There’s a proven track record in music history of bands splitting, swearing that the end is the end, only to reform again for one last tour (here’s 18 such examples).

Granted, it usually takes a number of years, bitter in-fighting, and the offer of big pay cheques from festivals to get band members to kiss and make-up. But following on from yesterday’s shock news that emo rockers My Chemical Romance had called it quits, there are already rumours spreading that news of their death have been exaggerated.

An official statement from the band arrived out of the blue yesterday, stating that after 12 years of music-making, My Chemical Romance were splitting up; noting that “now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end,” thanking their fans for their support “and for being part of the adventure.”

Additionally, frontman Gerard Way took to twitter to confirm the band’s split, posting:

A number of reports from various sources however, have suggested that the split is merely a kind of publicity stunt to get the band out of a strict recording contract, and will see My Chemical Romance re-emerge under a new name.

Firstly, as The Music Network points out, a rather informed member of reddit – an online hive of community-sourced information – put together a theory that My Chemical Romance’s split was merely a temporary stop-gap, and had nothing to do with any dissent among the band’s ranks, but instead had everything to do with escaping their record contract with Warner Music and Reprise Records, who own the rights to their name and significant parts of their catalogue.

The reddit user points towards a post by Gerard Way’s wife Lindsey aka Lyn-Z, stating that the four members of MCR plan to continue to work together on another project, writing:

I understand the need for change and the desire to begin again. The journey is always the best part. Though I will deeply miss MCR I have never met more talented and incredible people and more than anything I’m excited for what @gerardway @mikeyway @FrankIero@raytoro do next. I know it’s going to be amazing because they are each amazing. The future starts right now. A new adventure is about to take place and I for one will be on that ride! Who’s coming with me?”

While the frontman himself released a long-winded post this morning explaining to fans the reasoning behind the break-up that contains several cryptic references to new beginnings: “With honor, integrity, closure, and on no one’s terms but our own- the door closes. And another opens,” writes Way.

The MCR frontman’s words were echoed by his close friend, and Kill Hannah frontman, Mat Devine. Who offered the following message on his social media:

The plot thickens with Kerrang‘s editor, James McMahon posting a series of tweets indicating that fans would be hearing from the emo titans a lot sooner rather than later:

https://twitter.com/jamesjammcmahon/status/315868876107812865

The heavy music magazine editor also points out the timing of the picture, as well as its source:

https://twitter.com/jamesjammcmahon/status/315877764509073408

That’s more than a few coincidences in place to suggest that the nails in My Chemical Romance’s coffin aren’t necessarily completely hammered in just yet. The quartet also have quite the history of using alter-egos, going by the name of The Black Parade as part of the tour supporting their 2006 album of the same name, while their 2010 album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys saw the band taking on alter-egos to tell their story of post-apocalyptic biker gangs.

The reformation/transformation of My Chemical Romance is bound to be welcome news to the “devastated” fans of a new online petition that was put together over at Change.org in light of the news of the band’s split.

The online petition is calling for signatures from the “MCRmy” to get the band to head out on one last world tour to properly farewell their fanbase. “They ended so abruptly without saying goodbye to their fans properly… They need to do it correctly if they’re going to do it at all,” states the petition, which has already reached 11,765 signatures since its launch last Saturday by UK fan Cameron Lee.

My Chemical Romance were also reportedly working on a new studio album, even releasing new material under the banner of Conventional Weapons as a series of five double-A singles through February 2013 – it looked like it would be the last official material from the band, but in light of recent events, perhaps it’ll be the first material of a newly named outfit; that just so happens to be the full My Chemical Romance lineup. Watch this space…