My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	September 2001; 25 years ago
Founder	Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Ray Toro, Matt Pelissier
Headquarters	New Jersey, United States
Products	Music albums, singles, live performances
Website	www.mychemicalromance.com

My Chemical Romance is a rock band originating from New Jersey, United States. The group currently features lead singer Gerard Way, lead guitarist Ray Toro, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way. They are widely regarded as one of the most impactful rock ensembles of the 2000s and have played a significant role in shaping the emo and pop-punk scenes, although they have consistently distanced themselves from the emo label.

The band was established in September 2001 by Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Ray Toro, and drummer Matt Pelissier, with Frank Iero joining shortly thereafter. Initially signed to Eyeball Records, they released their first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, in 2002. The following year, they secured a contract with Reprise Records and launched their major-label debut, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, in 2004. Soon after this release, Pelissier was replaced by Bob Bryar. This album achieved platinum certification within its first year.

Their 2006 concept album, The Black Parade, a rock opera, eclipsed their earlier achievements. The lead single "Welcome to the Black Parade" reached number one on the UK singles chart and helped to cement their dedicated fanbase despite facing criticism from certain media outlets. In 2010, they released their fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. Prior to this release, Bryar departed from the band, and touring keyboardist James Dewees joined in 2012. Between 2012 and 2013, they issued singles from sessions recorded in 2009 under the title Conventional Weapons. The group announced their disbandment on March 22, 2013, followed by a greatest hits compilation titled May Death Never Stop You in 2014.

In October 2019, My Chemical Romance reunited and performed a comeback show in December of that year. They subsequently embarked on additional performances and a Reunion Tour throughout 2022, which concluded in early 2023. In May 2022, they unveiled "The Foundations of Decay", marking their first new release in eight years.

2001–2002: Formation and I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love

Shortly after the September 11 attacks, vocalist Gerard Way and drummer Matt Pelissier founded the band in New Jersey. The tragic events deeply affected Way and inspired him to initiate the project. Since he was unable to sing while playing guitar simultaneously, guitarist Ray Toro joined early on. Way has described music as a long-standing passion and composed "Skylines and Turnstiles" as an artistic response to his experiences during 9/11.

The name "My Chemical Romance" was proposed by bassist Mikey Way, Gerard's younger sibling, drawing inspiration from a book title. Their initial recordings were made in Pelissier's attic space and became known as "The Attic Demos." After hearing these early tracks and deciding to leave college, Mikey officially joined the lineup. Shortly before recording their debut album, they added Frank Iero—a former member of Pencey Prep—to the band.

Recorded just three months after forming, their debut record I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love was released in 2002 via Eyeball Records. The album was produced by Geoff Rickly of Thursday and featured Iero playing on two tracks. The band started gaining recognition through live performances at venues such as Big Daddy's. This album yielded three singles: "Vampires Will Never Hurt You," "Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough for the Two of Us," and "Headfirst for Halos." Early fan support was fostered through complimentary downloads available on platforms like PureVolume and MySpace.

2003–2006: Signing with a Major Label and Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge

On August 31, 2003, the group revealed their new contract with Reprise Records. Their sophomore album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, was launched on June 8, 2004. Shortly afterward, in July, drummer Matt Pelissier was succeeded by Bob Bryar. This record yielded four singles: "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", "Thank You for the Venom", "Helena", and "The Ghost of You". Within just over a year, it achieved platinum certification.

In early 2005, the band participated in the first-ever Taste of Chaos tour alongside The Used and Killswitch Engage, and served as opening act for Green Day during their American Idiot tour. That summer, they co-headlined the Warped Tour 2005 with Fall Out Boy, and also toured with Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect. During that year, My Chemical Romance teamed up with The Used to cover Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure" as a charity single on iTunes to aid tsunami relief efforts.

In March 2006, they released Life on the Murder Scene, a package comprising a CD plus two DVDs that included a documentary, music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and live performances. Additionally, an unofficial biography DVD titled Things That Make You Go MMM! was issued in June 2006; this featured interviews but no live band footage. That same year, Paul Stenning published a biography called Something Incredible This Way Comes, chronicling the band’s journey up to their third album, The Black Parade.

2006–2009: The Black Parade

Work on My Chemical Romance's third studio album began on April 10, 2006, with producer Rob Cavallo, noted for his collaborations with Green Day.

By August 3, 2006, music videos for the singles "Welcome to the Black Parade" and "Famous Last Words", both directed by Samuel Bayer, were completed. During these shoots, members Gerard Way and Bob Bryar sustained injuries that led to some canceled tour dates.

On August 22, 2006, the band performed a sold-out show at London's Hammersmith Palais (capacity: 1,800), where they officially announced the album’s title. Despite being jeered by fans of the preceding act Slayer at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, the band regarded this as an important milestone.

The single "Welcome to the Black Parade" dropped on September 11, 2006; its video featured actor Lukas Haas. The track became their first UK number-one single in October 2006 and reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking their only top ten hit in the United States. The full album The Black Parade was released on October 23, 2006.

The Black Parade World Tour commenced on February 22, 2007, supported by acts such as Rise Against and Muse. Keyboardist James Dewees joined as part of the touring ensemble. In April 2007, Mikey Way temporarily stepped away from touring duties; Matt Cortez served as his substitute. During the third leg of the tour, both band members and crew suffered from food poisoning resulting in several canceled shows. Later that year, My Chemical Romance joined Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour alongside Placebo and others.

Critically acclaimed, The Black Parade earned numerous honors: it was ranked fourth-best album of 2006 by Kerrang!, twentieth by Rolling Stone, and placed at number 361 on Rolling Stone's list of top 500 albums ever. The band won Best International Band at the 2007 NME Awards, while Gerard Way received Hero of the Year recognition. They also garnered a nomination for Best Alternative Group at the 2007 American Music Awards.

During this timeframe, British tabloid Daily Mail controversially described the band’s fanbase as an emo "cult," associating it with concerns about youth self-harm. This led to planned demonstrations by fans in London that were ultimately scaled back due to police safety concerns. The tabloid defended its reporting as balanced and in the public interest.

In 2008, My Chemical Romance issued a live DVD/CD set entitled The Black Parade Is Dead!, featuring recordings from two October 2007 performances including their final Black Parade concert in Mexico City. The release was postponed due to technical difficulties with footage from the Mexico show. In 2009, they released an EP titled The Black Parade: The B-Sides, compiling B-sides from that album cycle. Furthermore, on April 10, 2009, they distributed ¡Venganza!, a collection of nine previously unreleased live videos from their Mexico City encore performance presented on a bullet-shaped flash drive.

2009–2011: Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

In February 2009, My Chemical Romance contributed a rendition of Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row" for the soundtrack of the film Watchmen. During the development of their fourth studio album, the group initially teamed up with producer Brendan O'Brien, recognized for his work with AC/DC and Pearl Jam.

Gerard Way characterized the forthcoming record as a more straightforward rock album, intentionally stepping away from theatricality and makeup. His goal was to encapsulate the raw energy and garage band essence of their live performances, describing the sound as "full of hate."

On July 31 and August 1, 2009, the band held two secret gigs at The Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, where they introduced new tracks including "Death Before Disco," which was later retitled "Party Poison." Way emphasized this song as a standout piece. By November 2009, Way referred to this fourth album as a defining milestone for the band, aiming to render their previous works obsolete.

Drummer Bob Bryar departed from the band on March 3, 2010; since that time, My Chemical Romance has not maintained a permanent drummer. Recording concluded by mid-2010, and in September the album’s title was unveiled as Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. The lead single "Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)" debuted on BBC Radio 1 and KROQ-FM on September 22, 2010, followed by its release on September 28. The full album was released on November 22, 2010. Later singles included "The Only Hope for Me Is You," "Sing," and "Planetary (Go!)". The track "Sing" received additional recognition after being covered on the TV show Glee and was re-recorded as a charity single in response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The song became controversial when commentator Glenn Beck accused it of being propaganda; Gerard Way countered by describing it more accurately as "subversion."

Critics responded favorably; Rock Sound lauded the album’s confident inventiveness and noted a more focused sound compared to The Black Parade. Michael Pedicone joined as touring drummer towards the end of 2010. In February 2011, Way announced plans for UK festival appearances, including Radio 1's Big Weekend in May.

On September 2, 2011, Frank Iero revealed that Pedicone had been dismissed after being caught stealing from the band. Jarrod Alexander was subsequently confirmed as the touring drummer for the remainder of their Honda Civic tour.

2011–2013: Conventional Weapons and break-up

In October 2011, guitarist Frank Iero suggested that new material might be available by summer. On December 18, 2011, the band performed "Every Snowflake Is Different (Just Like You)" on Nick Jr. Channel's Yo Gabba Gabba! Christmas special.

Early in 2012, work commenced on their fifth studio album under the tentative title The Paper Kingdom, once again collaborating with engineer Doug McKean, who had previously worked on The Black Parade and Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. In September 2012, they announced Conventional Weapons, a series releasing ten previously unreleased tracks recorded in 2009 prior to Danger Days. Two songs were issued each month from October 2012 through February 2013. During this period, Frank Iero reported positive experiences working with new drummer Jarrod Alexander.

On March 22, 2013, My Chemical Romance declared their official disbandment, attributing it to a satisfying twelve-year career without internal disputes. Gerard Way later confirmed this announcement via Twitter, denying any member conflicts as a cause for the split.

2013–2017: May Death Never Stop You and Activities Following the Split

On March 25, 2014, My Chemical Romance unveiled a compilation album titled May Death Never Stop You, encapsulating their musical journey and including one previously unreleased track, "Fake Your Death," which uniquely features James Dewees on keyboards—the only instance of his contribution to an MCR song.

Following the band's dissolution, individual members embarked on separate creative ventures. Frontman Gerard Way introduced his solo debut, Hesitant Alien, led by the single "Action Cat." Released in late September 2014, the album secured the top position on the US Billboard Alternative Albums chart and reached number 16 on the Billboard 200, receiving widespread critical praise, including recognition from Alternative Press as one of the "Ten Essential Albums of 2014."

Rhythm guitarist Frank Iero worked alongside keyboardist James Dewees in the project Death Spells and contributed to Reggie and the Full Effect's 2013 album No Country for Old Musicians. Subsequently, he signed with Staple Records for his solo endeavor under the name "frnkiero andthe cellabration," releasing the album Stomachaches in August 2014, featuring former MCR drummer Jarrod Alexander.

Bassist Mikey Way created Electric Century with vocalist David Debiak, debuting their single "I Lied" in February 2014 and later releasing a self-titled EP on Record Store Day 2015. Lead guitarist Ray Toro shared solo singles such as "Isn't That Something" (2013) and "For the Lost and Brave" (2015), dedicating the latter to transgender teenager Leelah Alcorn.

On July 20, 2016, the band sparked reunion speculation by posting a cryptic date "9/23/16" on social media accompanied by a piano introduction from "Welcome to the Black Parade." This was eventually revealed as a reissue of The Black Parade, named The Black Parade/Living with Ghosts, which included eleven demos and live recordings. Ahead of its release, an early version of "Welcome to the Black Parade," titled "The Five of Us Are Dying," was made available for streaming.

In 2017, Gerard Way suggested that a reunion remained a possibility but emphasized that each member was currently focused on their individual commitments.

2019–present: Reunion

My Chemical Romance reunited in 2017, engaging in private jam sessions and rehearsals. They publicly announced their comeback on October 31, 2019, scheduling a reunion concert in Los Angeles for December 20, which sold out swiftly. Additional performances were arranged throughout Australia, Japan, and New Zealand for 2020. The Los Angeles event generated $1,451,745 in revenue with an audience of 5,113 attendees.

In January 2020, the band revealed three sold-out shows at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, slated for June 2020, alongside a North American tour that sold out within six hours. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all concerts planned for 2020 were postponed to 2021 and subsequently rescheduled for 2022. The tour commenced on May 16, 2022, at the Eden Project and concluded on March 26, 2023, in Tokyo. Prior to touring, they released "The Foundations of Decay" on May 12, 2022—their first single since reuniting—which became a staple in their live performances.

In October 2024, My Chemical Romance served as headliners at the When We Were Young Festival, delivering a complete rendition of The Black Parade. Following this event, they announced the Long Live The Black Parade North American stadium tour set for 2025 to commemorate the album through full performances. This tour features a conceptual storyline centered around a fictional dictatorship and the revival of their Black Parade alter ego band. It began on July 11, 2025, and was extended into 2026 with additional dates across Mexico, South America, Asia, and Europe.

Former drummer Bob Bryar passed away in November 2024. The group honored his memory during their Chicago show on the Long Live The Black Parade tour by displaying his image on screen.

Style and classification

My Chemical Romance is recognized for their dark, gothic-inspired image, dramatic vocal delivery, and reflective songwriting. Their sound is chiefly identified within alternative rock, emo, pop-punk, post-hardcore, punk rock, and hard rock genres. Throughout their career, the band has also incorporated elements from emo pop, hardcore punk, gothic rock, pop rock, arena rock, glam rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, pop, screamo, and garage punk.

Gerard Way has openly dismissed the label "emo," calling it "fucking garbage," although he has also humorously described the band's music as "What-else-ya-got-emo."

Their first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, is characterized by an unpolished sound featuring rapid guitar work, vigorous vocals, and intermittent screams. It has drawn comparisons to Thursday and has been associated with emo, post-hardcore, screamo, punk rock, gothic rock, pop-punk, and garage punk styles infused with hardcore punk and heavy metal influences.

The subsequent release, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, showcases highly energetic instrumentation with a sense of urgent intensity. It is classified under alternative rock, emo, pop-punk, post-hardcore, punk rock, and pop rock categories.

The Black Parade, the third album, is crafted as a traditional concept album featuring powerful riffs and soaring guitar solos. It merges elements of alternative rock, emo, pop-punk, progressive rock, post-hardcore, punk rock, and hard rock with notable inspiration from 1970s classic rock. Additionally, it integrates aspects of glam rock, pop music, and gothic rock.

The fourth studio effort, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, broadens their sound by incorporating power pop, psychedelic rock, proto-punk, pop rock, and electronic rock influences.

Influences

Gerard Way revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that the band draws inspiration from diverse acts such as Queen, known for their grandiose and majestic style; punk legends like Black Flag and the Misfits; along with groups including Ink & Dagger, Circle Jerks, the Damned, Iron Maiden, At the Gates, Descendents, Pantera, Van Halen, the Cure, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Smiths, and Thursday. Way has highlighted Queen's profound impact on their music as well as bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, whose career path they sought to emulate. Guitarist Ray Toro mentioned that Green Day's American Idiot served as an influence on the creation of The Black Parade.

In a 2007 article by Kerrang!, the band identified several songs that shaped their sound including tracks by Taking Back Sunday, Say Anything, Thursday, Kill Hannah, Black Flag, Misfits among others. Frank Iero’s guitar playing style is influenced by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and Jack White; meanwhile Toro credits metal bands such as Megadeth, Metallica, Pantera, and Iron Maiden for inspiration. Other significant influences include pioneering punk groups like the Stooges, Ramones, Sex Pistols, as well as grunge icons Nirvana. The band also acknowledges that their personal life experiences along with literature and cinema have played a role in shaping their musical output.

Music and Popular Culture

Em Casalena, a music critic from American Songwriter, observed that "Discussions about bands that shaped the emo genre invariably include My Chemical Romance." As noted by Rolling Stone, the group stood out as "a unique presence within New Jersey’s emerging pop-punk and emo movement" before achieving widespread recognition with their "instant emo classic" Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. In 2022, The Guardian characterized them as "unexpected icons, outsiders who unintentionally penetrated mainstream culture," returning with a reunion tour to a pop culture environment they helped mold. According to The New York Times, The Black Parade served as an inspiration for a variety of 2010s musicians across different styles, such as Twenty One Pilots, Halsey, Billie Eilish, and Post Malone, while also influencing cinematic musicals like Frozen II. In 2016, Nylon lauded the album as a conceptual work tailored for the digital era and a rock opera rivaling any post-Queen production. NPR Music described the band as sincere and unapologetically grandiose amid early 2000s indie-pop trends, designating The Black Parade as a seminal album for fans of pop-punk.

In 2020, Kerrang! dubbed them "the defining rock superstars of the 21st century," emphasizing their unparalleled musical and cultural influence on contemporary alternative rock. Vice honored My Chemical Romance as the "artist of the decade," underscoring their enduring impact despite extended periods of inactivity. Paste recognized them among the most pivotal rock bands since the year 2000. James McMahon from The Independent attributed Gerard Way with crafting emo's signature visual style for nearly twenty years. Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly commended their fusion of spiritual motifs, potent guitar work, and dramatic performances, concluding that replicating their distinctive influence seems improbable.

LGBT Community

Vince Ruston, writing for Archer, highlighted the band's significant resonance within LGBTQ+ communities, pointing out that My Chemical Romance aimed to empower those who felt marginalized, with queer youth representing a substantial segment of their fanbase. Michelle Hyun Kim described Gerard Way as a "queer icon" in Them, emphasizing the group's meaningful connection with LGBTQ+ supporters, especially following their 2019 reunion announcement. The band has consistently advocated for LGBT rights and embraced their LGBTQ+ audience.

2000s

In 2005, My Chemical Romance embarked on an extensive touring schedule, including opening for Green Day during the "Green Day Presents American Idiot Tour" and participating in the Warped Tour. Gerard Way stressed how crucial these tours were for fans who save money to attend multiple performances. They also co-headlined the main stage alongside The Used on the Taste of Chaos tour before initiating their inaugural headlining "My Chemical Romance Tour," spanning 30 cities across the United States to promote Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Supporting acts featured Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect. This tour introduced theatrical components that would become synonymous with their live presentations. Way expressed aspirations to develop a fully theatrical tour but acknowledged it would require incremental progress.

In 2007, the group joined forces with headliners Linkin Park and Taking Back Sunday on Projekt Revolution, which ran from July through September. During this timeframe, Gerard Way married Lindsey "Lyn Z" Ballato, bassist of Mindless Self Indulgence. Following Projekt Revolution, they served as opening act for Bon Jovi in October 2007.

2010s

On September 19, 2010, My Chemical Romance revealed plans for The World Contamination Tour, which included stops in the United Kingdom, France, Amsterdam, and Germany.

In 2011, they participated in the 10th Annual Honda Civic Tour in the United States alongside Blink-182. The collaborative tour was announced on May 23, 2011, in West Hollywood. Fan club members gained early access to tickets starting June 6, followed by a Facebook pre-sale on June 8. Remaining tickets became available to the general public on June 10 through Ticketmaster and LiveNation.

The band reunited discreetly in 2017 and officially announced a reunion concert scheduled for October 31, 2019; this event took place in Los Angeles on December 20, 2019. Subsequently, this expanded into a short tour featuring dates in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan during the following week.

2020s

On January 28, 2020, My Chemical Romance announced three shows in Milton Keynes, UK, set for June 18, 20, and 21, followed by a North American tour revealed on January 29.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Milton Keynes concerts were postponed in April 2020 to June 2021; North American dates were also rescheduled to September and October of that year. In April 2021, the Milton Keynes performance was delayed once more until May 2022; similarly, the remaining tour dates were pushed back to take place throughout 2022.

Band Members

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:Fix/category^{[citation needed]}
Matt Cortez – rhythm guitar (2007–2008), bass guitar (2007)
Tucker Rule – percussion (2007–2008, 2025–present); drums (2007–2008)Template:Fix/category^{[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)
Kayleigh Goldsworthy – violin (2025–present)
Clarice Jensen – cello (2025–present)

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)

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Discography

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)

Notes

References

External links

[Official site]
[AllMusic overview]
[Discogs artist listing]
[MusicBrainz artist details]
[IMDb profile]