't wait for people to hear it. It brings back, lyrically, some of that wonderful fiction from the first album."<ref name="MCR">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Gerard Way also said in a November 2009 interview with Rock Sound that the fourth album would be their defining work. "A friend who heard the record recently said he now had no interest in listening to our older work anymore, that we had made all our old material redundant. I took it as a compliment, the next thing you should always make the last thing seem unimportant and I think that will happen when we finally release this album."<ref name="Rock Sound">Template:Cite magazine</ref> On March 3, 2010, Iero announced on their official website that Bob Bryar had left the band, writing:
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
As of 4 weeks ago, My Chemical Romance and Bob Bryar parted ways. This was a painful decision for all of us to make and was not taken lightly. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and expect you all to do the same.{{#if:|
|}}{{#if:Frank Iero<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>|
— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries
}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}
Since Bryar's departure, My Chemical Romance has not had a full time drummer.<ref name="lastfulltime">Template:Cite news</ref> In a March 2010 MTV interview about the new album, Way explained, "There's no title yet ... I'm actually kind of excited about that. It's kind of 'anything goes' at this point, but I'm so happy with the songs." Though the band eventually decided on the title of their fourth album, it continued to go unannounced, with various rumors circulating and the band stating on their website that it will be revealed "all in due time".<ref name="To Kill a Demon Shark">Template:Cite web</ref>
During the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, Way announced that the band had finished recording the fourth studio album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was later confirmed by Iero on the band's website, announcing that the album was "done, finished, kaput, in the proverbial can, and being played loudly as we drive way too fast in our respective cars."<ref name="To Kill a Demon Shark"/> In September, a trailer video was uploaded to My Chemical Romance's official YouTube page titled Art is a Weapon, which announced the title of the album: Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 22, 2010, the band premiered their song "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)" on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show, and Los Angeles-based radio station KROQ-FM.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song officially release as a single on September 28.<ref name="Spin na na na">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album was released on November 22, 2010.<ref name="Spin na na na"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The second single, "The Only Hope for Me Is You", was released on October 12, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some of the other singles from the album include, "Sing",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and "Planetary (Go!)".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Sing", in particular, would go on to be covered by the cast of the American musical drama TV series Glee in February 2011, and later re-recorded as a charity single in response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. American broadcaster Glenn Beck labelled the song as propaganda, stating that it was an example of how "our whole culture right now is set up for you and the values that we grew up on to lose", and was an anthem telling people to "join [them]". Gerard Way responded to the accusation by saying "I think the word Glenn Beck was looking for was 'subversion' not 'propaganda' [...] I don't know what it would be considered propaganda for—truth? Sentiment?".<ref name="MTV News Propaganda">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Guardian Spat">Template:Cite news</ref>
Rock Sound had a preview of the album and gave a positive review, commenting "the way they've used everything they learned on The Black Parade and tightened up in certain places feels natural and confident" and that it sees "the creativity of the band taking flight musically, graphically and literally."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Michael Pedicone joined the band as a touring drummer late in 2010, replacing Bryar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During a performance at Wembley Arena on February 12, 2011, Way announced that the band would be appearing at a UK festival later in the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also performed at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Carlisle, England on May 15, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On September 2, 2011, Frank Iero posted a blog on the band's site stating, "The relationship between My Chemical Romance and Michael Pedicone is over" and explaining Pedicone was sacked because "he was caught red-handed stealing from the band and confessed to police after our show last night in Auburn, Washington." He also mentioned his hope of getting a new drummer in time for their next show and avoiding having to cancel any performances in the process.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="mychemicalromance1">Template:Cite web</ref> On September 4, 2011, it was revealed through various sources that Jarrod Alexander will be the new touring drummer for the remainder of the Honda Civic tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2011–2013: Conventional Weapons and break-up
Template:Main In an interview with Rolling Stone in October 2011, guitarist Frank Iero revealed that new music could be out "by summer".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On December 18, 2011, the band appeared on Nick Jr. Channel's Yo Gabba Gabba!, and performed a song called "Every Snowflake Is Different (Just Like You)".<ref name="Yo Gabba Gabba1">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Yo Gabba Gabba2">Template:Cite magazine</ref> This was part of a Christmas special for the show.<ref name="Yo Gabba Gabba1"/><ref name="Yo Gabba Gabba2"/> The special includes other famous guest appearances such as Tony Hawk and Tori Spelling.<ref name="Yo Gabba Gabba1"/><ref name="Yo Gabba Gabba2"/>
My Chemical Romance began work on their fifth studio album in early 2012,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with the working title of The Paper Kingdom.<ref name=":42">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=":52">Template:Cite AV media</ref> The band worked with engineer Doug McKean, who previously worked on The Black Parade and Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2012, the band announced a new project titled Conventional Weapons.<ref name="NME Conventional Weapons">Template:Cite web</ref> The project revolved around 10 unreleased songs that were recorded in 2009, prior to the making of Danger Days.<ref name="NME Conventional Weapons"/> The band released two songs each month for five months from the Conventional Weapons sessions, starting in October 2012 and finishing in February 2013.<ref name="NME Conventional Weapons"/> According to the October 2012 issue of Q Magazine, Frank Iero reported early sessions for MCR's next album with the new drummer Jarrod Alexander were progressing well. "Jarrod is a rad guy and a fantastic player. It's been really fun making music with him these past few months," Iero commented.<ref name="q_dec_2012">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
On March 22, 2013, the band announced their break-up on their official website,<ref name="rolling stone breakup">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter breakup">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Loudwire breakup">Template:Cite web</ref> issuing this statement:
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
|}}{{#if:|
— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries
}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}
Gerard Way posted an extended tweet on his Twitter account two days after the website announcement, in which he confirmed the disbanding of the group but denied that altercations between band members were the reason for the split.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2013–2017: May Death Never Stop You and post-breakup
Template:Main On March 25, 2014, the band released a greatest hits collection, titled May Death Never Stop You, containing material spanning their entire career, as well a single unreleased track.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="kerrang1">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The track "Fake Your Death" was made available digitally on February 17.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the only song in MCR's discography to feature James Dewees playing keyboards.
Following the band's breakup, the members of the band continued to pursue music. Lead vocalist Gerard Way announced his debut solo album Hesitant Alien with the release of an advance-single, "Action Cat".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hesitant Alien was released on September 29, 2014, in the UK, and a day later in the U.S.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hesitant Alien was a moderate commercial success, topping the US Billboard Alternative Albums chart and reaching No. 16 on the US Billboard 200.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hesitant Alien also topped the "Ten Essential Albums Of 2014" list in Alternative Press.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Rhythm guitarist Frank Iero sporadically collaborated with My Chemical Romance keyboardist James Dewees, forming Death Spells<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and performing in Reggie and the Full Effect (alongside Ray Toro), releasing No Country for Old Musicians on November 19, 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Afterwards, he announced via his official website that he signed to Staple Records and would be releasing a full-length solo album titled Stomachaches under the moniker of "frnkiero andthe cellabration". The album featured former My Chemical Romance touring drummer Jarrod Alexander. Stomachaches was released worldwide on August 25, 2014.<ref name="Digital release info">Template:Cite web</ref>
Bassist Mikey Way formed Electric Century along with Sleep Station vocalist David Debiak in 2014 and released their debut single "I Lied" in February 2014.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The duo announced their debut self-titled EP on March 10, 2015, and it was released on Record Store Day on April 18, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Lead guitarist Ray Toro released a song titled "Isn't That Something" on May 24, 2013.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On January 1, 2015, he posted a new song, titled "For the Lost and Brave", on his website, dedicating the song to Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teen who committed suicide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
On July 20, 2016, the band posted on their official Twitter and Facebook pages a video with the piano intro from "Welcome to the Black Parade", ending with a cryptic date, "9/23/16".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The video was also published on the band's YouTube channel with the video titled "MCRX".<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> This led to numerous rumors and reports on the band's possible reunion until it was revealed to be a reissue of The Black Parade with unreleased demos.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The reissue, titled The Black Parade/Living with Ghosts,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> includes 11 demos and live tracks. Two months before its release, an early version of "Welcome to the Black Parade", titled "The Five of Us Are Dying", was made available for streaming.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In a discussion of his work on the comic book Doom Patrol, Gerard Way told Billboard in 2017, "I wouldn't count (a reunion) out, but at the same time everybody's doing stuff in their lives now that they're really enjoying."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2019–present: Reunion
My Chemical Romance regrouped in 2017, and began working together since then through a series of secret jam sessions and rehearsals.<ref name="regrouped in 2017">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="regrouped in 2017 2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="regrouped in 2017 3">Template:Cite web</ref> They announced their reunion on October 31, 2019,<ref name="pitchfork.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and scheduled a reunion show in Los Angeles on December 20. The show sold out almost immediately.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Subsequent reunion shows were scheduled throughout Australia, Japan and New Zealand for 2020.<ref name="Campbell">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Los Angeles show grossed $1,451,745, with an attendance of 5,113.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In January 2020, the group announced three concerts at Stadium MK (Milton Keynes, England) throughout June 2020, as tickets for each date sold out within minutes.<ref name="Tom Herbert and Emma Clarke">Template:Cite web</ref> Later in the month, the group premiered a cryptic video on YouTube which ended by announcing a North American tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The North American shows went on sale on January 31, 2020, and sold out in less than six hours.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the shows on the tour that were set to begin in 2020 were postponed to 2021, including the North American leg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These tour dates were later rescheduled again to 2022.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The tour commenced on May 16, 2022 at the Eden Project,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and concluded on March 26, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Before the tour began, the band released their first single since reuniting, "The Foundations of Decay", on May 12, 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song was used as an opener for several dates on their reunion tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
My Chemical Romance headlined the When We Were Young Festival in October 2024, where they performed The Black Parade in its entirety.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the festival performance, the band announced the Long Live The Black Parade tour in November, a North American stadium tour in 2025, where they would be touring in celebration of the album and playing it in full.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tour is centered around a fictional dictatorship known as Draag, with a storyline centered around the Black Parade alter-ego band being resurrected to appease the country's leader, known as the "Grand Immortal Dictator".<ref name=":21">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":18">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The tour began on July 11, 2025.<ref name=":22">Template:Cite magazine</ref> They later extended the tour into 2026, with dates in Mexico, South America, Asia, and Europe.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Bryar died in November 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the band's performance in Chicago during Long Live The Black Parade, they projected an image of Bryar on screen as a tribute.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Musical style and influences
Style and classification
My Chemical Romance are primarily known for their "goth-tinged" aesthetic, theatrical vocals, and "introspective, confessional lyrics".<ref name="allmusic"/> The band's music has mostly been categorized as alternative rock, emo, pop-punk, post-hardcore, punk rock, and hard rock.Template:Refn The band has also released songs that have been described as emo pop, hardcore punk, gothic rock, pop rock, arena rock, glam rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, pop, screamo, and garage punk.Template:Refn Gerard Way has publicly rejected the term "emo",<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":rolling stone emo">Template:Cite magazine</ref> describing the genre as "fucking garbage"<ref name=":rolling stone emo" /><ref name="nmeinterview">Template:Cite web</ref> (although he has reportedly also described the band's style as "What-else-ya-got-emo").<ref name="alt press" />
The band's debut album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love exhibits a raw sound featuring fast guitar riffs, highly energetic vocals and occasional screaming. The album has been compared to the works of Thursday<ref name="allmusic"/> and has been described as emo,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="alternative press 22">Template:Cite magazine</ref> post-hardcore,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Birthday">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> screamo,<ref name="fusetv">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="COS">Template:Cite web</ref> punk rock,<ref name="alternative press 22" /> gothic rock,<ref name="PopMatters" /> pop-punk,<ref name="alternative press 22" /> and garage punk,<ref name="Birthday" /> with influences from hardcore punk and heavy metal.<ref name="bulletsIGN">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's following album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge features "hyper" instrumentation and "furious immediacy", and was described as alternative rock,<ref name="Joe Bosso guitarworld">Template:Cite magazine</ref> emo,<ref name="Suzy Exposito rollingstone" /><ref name="Joe Bosso guitarworld" /> pop-punk,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> post-hardcore,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> punk rock,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and pop rock.<ref name="Arielle Gordon pitchfork" />
The band's third album, The Black Parade, has been called an "old-fashioned concept album", featuring "pummeling riffs and soaring guitar solos". It has been "described as alternative rock,<ref name="The Black Parade AllMusic">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> emo,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="JakeRichardson" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> pop-punk,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> progressive rock,<ref name=":Kevin W. Smith" /> post-hardcore,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> punk rock,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and hard rock,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with influences from 1970s classic rock,<ref name="altpress">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="patrick">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="IGN">Template:Cite web</ref> glam rock,<ref name="altpress" /><ref name="spinreview">Template:Cite magazine</ref> pop,<ref name="about">Template:Cite web</ref> and gothic rock.<ref name="spinreview" /> The band's fourth album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, integrated elements of power pop,<ref name="allmusic" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> psychedelic rock,<ref name="allmusic" /> proto-punk,<ref name="allmusic" /> pop rock,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and electronic rock into their sound.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Influences
Template:Multiple image Gerard Way said to Rolling Stone, "we love bands like Queen, where it's huge and majestic, but also bands like Black Flag and the Misfits, who would go absolutely crazy."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Way has stated that the band is heavily influenced by Queen,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ink & Dagger, Circle Jerks, Stiffs, Inc., the Damned,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Iron Maiden, Misfits, Black Flag, At the Gates, Descendents, Pantera, Van Halen,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Cure, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Smiths, Morrissey,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Thursday.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Smashing Pumpkins also impacted the band's trajectory, with Way stating that My Chemical Romance has patterned their career after the Pumpkins'.<ref>Template:Cite web Retrieved from Internet Archive February 16, 2014.</ref> Toro cited the influence of Green Day's American Idiot upon The Black Parade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In a 2007 issue of Kerrang!, when asked to list the songs that influenced the band's music the most, they listed Taking Back Sunday's "MakeDamnSure", Say Anything's "Alive with the Glory of Love", Thursday's "Understanding in a Car Crash", Kill Hannah's "Lips like Morphine", Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown", the Misfit's "Dust to Dust", the Bled's "You Know Whose Seatbelt", Killswitch Engage's "Fixation of Darkness", Idlewild's "Love Steals Us from Loneliness", Alkaline Trio's "Radio", Thrice's "Red Sky", Denali's "Surface", Soilwork's "Bastard Chain" and Helloween's "Twilight of the Gods".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Frank Iero's guitar work draws from Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore and Jack White, while Ray Toro cites Megadeth, Metallica, Pantera, and Iron Maiden as influences.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> My Chemical Romance's other influences include the Stooges, Ramones, Sex Pistols, the Clash, Minor Threat, Nirvana, and Operation Ivy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also have noted that their lives, childhoods, books they've read and movies they've seen have influenced their music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Legacy and cultural impact
Music and popular culture
Music journalist Em Casalena of American Songwriter stated that "Any conversation about bands that defined the emo sound will likely at least mention My Chemical Romance."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to Rolling Stone, the band played "somewhat of an anomaly in New Jersey's then-burgeoning pop-punk and emo scene", before achieving their breakthrough with an "instant emo classic" Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.<ref name="Suzy Exposito rollingstone"/> In 2022, The Guardian wrote that during the height of their career they were "unlikely superstars, misfits who inadvertently infiltrated the mainstream" but upon their reunion tour, the band would "return to a pop cultural landscape they helped to define".<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> The New York TimesTemplate:'s Christopher R. Weingarten has noted that The Black Parade inspired a number of 2010s musicians in different genres, including Twenty One Pilots, Crown the Empire, Famous Last Words, Halsey, Fun, Billie Eilish and Post Malone, and even influenced the sound of movie musicals like Frozen II.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2016, Nylon wrote that the record "took the idea of a concept album and exploited it for the digital age", while being musically a rock opera "as ambitious as any post-Queen rock opera could be".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Speaking on the band's reception and criticism during the early 2000s, NPR Music wrote that, "at a moment when mannered indie-pop and roughshod garage-rock were infiltrating the mainstream, [the band] was earnest, dramatic and unapologetically massive, in a way that made it conspicuously uncool," and deemed The Black Parade a "defining album" for a generation of pop-punk fans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2020, Kerrang! deemed the band "the rock superstars of the 21st century" while stating that "no other band has had such a musical or cultural impact over recent years."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The magazine also noted their influence in "the current music scene" of alternative rock.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Vice named My Chemical Romance the "artist of the decade", with writer Hannah Ewens commenting that they "influenced rock throughout the 2010s—even though they were inactive for most of the decade."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In Paste magazine, Eli Enis wrote that "it is pretty much accepted canon at this point that My Chemical Romance are one of the most significant rock bands this side of the millennium."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> James McMahon of The Independent stated that Gerard Way "set a blueprint for emo's image of pale face, raven-black hair and perhaps a red tie, for almost 20 years."<ref name=":6">Template:Cite news</ref> Writing on the band's influence, Entertainment WeeklyTemplate:'s Kyle Anderson stated that they "offered up spiritual solutions to real problems, and they did it with huge riffs and big theatrical stage shows, with rarely a hint of irony or detachment... it's unlikely there will ever be a band quite like them again."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
LGBT community
In Archer, Vince Ruston commented on the band's popularity in the queer and LGBT communities: "My Chemical Romance wanted to speak to and raise up every person who had ever felt outcast, downtrodden, or alienated. Queer teens were a huge part of that demographic".<ref name=":4">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Similarly, Michelle Hyun Kim described Gerard Way as a "queer icon" in Them, and that "after the band announced their reunion on Halloween 2019, I saw tweets from LGBTQ+ folks around the world claiming, in some way or another, that MCR either served as a queer awakening or fostered their queerness."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band have long been supportive of LGBT rights<ref name=":4" /> and embraced their LGBT fandom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tours
2000s
Template:Main My Chemical Romance played in many major tours of 2005. The band toured with Green Day in 2005 on the "Green Day Presents American Idiot Tour".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They were also part of the Warped Tour in the same year. "For a lot of kids, it's the one thing they look forward to all year," said Gerard Way of the Warped Tour. "They save up for it. They get to see all the bands they like in one shot."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
My Chemical Romance co-headlined the main stage with The Used on the Taste of Chaos tour,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> before starting their first headlining tour, simply named the "My Chemical Romance Tour". The tour launched September 15 in Ohio, stopping at 30 locations in the United States, to promote their album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.<ref name="My Chemical Romance Fall Tour">Template:Cite web</ref> Supporting acts included Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect.<ref name="My Chemical Romance Fall Tour"/> This tour marked the beginning of the heavy theatrics later showcased in many of their live shows.<ref name="My Chemical Romance Fall Tour"/> Way expressed his plans for the tour in an interview with MTV, saying, "we'd talked about bringing out dancers for our headlining tour in the fall, but it's a big undertaking; you have to have a bus full of dancers. We've always wanted to do a big theatrical tour. But you have to do it in steps".<ref name="My Chemical Romance Fall Tour"/>
The band joined headliners Linkin Park, along with Taking Back Sunday, on Projekt Revolution 2007, starting on July 25 and ending on September 3, 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the tour, Gerard Way married Mindless Self Indulgence bassist Lindsey "Lyn Z" Ballato.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the Projekt Revolution tour, they opened for Bon Jovi in October 2007.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2010s
Template:Main On September 19, 2010, the band announced "The World Contamination Tour", which took place in parts of the UK, France, Amsterdam and Germany.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The band embarked on a joint tour of the United States with Blink-182 in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tour was announced on May 23, 2011 when both bands gathered at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Members of the band's fan clubs had the first chance at tickets to all shows, in an exclusive pre-sale that began on June 6. On June 8, anyone who "liked" the Honda Civic Tour's Facebook page gained access to tickets. All remaining tickets went on sale to the general public on June 10 via Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The band reunited out of the public eye in 2017<ref name="regrouped in 2017"/><ref name="regrouped in 2017 2"/><ref name="regrouped in 2017 3"/> and announced a reunion show on October 31, 2019, which took place in Los Angeles on December 20, 2019, extending this to a small tour consisting of dates in Australia, New Zealand and Japan a week later.<ref name="pitchfork.com"/><ref name="Campbell"/>
2020s
Template:Main On January 28, 2020, the group announced plans to present three concerts in Milton Keynes (UK), on 18, 20 and 21 of June 2020.<ref name="Tom Herbert and Emma Clarke"/> On January 29, 2020, the band announced a North American tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group postponed its Milton Keynes events, initially to June 2021.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In June 2020, the band postponed all North American events to September and October 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2021, the Milton Keynes concert was postponed again to May 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The rest of the tour was later postponed to 2022.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Band members
Template:Main Current
- Gerard Way – lead vocals (2001–2013, 2019–present)
- Ray Toro – lead guitar, backing vocals (2001–2013, 2019–present)
- Mikey Way – bass guitar (2001–2013, 2019–present)
- Frank Iero – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2002–2013, 2019–present)
Touring
- Pete Parada – drums, percussion (2007)Template:Citation needed
- Matt Cortez – rhythm guitar (2007–2008), bass guitar (2007)
- Tucker Rule – percussion (2007–2008, 2025–present); drums (2007–2008)Template:Citation needed
- Todd Price – rhythm guitar (2008)
- Michael Pedicone – drums, percussion (2010–2011)
- Jarrod Alexander – drums, percussion (2011–2013, 2019–present)
- Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards (2019–present)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kayleigh Goldsworthy – violin (2025–present)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Clarice Jensen – cello (2025–present)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Former
- Matt Pelissier – drums, percussion (2001–2004)
- Bob Bryar – drums, percussion (2004–2010; died 2024)
- James Dewees – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (2012–2013; touring 2007–2012)
Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:110 top:10 right:50 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/10/2001 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2002 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2002
Colors =
id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar,_backing_vocals id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar,_backing_vocals id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards,_percussion,_backing_vocals id:album value:black legend:Studio_albums id:bars value:gray(0.9)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
LineData =
at:23/07/2002 color:album layer:back at:08/06/2004 color:album layer:back at:24/10/2006 color:album layer:back at:22/11/2010 color:album layer:back
BarData =
bar:Gerard text:Gerard Way bar:Ray text:Ray Toro bar:Frank text:Frank Iero bar:Mikey text:Mikey Way bar:Matt text:Matt Pellisier bar:Bob text:Bob Bryar bar:James text:James Dewees
PlotData =
width:11 bar:Gerard from:start till:22/03/2013 color:lvocals bar:Gerard from:31/10/2019 till:end color:lvocals bar:Ray from:start till:22/03/2013 color:lguitar bar:Ray from:start till:25/05/2002 color:rguitar width:3 bar:Ray from:31/10/2019 till:end color:lguitar bar:Frank from:25/05/2002 till:22/03/2013 color:rguitar bar:Frank from:31/10/2019 till:end color:rguitar bar:Mikey from:start till:22/03/2013 color:bass bar:Mikey from:31/10/2019 till:end color:bass bar:Matt from:start till:07/07/2004 color:drums bar:Bob from:08/07/2004 till:03/03/2010 color:drums bar:James from:22/02/2007 till:01/02/2012 color:keys width:3 bar:James from:01/02/2012 till:22/03/2013 color:keys
</timeline>
Discography
Template:Main Studio albums
- I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002)
- Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004)
- The Black Parade (2006)
- Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (2010)
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. alternative rock chart
- List of awards and nominations received by My Chemical Romance
Notes
<references group="note" /> Template:Notelist
References
Further reading
External links
- Template:Official website
- Template:AllMusic
- Template:Discogs artist
- Template:MusicBrainz artist
- [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 1987178
| name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=1987178|2=^nm}}
| Template:Trim/
| nm1987178/
}}
| {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
| name/Template:First word/
| find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
}}
}}{{#if: 1987178 {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch:
| award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
}}}} {{#if:
| {{{name}}}
| Template:PAGENAMEBASE
}}] at IMDb{{#if: 1987178{{#property:P345}}
| Template:EditAtWikidata
| Template:Main other
}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=1987178|plain=false}}
| 1 | 3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}
- Pages with broken file links
- My Chemical Romance
- 2001 establishments in New Jersey
- 2013 disestablishments in New Jersey
- Alternative rock groups from New Jersey
- Punk rock groups from New Jersey
- Emo musical groups from New Jersey
- American post-hardcore musical groups
- Bands with fictional stage personas
- Culture of Jersey City, New Jersey
- Musical groups disestablished in 2013
- Musical groups established in 2001
- Musical groups reestablished in 2019
- American musical quintets
- NME Awards winners
- Pop punk groups from New Jersey
- Reprise Records artists
- Warner Records artists
- Sibling musical groups
- Musical groups from Newark, New Jersey
- Music controversies
- 2008 controversies in the United States