My Chemical Romance (MCR or My Chem for short) is an American alternative rock band that formed in New Jersey in 2001. The current members of My Chemical Romance are Gerard Way (lead vocals), Mikey Way (bass), Bob Bryar (drums), Frank Iero (rhythm guitar), and Ray Toro (lead guitar).

The band cites their main musical influences as The Misfits, Iron Maiden, and The Smiths/Morrissey. Growing up, the band members were also heavily influenced by horror films and comic books, and consequently their music, lyrics, and image all have overt elements of fantasy, storytelling, horror, and theatricality. The band members hail from Belleville, Newark 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: Five Tales of Chemical Romance, by Irvine Welsh.

Biography

Early career (2001–2002)

The band was formed by frontman Gerard Way and ex-drummer Matt Pelissier. The first song they wrote was Skylines and Turnstiles, which was written by Gerard about his feelings on September 11th after he watched it happen. Shortly after, Ray Toro and Mikey Way (Gerard's brother)joined the band. At this time Frank Iero was in another band, Pency Prep, later on when his band broke up he tried making other bands and failed. Alas, he joined My Chemical Romance only days before the band hit the recording studio for their debut album.

The band then recorded their first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, and released it in 2002 on Eyeball Records. When I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love was made, they had only been a band for about three months. After the release, they toured with bands such as Underoath, Sparta, As Tall As Lions, and also The Used.

Major career (2003–2005)

In 2003, the band signed a deal with Reprise Records and began working on their second album. The album, entitled Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, was released in 2004 and went Platinum a year later. The album contained three singles: "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", "Helena" and "The Ghost of You". Also, just before the making of the I'm Not Okay (I Promise) music video, Bob Bryar joined the band. 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 finally headlined their own tour, for the first time ever with Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect around the country.

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 (to help victims of the tsunami disaster in December, 2004) on iTunes and other internet outlets and was also found on The Used's CD In Love and Death.

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 few live performances. The release of the album/DVD was delayed twice; it was first rumored to be released on November 8, 2005 and was postponed until February 7, 2006, then was delayed again until it was finally released on March 21, 2006.

My Chemical Romance has recently been working on their third album, tentatively titled The Rise and Fall of My Chemical Romance, which will be released in late 2006. The band started recording the album on April 10, 2006 with Rob Cavallo, who has produced every Green Day album since Dookie except Warning:.^[1]

According to www.interpunk.com, an unauthorized DVD will be released. It will feature past and present members, rare performances and appearances. It is said to be released on June 27, 2006 and named Things That Make You Go MMM! [2].

Discography

Albums

DVD

• Life on the Murder Scene (March 21, 2006, Reprise Records/WEA)
• Things That Make You Go MMM! (June 27, 2006, Reprise Records/WEA)

Singles

Members

Current lineup

• Gerard Way - vocals
• Bob Bryar - drums
• Ray Toro - guitar
• Mikey Way - bass
• Frank Iero - guitar

Former members

• Matt Pelissier - drums

References

1. ↑ "Teen Titans" — Rolling Stone (2005-07-14)
2. Rolling Stone Counter Refrence
3. ↑ ArtistDirect.com
4. ↑ Pause & Play, Punknews.org
5. ↑ Billboard Chart Positions

See also

• List of bands from New Jersey
• The Used

External links

Official

• Official website
• My Chemical Romance Forum
• My Chemical Romance on MySpace
• My Chemical Romance on Tagworld
• Mi Romance Quimico (Latin-American Website)

Others

• My Chemical Romance Biography Discography and Songs
• My Chemical Romance Lyrics Archive - RockLyricsDB.com