Your Memory Will Carry On : The Legacy of My Chemical Romance

I think everyone has that one band. You know the one I'm talking about. The band that means everything to you. You may have obsessions that come and go, they may not always be the band you listen to 24/7. But it's your favorite band. The term 'favorite band' doesn't even begin to cover it, really. You know everything about that band; when and where they started, their names and positions, all their little quirks. They were there for you through childhood, growing up, through good times when you rocked out in your bedroom, and through the rough times when you sat alone in the dark with your headphones, tears streaming down your face. That band, for me, was and remains to be My Chemical Romance.


September 11th, 2001. A day forever ingrained in the history of America. Tragedy struck our nation that day. On that day, a young man hailing from New Jersey was on public transportation on his way to work as an illustrator for Cartoon Network. Gerard Way witnessed the plane crashes into the Twin Towers- he saw the bodies falling, the fire and ash that devastated the victims' families and our nation as a whole. It was then that he knew, he wanted to do something different with his life. He wanted to do something that would impact the world, change lives. That night, he went home and penned Skylines and Turnstiles, his way of coping with the awful calamity he saw.

Gerard called up friends he knew from old bands, his brother's friends, and anyone he could, until the lineup of the band was decided. Gerard's younger brother, Mikey Way, learned to play bass to be in the band. Ray Toro, a friend of Mikey's, was recruited to play guitar, and Matt Pelissier was the other founding member of the band, and played drums. After a while, Frank Iero was added as a rhythm guitarist. The band was signed to the indie label Eyeball Records and released their first album "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love" in 2002. 

Following this release, the band signed onto a major label in 2003 before releasing their sophomore album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, in 2004. The success of this album skyrocketed, making it onto major radio stations and landing the band in co-headlining tours with the likes of Green Day, Alkaline Trio, The Used and Fall Out Boy. The band replaced Pelissier with Chicago native Bob Bryar, and released a third, more concept-driven album in 2006 entitled The Black Parade. Also in 2006, a CD/DVD set called "Life on the Murder Scene" was released, featuring music videos, live performances, and a full length documentary. After extensive touring for The Black Parade and a live concert DVD/CD filmed in Mexico, titled "The Black Parade is Dead!" was released, the band went to work on their 4th studio album. They had almost an entire album recorded but decided it wasn't heading in the direction the band wanted, scrapped it, and started over, before finally releasing "Danger Days" in mid 2010. 

After touring for their 4th album, the band released a set of singles called "Conventional Weapons", as well as being featured in several interviews saying they were excited and working on a 5th studio album that they were calling 'MCR5' as a working title. Then, in March, 2013, tragedy struck the My Chemical Romance fandom.In the following blog post, they announced My Chemical Romance was no more.

Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We've gotten to go places we never knew we would. We've been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We've shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.My Chemical Romance

- mychemicalromance.com

To those not invested in this band, this might've seemed minor. But let me assure you, it was not. Every social media site that I participate in was set into a state of shock and sadness, from Facebook to Twitter, Tumblr and the MCR message boards alike. This was not just a band to so many- this was a lifeline. The lyrics they composed, the passion with which they performed, the interviews and quotes they gave, were inspiring and encouraging, and in many cases life-saving to so many. I'm not ashamed to admit I actually, literally cried many times over the weeks after the band's dismantling. The last song from their last album, "Kids of Yesterday", came into a whole new light, as it started with the line "Now this could be the last of all the rides we take." 

But, as all members of the band have pointed out in numerous press releases and blog posts following the end of the band, this wasn't the end. Not really. At the risk of sounding like a fangirl obsessed with her favorite band, My Chemical Romance wasn't just a band. They were- and still are- a legacy. They started movements, inspired so many, created friendships - I never would've become friends with my current best friend if she hadn't come up to me one day and complimented my My Chemical Romance t-shirt. 

My Chemical Romance really, truly changed my life. I was introduced to the band by a girl named Sydney back in 2008 when I attended a week-long music camp at my local music shop. I don't even remember what hooked me to the band in such a way that I'd never been attached to a band before, but from that July day 6 years ago, there really was no looking back. My Chemical Romance have seen me through so many of my best and my worst days. The day I saw them live in concert is right up there along with graduating from high school in the top moments of my entire life. I've laughed with (and at!) them, I've cried along to them... I really would say that My Chemical Romance helped save my own life. 

The name of the greatest hits compilation the band is releasing this coming year is called "May Death Never Stop You." And, as tragic as it was to see the end of such a beautiful, unique group of people, the title holds true. The 60-some songs that they released, the interviews and quotes and lyrics and movements? They'll always be there, no matter how many years go by with the band broken up. As their most famous song, Welcome to the Black Parade, croons, 

"We'll carry on, and though you're dead and gone, believe me, your memory will carry on." 

 I hope reading this will bring you some nostalgic joy if you're a fan of the band, and if not, if I could ever ask one thing of my readers, it would be that you give this band a serious listen. Youtube, Itunes, Spotify, CDs, whatever, they're everywhere. And it's worth it. It is SO worth it. 

Killjoys, make some noise, and keep running, because My Chemical Romance is never really gone.

Below are just a few samples of some of my favorite songs these four gentlemen have produced over the years.