Hardcore pop outfit My Chemical Romance have sadly called it quits after a successful 12 years in the limelight.
In news to make Emo kids even sadder than they already are, the band have dubbed their experience as a ‘true blessing’, releasing a public statement regarding the break-up on their official MCR website that contains their own ‘Famous Last Words’:
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”
Frontman Gerard Way also reported the band statement on his personal Twitter account, posting a rather bleak image adding
Beyond any sadness, what I feel the most is pride. twitter.com/gerardway/stat…
— Gerard Way (@gerardway) March 23, 2013
Their latest working record Conventional Weapons was in the making not mere months ago. Teasingly releasing a track per month starting October 2012, the band revealed a total of five singles until February 2013. With the hype over this upcoming album, parting ways was the last thing anyone saw coming.
Formed in 2001 by high school friends Gerard Way and Matt Pelissier, My Chemical Romance started as a foursome from New Jersey, before going through several lineup changes, releasing four studio albums over the course of their career, two of which went platinum.
Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge was their second studio record released in 2003, putting their band on the radar of hundreds of alternative rock fans around the world. Featuring the top 40 hit ‘Helena’, the surge of popularity lead them to become the opening act for Green Day’s American Idiot Tour. It also planted them in the line up for the first Taste Of Chaos tour, and co-headlined the Vans Warped Tour in 2005 with Fall Out Boy. Between that time, co-founder and drummer Matt Pelissier quit the band in 2004, replaced by Bob Bryar. “Beyond any sadness, what I feel the most is pride” – Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance was soon to become a household name with the release of major record The Black Parade in 2006. Following a string of positive reviews from music critics, the foursome went on to win the Best International Band award at the 2007 NME awards, and nominations for Best Alternative Group at the American Music Awards the same year. Front man Gerard Way won an award for the Hero Of The Year award.
After the huge success of The Black Parade, My Chemical Romance disappeared from the spotlight for a while, not making any big waves in the industry until the announcement of a fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, which was released in 2010.
After being a dedicated member of the band for six years, drummer Bob Bryar quit the band in 2010,which lead to a string of line up changes within the band. The farewell of Bryar made way for a messy situation for the group in the coming years, with the dismissal of drummer Michael Pedicone, who was asked to leave the band after being caught red handed stealing from band members.
Jarrod Alexander was the last percussionist to join the team before the band called it quits, touring with the outfit in their latest Australia and New Zealand shows at the Big Day Out in early 2012.
It is unknown whether fans should expect the tracks released from their latest record Conventional Weapons to be compiled into a farewell album, or if these singles will be the last known work of My Chemical Romance’s discography.
