BAILEY LANGBO
DISTRUBUTION MANAGER
Around the world, fans of My Chemical Romance are dusting off the band t-shirts from their teenage years. On Oct. 31, the band announced that after breaking up for six years, they have come back together for a series of reunion shows.
The first show, which is sold out, takes place in Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 20. The band then takes a break for three months, resuming in Melbourne, Australia, on Mar. 20. From there, they travel to Sydney, New Zealand and Japan.
My Chemical Romance first formed as a group in 2001 in New Jersey. They released their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, in 2002. From there, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, which ended up going platinum, was released in 2004, and The Black Parade was released in 2006.
The Black Parade World Tour started on Feb. 22, 2007 and had a total of 133 shows. During this time, My Chemical Romance received mixed reviews for The Black Parade, their third studio album. While they did end up receiving numerous awards because of the album, a British tabloid known as The Sun published an article stating that the band was linked to the death of a thirteen-year-old British girl named Hannah Bond.
The coroner of the case suggested that the girl’s obsession with My Chemical Romance was linked to her suicide and that “emo” music glamorized and promoted suicide towards its audiences.
Outraged by these words, a group of British fans came together in protest of the article. They first planned a march starting in Hyde Park and ending outside the office of the Daily Mail, which openly did not support My Chemical Romance. The march was called off and instead, fans came together at Marble Arch to protest.
Soon after this, My Chemical Romance announced they would go on a tour through the United States before taking a break. They also released a live DVD collection called The Black Parade is Dead!.
On Nov. 22, 2010, the band released their fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. Just as they did with The Black Parade, the band received mixed reviews from critics. “Sing,” one of the songs off the album, was labeled as propaganda. However, the band was unphased.
The band’s final project started on Oct. 2012 and ended in Feb. 2013, featuring two unreleased songs that had been recorded in 2009 each month. The project was called Conventional Weapons.
On Mar. 22, 2013, only a month after the final two songs were released, the band announced its break-up. They released a greatest hits album, May Death Never Stop You, on Mar. 25, 2014.
Each member continued their musical careers, either solo or collaborating with other artists. In addition to releasing music, lead vocalist Gerard Way worked on comic books, one of which was later adapted for Netflix series The Umbrella Academy.
Now, six and a half years after their break-up, the band is back for a series of five shows. They will also be releasing a new merchandise line.
Since Oct. 31, when the band announced their reunion, fans have been going wild.
“I honestly got into [My Chemical Romance] right after they broke up, and I was pretty sad about it when I realized,” said Hallie Sage (’22). “I’m super excited to hear the new stuff they’re making. I hope it isn’t quite what they did before, but something that’s still them.”
The only concert in the United States is sold out, but the other four in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan still have tickets available, and in the meantime, fans are anxiously awaiting any other surprises the band might throw their way.
