My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance is arguably one of the most influential bands of the early 2000s, garnering a gigantic loyal fanbase over the years who do everything from following their tours to supporting their causes in public demonstrations.

When the native New Jersey band disbanded back in 2013, followers believed it was the end of an era, but that proved untrue with a powerhouse reunion in 2019. And now, the long wait for more dates is over as Way, along with his brother Mikey and bandmates Ray Toro and Frank Iero are back with a vengeance.

My Chemical Romance started as the brainchild of lead singer Gerard Way. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attack, the vocalist was inspired to write about the event and start a band with guitarist Toro, his brother Mikey on bass, Iero on rhythm guitar, and original drummer Matt Pelissier.

My Chemical Romance released its first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, in 2002. While it wasn’t a major hit, it used the music to cultivate a fan base following via MySpace. These efforts plus solid touring performances led the band to sign with Reprise Records in 2003.

In 2004, MCR’s second studio album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, climbed to a respectable position on the Billboard charts, peaking at #28, and went platinum within the year. Pelissier departed soon after the record’s release, so Bob Bryar took over behind the drum kit.

Over the next two years, My Chemical Romance opened for bands like Green Day on the American Idiot Tour and Fall Out Boy on the Warped Tour. With a robust following, the band was ready to amp things up.

In 2007, the band released its magnum opus concept album, The Black Parade. This rock opera centers around a central character dying of cancer. The band staged powerful events like a hosting live gig using a pseudonym that almost resulted in the audience revolting and a releasing faux parade of black-robed marchers.

Not only did The Black Parade solidify My Chemical Romance’s burgeoning cult following, it was a huge commercial success. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts and went on to go triple platinum in both the US and UK.

Mistreated and misunderstood by some media outlets, Gerard Way and his band had to overcome controversies generated by misinterpretation of MCR’s lyrics. After releasing their fourth album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, in 2010, the band would release a series of singles over the next two years compiled as the Conventional Weapons album.

Then, almost without warning, My Chemical Romance amicably broke up. But by 2019, a surprise show in LA signaled a reunion tour. COVID-19 postponed it in 2020, but now the boys are back and ready to take the world by storm.

Prior to forming Thrice vocalist/guitarist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi had played in the rock group Chapter 11 together. Alongside bassist Eddie Breckridge and drummer Riley Breckridge, who knew Dustin and Teppei from school and the local skate park, began practicing together and played their first gig in 1998. The name Thrice was initially considered to be a temporary moniker however the group soon developed a following in the local area and became associated with the name. In 1999 Thrice released their debut EP entitled “First Impressions”, which was limited to 1,000 copies, followed by the full-length “Identity Crisis” in April 2000. Released on Greenfly Records, the album earned the group a significant national buzz, and a percentage of the album’s proceeds were donated to a local children’s charity.

Thrice subsequently signed with Hopeless/Sub City’s who reissued the band’s debut “Identity Crisis” and sent Thrice on tour alongside Samiam. In 2002 the band’s sophomore “The Illusion of Safety” was released to favourable reviews and the group embarked on an extensive national tour in support of Further Seems Forever and Face to Face. Once again a portion of the album’s proceeds were donated to charity, with the label matching whatever the band raised. Due to the success of the album and tour, Thrice caught to attention of major label Island Records, who signed the band and agreed to match any charitable donations.

The band’s major-label debut “The Artist in the Ambulance” arrived in 2003 and charted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. Led by the tracks “All That’s Left” and “Stare At The Sun” the album found favour across the musical press and Thrice subsequently began playing larger venues, including dates with Thursday and Cohered and Cambria. The full-length “Vheissu” was issued in October 2005 with proceeds going to the Dave Eggers’ charity 826 Valencia and in turn the cover art was designed by Eggers. The album features a much richer and textured instrumentation than its predecessors and was once again supported by an extensive touring schedule including headlining the 2006 Taste of Chaos tour. The EP “Red Sky” followed in early 2006 and the elaborate four-disc concept album “The Alchemy Index” in 2007. The live albums “The MySpace Transmissions” and “Live at the House of Blues” appeared in 2009, succeeded by the studio album “Beggars” in 2009 and “Major/Minor” in 2011.