My Chemical Romance (Part I)

My Chemical Romance (also known as My Chem, My Chemical or MCR) is an American band from New Jersey. Formed in 2001, the band consists of Gerard Way (lead vocals), Mikey Way (bass), Bob Bryar (drums), Frank Iero (rhythm guitar), and Ray Toro (lead guitar). The band members hail from Belleville and Kearny, New Jersey, except drummer Bob Bryar, who is from Chicago, Illinois. Bassist Mikey Way coined the band's name from a book entitled Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance, by Irvine Welsh.



Biography

Early career (2001–2002)

The band was formed by frontman Gerard Way and ex-drummer Matt "Otter" Pelissier around a week after September 11, 2001 attacks. Gerard had witnessed the planes crashing into the World Trade Center, and it made him realize he should do something worthwhile with himself, and decided to start a band. The first song they wrote was Skylines and Turnstiles, which was written by Gerard about his feelings on September 11th. Shortly after, Ray Toro was called up and asked to join the band because Gerard couldn't sing and play the guitar at the same time.[1]

The first recording sessions were done in Matt's attic, where the songs Our Lady of Sorrows (then called "Bring More Knives") and Cubicles were recorded. Mikey Way, the younger brother of Gerard, loved the demo so much that he decided to learn to play the bass and join the band.[1] The band immediately started playing numerous local shows in basements in Montclair and New Brunswick, VFWs like Boonton Elks, and clubs such as the Loop Lounge in Passaic and the Bloomfield Ave. Cafe & Stage, in Montclair, New Jersey.[citation needed]

My Chemical Romance was signed with Eyeball Records and played in the same room as Pencey Prep and Thursday. It was there that the band met Frank Iero, the lead vocalist and guitarist for Pencey Prep. After Pencey Prep broke up in 2001 or 2002, Frank became a guitarist for My Chemical Romance, just days before the band's debut album was recorded.[1]

Just three months after the formation of the band they recorded their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, subsequently released in 2002 on Eyeball Records. Despite only joining the band a few days before the album recording sessions began, Frank Iero played guitar on two of the tracks, one of them being "Early Sunsets Over Monroeville".


Major career (2003–2005)

The album cover for Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, the band's second album and their first on a major label
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The album cover for Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, the band's second album and their first on a major label

In 2003, the band signed a deal with Reprise Records. Following a tour with Avenged Sevenfold the band began work on their second album, entitled Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Released in 2004, the album went platinum within a year. The band released three singles from the album: "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", "Helena" and "The Ghost of You".

It was during this time that the band replaced their drummer, Matt Pelissier with Bob Bryar, after they went to Japan in August 2004. The true nature of Pelissier's departure has never been confirmed the band, but it has been speculated it was due to an argument with band member Ray Toro or as a result of mistakes made by the drummer during live performances.

At the start of 2005, the band were direct support on the first ever Taste of Chaos tour, and were also the opening act for Green Day on their American Idiot tour. Later that year they co-headlined and headlined their own tour,with Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect around the country.

The same year My Chemical Romance and The Used collaborated on a cover of the David Bowie and Queen classic "Under Pressure" that was released as a benefit single on iTunes and other Internet outlets.


Recent and future plans (2006—)


On March 21, 2006, a 2 DVD/1 CD set entitled Life on the Murder Scene was released. It includes one DVD chronicling the band's history, and a second DVD with music videos, the making of their videos and a couple of live performances. An unauthorized biography DVD Things That Make You Go MMM! was also released, on June 27, 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.[2]
The album cover for The Black Parade, the band's third studio album
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The album cover for The Black Parade, the band's third studio album

The band started recording their third studio album on April 10, 2006 with Rob Cavallo, producer of many of Green Day's albums.[3][4]

It was originally thought to be titled The Rise and Fall of My Chemical Romance, but in an interview with Kerrang! magazine Way suggested this was just the album's working title, stating "It was never the title of the album, more a spoof, or joke."[5] The title was eventually revealed to be The Black Parade.

On August 3, 2006, the band finished shooting the videos for their first two singles from The Black Parade, "Welcome to the Black Parade" and another as-yet-unconfirmed single. The video was directed by Sam Bayer, director of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Green Day's American Idiot videos.[6]

During the shoot for "Welcome to the Black Parade", band members Gerard Way and Bob Bryar were injured. Way suffered a burn to the leg and torn ligaments in his ankle and Bryar a staph infection that needed constant monitoring in the hospital. Consequently the band was forced to cancel a couple of shows. While these injuries were reported by several news agencies to have been the result of a car accident, a statement released by the band on their website and MySpace has confirmed that these injuries occurred on the set of the video.[7][8]
"The Black Parade" outside of the Hammersmith Palais in London
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"The Black Parade" outside of the Hammersmith Palais in London

On August 22, 2006, the band played a special one-off show at the 1800-capacity London Hammersmith Palais. The show sold out in 15 minutes prompting tickets being sold on eBay well over the tickets' face value. The band is known to make an interesting creative appearance at these types of shows, such as arriving in coffins. The name of the album they promoted was announced and 20 people dressed in black capes with their faces obscured paraded around Hammersmith, followed by a large group of fans and street team members with signs saying "The Black Parade". Later during the show the album title and the UK release date were confirmed. Posters and stickers and a very small number of Black Parade T-Shirts were also given to people in the queue by the street team members. Prior to the band taking the stage it was announced that "My Chemical Romance" were unable to play, but they would be replaced by "The Black Parade." After initial crowd hostility it became clear the band were simply performing under a pseudonym in keeping with the theme of the album. When the set began, the backdrop art displayed the words "The Black Parade". New songs played included "House of Wolves", "The End", "Dead!", and live debuts for "I Don't Love You" and "Cancer".

On September 2nd 2006, My Chemical Romance posted "Welcome to the Black Parade" on their Myspace page and their purevolume page. It can also be heard on the official website. [7] "Welcome to the Black Parade" had its first radio airing on September 11th, 2006. On September 26, 2006 the "Welcome to the Black Parade" music video was released in the UK, and on September 27in the US. [5]

On October 9th, 2006, My Chemical Romance played at Spike TV's 2006 Scream Awards. Various street team members dressed up in white masks and others played drum cadences as the band was introduced. They played "Welcome to the Black Parade".
The new My Chemical Romance logo, also showing the band's new look
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The new My Chemical Romance logo, also showing the band's new look

On October 12th, 2006, My Chemical Romance made a rare in-store performance to 500 fans at Virgin Megastores on London's Oxford Street. During the bands 35 minute set, they played "House of Wolves", "Famous Last Words" and "Welcome to the Black Parade" from The Black Parade, alongside a handful of songs from the band's back catalogue. In order to get wristbands for the event, many fans slept outside the shop the previous night. British band Towers Of London caused trouble at the event when the Towers guitarist, Dirk Tourette, allegedly flicked a cigarette butt at Bob Bryar while he was performing.[9] After the live performance, the band met fans and signed records for several hours.

"Welcome to the Black Parade" reached number one on October 15th, 2006, in the UK, giving them their first number one.

October 21, 2006 marked their first appearance on Saturday Night Live as the musical guests.

The Black Parade was released on October 24th, 2006 in the USA and October 23rd, 2006 in the UK.

My Chemical Romance are playing six dates from January 19 to February 4, 2007 in the world renowned Big Day Out festival in Australia and New Zealand. They are billed alongside Tool, Muse, The Killers, and Jet