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 My Chemical Romance (also known as MCR) are an American rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001 by Gerard Way and ex-member Matt Pelissier, who plays drums on the first two records. Its current members include Gerard Way (vocals), Ray Toro (lead guitar), Frank Iero (rythem guitar), Mikey Way (bass), and Bob Bryar (drums).
Shortly after forming, the band signed to Eyeball Records and released their debut album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love in 2002.
They signed with Reprise Records and released their major label debut, “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge”, in 2004. The album was a major and surprising commercial success, selling over two million copies due in part to the success of the singles “Helena”, “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)”, and “The Ghost of You”.
The band followed this success with 2006’s “The Black Parade”, featuring their biggest hit “Welcome to the Black Parade”. While the band defines their sound as simply “rock”, the sub genre of the band’s recordings has been a subject of debate among fans, non-fans, and the media.
On March 7, 2007, Mikey Way married his fiancee Alicia Simmons, 23, backstage at the Orleans Arena, Las Vegas after the band’s show. The couple were married by James Dewees of Reggie and The Full Effect, who was ordained as a minister in order to perform the ceremony. James Dewees has recently been accompanying My Chemical Romance as a touring keyboardist.
Mikey’s temporary replacement was Matt Cortez, a guitar technician, and friend of the band. Mikey is now back on the road with the band.
| | Early Career (2001–2002) |
The band was formed by frontman Gerard Way and drummer Matt Pelissier approximately one week after the September 11 attacks. Witnessing the planes crash into the World Trade Center influenced Way's life to the extent that he decided to start a band. Way wrote the song "Skylines and Turnstiles" to express his feelings about September 11 and shortly thereafter, Ray Toro was recruited because at the time Way couldn't sing and play the guitar at the same time. The first recording sessions were undertaken in Pelissier's attic, where the songs "Our Lady of Sorrows" (formerly called "Bring More Knives") and "Cubicles" were recorded. The band refers to those sessions as The Attic Demos.[citation needed] After hearing the demo, Mikey Way, the younger brother of Gerard, decided to join the band after dropping out of college. While with Eyeball Records, the band met Frank Iero, the lead vocalist and guitarist for Pencey Prep. Following Pencey Prep's split in 2001-02, Iero became a member of My Chemical Romance, just days prior to the recording of the band's debut album. 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. Despite only joining the band a few days before the album recording sessions began, Iero played guitar on two of the tracks, one of which being "Early Sunsets Over Monroeville." During this time, the band was booked at the infamous venue, Big Daddy's, where they began to receive more attention.
| | The Black Parade (2006–2008) |
In 2003, the band signed a deal with Reprise Records. Following a tour with Avenged Sevenfold, the band began working on their second album, entitled Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Released in 2004, the album went platinum in just over a year. The band released four singles from the album; "Thank You for the Venom", "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", "Helena" and "The Ghost of You". It was during this time that the band replaced Matt Pelissier with Bob Bryar, after returning from a tour of Japan in July 2004.
At the beginning of 2005, the band was featured on the first ever Taste of Chaos tour, and was also the opening act for Green Day on their American Idiot tour. 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. That same year, My Chemical Romance collaborated with The Used for a cover of the Queen and David Bowie classic, "Under Pressure" that was released as a benefit single on iTunes and other Internet outlets.
March 2006, record entitled Life on the Murder Scene was released, incorporating two DVDs and a CD. 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. A biography titled Something Incredible This Way Comes was also released, written by Paul Stenning and published in 2006. It features their beginnings right through to their third album, The Black Parade.
| | Musical style and influences |
My Chemical Romance's music has been described by the media as "alternative rock" "post-hardcore"punk revival", "pop punk" and "emo", The band's official website describes their music as simply "rock" or "violent, dangerous pop", as well as Gerard Way publicly rejecting the term "emo"[ to describe their style. Although a source quotes frontman Gerard Way stating that they are "What-else-ya-got-emo",Way has stated in an interview that they were never emo, saying emo is "a pile of shit" and "fucking garbage".
My Chemical Romance cite their main influences as Queen, Iron Maiden, the Misfits, Morrissey and The Smiths 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." Way has also said that his band patterns their career after that of The Smashing Pumpkins, another band they admire. Growing up, they were also very influenced by horror films and comic books, and therefore their music, lyrics, and image all have overt elements of fantasy, storytelling, horror, and theatricality.
| | VITAL STATS | | My Chemical Romance Information:
| Also Known as:
MCR
My Chem
| Origin:
Jersey City, New Jersey, USA | Genre(s):
Emo
Alternative Rock
Post-Hardcore
Pop Punk | Year Active:
since 2001
| Label(s):
Reprise,
Warner Bros.
Eyeball | Associated Acts:
Pencey Prep
Leathermouth | Website:
www.mychemicalromance.com | Members
Gerard Way
Ray Toro
Mikey Way
Frank Iero
| Former Members
Matt Pelissier
Bob Bryar | | Other: | | |
