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My Chemical Romance
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
My Chemical Romance is an American rock band from New Jersey. The singer Gerard Way and the drummer Matt Pelissier founded it in September 2001, shortly after the attacks of 11 September, which influenced Way in his decision to start a band. The guitarist Ray Toro, the bassist Mikey Way and later the guitarist Frank Iero joined. The name comes from a book title by Irvine Welsh, which Mikey saw in a bookshop. The debut I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love was released in 2002 on Eyeball Records.
Music and breakthrough
The band then signed with Reprise Records and in 2004 released Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, with Helena. Shortly after its release Pelissier was replaced by Bob Bryar. The album was a commercial success. Even bigger was The Black Parade (2006), a rock opera as a concept album, with the single Welcome to the Black Parade topping the British chart. In 2010 Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys followed. In 2013 the band split up, but in 2019 it got back together, with a tour in 2022 and 2023.
Influence
The music combines pop punk, hard rock and theatrical arrangements. The band is counted as emo, a label that it rejects itself. It is seen as one of the most influential rock groups of the 2000s, with a loyal and young audience.
Listening
Helena · My Chemical Romance, 2004Apple Music ↗
Discography
Studio albums
- 2002I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
- 2004Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
- 2006The Black Parade
- 2010Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
Mentioned in other articles
- Emo Genre
Around 2000 emo became big, with Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional and My Chemical Romance, and with a youth culture of its own of black hair, skinny trousers and eyeliner.