Music from My Chemical Romance
Theatrical Punk from New Jersey
My Chemical Romance (MCR) first played and recorded in a band member’s attic sometime near the end of 2001. The New Jersey alt-rock band, comprised of Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Bob Bryar, Frank Iero, and Ray Toro, started their career with Eyeball Records the label that released their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. This freshman effort found a strong cult following, but failed to draw much mainstream attention.
In 2003 MCR switched labels. Reprise Records had more clout and the 2004 release of MCR’s second album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, moved the band into the mainstream. Singles include “The Ghost of You” and “I’m Not Okay (I Promise).” Between the release of this album and 2005, MCR spent time touring with the Taste of Chaos tour and with Green Day’s American Idiot tour. Life on the Murder Scene is a DVD/documentary of the band’s career to date and features a list of live performances.
Innovative Marketing
Punk elements of the band are most exemplified by some of their more theatrical marketing techniques. The band has garnered attention from an appearance at Virgin Records and from a Black Parade kick off concert in London where the band hired a crew to parade around the city in black hoods as advertisement to the new album. Their look is more punk than hard rock and critics suggest their musical influences include The Cure, Queen and Pink Floyd.
In late 2006, their third album The Black Parade, was released and instantly became a critical success. The single, “Welcome to the Black Parade” continues to receive mainstream airplay and garner MCR a bigger audience.
I Brought You My Bullets, Your Brought Me Your Love (2002):
- Romance
- Honey, This Mirror Isn’t Big Enough for the Two of Us
- Vampires Will Never Hurt You
- Drowning Lessons
- Our Lady of Sorrows
- Headfirst for Halos
- Skylines and Turnstiles
- Early Sunsets Over Monroeville
- This is the Best Day Ever
- Cubicles
- Demolition Lovers
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004):
- Helena
- Give ‘Em Hell, Kid
- To the End
- You Know What They do to Guys Like Us in Prison
- I’m Not Okay (I Promise)
- The Ghost of You
- The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You
- Interlude
- Thank You for the Venom
- Hang ‘Em High
- It’s Not a Fashion Statement, It’s a Deathwish
- Cemetery Drive
- I Never Told You What I Do for a Living
The Black Parade (2006):
- The End.
- Dead!
- This is How I Disappear
- The Sharpest Lives
- Welcome to the Black Parade
- I Don’t Love You
- House of Wolves
- Cancer
- Mama
- Sleep
- Teenagers
- Disenchanted
- Famous Last Words
