GERARD'S BLOG: Living On The Railways...

I think the word Glenn Beck was looking for was "subversion" not "propaganda", because I don't know what it would be considered propaganda for- truth? sentiment?
And I can't tell what he's angrier about- the fact that it's how I feel about the persistent sterilization of our culture or the fact that it's on network television for everyone to hear.
And railways? Is it 1863? Seen any children living on these lately instead of the internet?
I'm actually shocked that no actual fact-checking was done on the lyrics. I mean Fox is a major news channel, covering factual topics in an unbiased and intelligent-
oh wait-
To quote the man himself- "You don't have to live by the standards that society has set,"
I couldn't agree more.
g

PS- drawing is a depiction of an actual situation involving children, indeed "living on the railways" with one Jimmy "Backscratch Pete" Mulrooney, of Kansas City.

CREDIT: Gerard's Blog

INTERVIEW: My Chemical Romance 'Our new album is a fight'

Gerard Way, Mikey Way and Ray Toro of My Chemical Romance recently stopped by the Rolling Stone studios to chat with senior writer Brian Hiatt about their bold new album Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys. "It's really the kind of record where you kind of need to put your money where your mouth is," says frontman Gerard. "If you made the record with the intention of trying to change something, or rebel against something, then it's a fight. So I accepted that at a certain point. This record kinda is a fight."

WATCH VIDEO HERE 

CREDIT:ROLLINGSTONE.COM

STORE: MCR Baby Onesies Available Now

 

Official MCR baby onesies are available starting today in the MCR store. Check out both versions of the "3,2,1 We Came to Fuss" onesies now.

CREDIT: MCR BLOG

VIDEO/ARTICLE: Glenn Beck calls My Chemical Romance lyrics “propaganda”

In today's edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck broadcast, conservative host Beck cites an episode of Glee in which the cast perform "Sing" by My Chemical Romance. Beck calls the show "horrific" and says that the MCR lyrics are propaganda.

The lyrics in question: "Cleaned up corporation progress dying in the process / children that can talk about it living on the railways / people moving sideways / sell it till your last days / buy yourself the motivation / generation nothing / nothing but a dead scene / product of a white dream."

Check out the clip from Beck's show below and let us know if you agree or disagree.

 

SOURCE: ALTERNATIVE PRESS ONLINE

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/22/11 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY

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PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/23/11 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY

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PHOTOS: MCR Live Photos From Terminal 5

Check out the new live photos of MCR shot by Tony Cano. The photos were taken at the band’s recent gig in New York City at Terminal 5.
CREDIT: mychemicalromance.com

INTERVIEW: My Chemical Romance Unsure If Killjoys Will Return In 'Bulletproof Heart' Video

When we last left the Killjoys, they were dead — gunned down at the conclusion of My Chemical Romance's video for "Sing." That clip was a continuation of the DayGlo outlaws' assault on the nefarious Better Living Industries, a campaign first launched in the "Na Na Na" video and one that's central to the theme of the band's Danger Days album.

Since the Killjoys met their untimely demise, MCR have released a J-Pop-indebted video for "Planetary (Go!)" and remained mum on plans for just where Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys would go next. Fans have been clamoring for updates, but from the sound of things, they might have to wait a bit longer.
Because while My Chemical Romance are already making plans to shoot a video for their next single, "Bulletproof Heart," they're still not sure whether the clip will pick up the story of the Killjoys, or if they're going to keep fans waiting for the next chapter.
" 'Bulletproof Heart' we're actually still talking about, and we're not definitely sure yet if it's going to go back to that world," MCR frontman Gerard Way told MTV News. "Actually, I think that's almost cooler to stretch it out as long as we can, because, again, the story is so not important. The things that happened in those videos are really just metaphors for the way we saw the world, or stuff that really happened. Everything from hanging out with this crazy kid to getting shot in the head to all this stuff, it's all metaphorical.
"I like a gap [in the story]; I think it should be a gap," he continued. "And then I think that when you do get that final part, when the right song comes along, I don't know that it'll make perfect sense. It's not supposed to."
So, yes, Way realizes fans are dying for an update on the Killjoys' condition — he's heard the complaints, after all — but he's still not sure the band will go back to California 2019 for "Bulletproof Heart." Then again, it's still early. And those complaints can be compelling.
"[The video concept] is so green right now, and we've gone through so many things," Way said. "It's really weird: People started to get disappointed. They're like, 'Aw, I thought they were making that video!' and it's like, 'Well, no, we never spent the money!' "
 SOURCE: MTV.COM

#SINGItForJapan is is available at all digital retailers now. Visit http://SingItforjapan.com/ for more info about the relief efforts in Japan.

source: MCR Facebook

 

ARTICLE: My Chemical Romance's 'SING It For Japan' Got An 'Overwhelming' Response

Charity version of 'Sing' features contributions from fans all across the globe.

When My Chemical Romance first learned of the devastating natural disasters that struck Japan in March, they didn't wonder, "Should we help?" Instead, their first thought was "How can we help?"
"Japan has always held a special place in our hearts, really from the first time we had a show there. ... We just had such an amazing response there, and we're just such fans of the culture," MCR guitarist Ray Toro explained. "And then all of the fans we met out there, they're just so polite and there's just a really great energy over there. And we've been back there many times and have a really strong connection.

"And I think we were in London, we were watching the BBC, seeing these events unfold, and as more and more time went by, the gravity of the situation really struck everybody; it just was getting worse and worse," he continued. "And we talked about something that we could do, and at first we were thinking about writing a new song to raise money for charity. And on Twitter, something we had seen was #SINGitforjapan, and it was kids starting this Twitter feed, writing messages of hope. And that really inspired us, and we just set to work, and after a couple weeks, we were able to pull this thing together."
This thing, of course, is "SING It for Japan," a reworking of MCR's "Sing" featuring a full orchestra and a video shot during the band's ongoing tour. And, being that it was MCR's fans that served as the inspiration for the project, their artwork and inspirational messages to the people of Japan were included in the clip. All proceeds from the download of the song — or from the purchase of a "#SING It for Japan" T-Shirt — go to the Red Cross' ongoing recovery efforts in the nation.
"It was really exciting; it was a really collaborative thing. Like anybody we [asked] to be part of it wanted to give their time — all the orchestra players, they were looking for a way to help and we got in contact with them and they said, 'Absolutely,' " Toro said. "And then having kids submit video footage and drawings and pictures, it was overwhelming."
And while the contributions from their fans definitely touched them, what My Chemical Romance were most inspired by was the fact that their song was chosen to serve as a message of hope — not just for people in Japan, but for young people all over the globe. In a way, it sort of proves that one of the central messages of their Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys album rings true: that music can be a tool for genuine social change.
"We started to see stuff really early, with what was going on in Egypt and then Libya, like everybody was always taking this song," frontman Gerard Way said. "And we'd take notice of it, and then Ray saw this great opportunity to say, 'Well, they're doing it for that, and now they're doing it for Japan. Let's make something out of that.' "

CREDIT: MTV News

REVIEW: My Chemical Romance rock New York City: Band sells out Terminal 5 two nights in a row

My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way sure knows how to get a crowd pumped.

As the emo-punk-rock band launched into their second of two sold-out nights at Terminal 5, the flame-haired singer shared his theory with his fans: the second night is always better.

And he was right, judging by the intensity of the band -- and their die-hard New York fans' reactions.

On MCR's 2004 hit "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," Way's voice was pretty much overpowered by the black-clad audience's, especially during the chorus.

To be fair, there really weren't many songs the crowd didn't sing just as loud as Way.

The loudest and most physical reaction came when MCR launched into their epic "Welcome To the Black Parade," from their last album, 2006's "Black Parade." As the marching band-inspired song filled the venue, you could actually feel everyone stomping along with the beat.

Other fan favorite from the night include new song "Sing," which was recently covered on "Glee," "Helena," "Bulletproof Heart" and "DESTROYA."

The New Jersey band, which formed in 2001, is currently on tour until May 29 with Neon Trees and The Architects in support of their latest album, "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys," which was released last fall and shot to #1 on both Billboard's Rock and Alternative Album charts.

SOURCE: NYDailyNews.com

VIDEO: WORLD CONTAMINATION TOUR - TERMINAL 5 - NEW YORK, NY 04/24/11

NA NA NA (NA NA NA NA NA NA)
GIVE 'EM HELL, KID
PLANETARY (GO!)
VAMPIRE MONEY
MAMA
THE ONLY HOPE FOR ME IS YOU
I'M NOT OKAY (I PROMISE)
WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE
TEENAGERS
SING

VIDEO: Trey Morgan - My Chemical Romance Interview

VIDEO: The Rave/Eagles Club - Exclusive interview with Frank Iero & Mikey Way

Watch Video Here - The Rave TV

VIDEO: World Contamination Tour - Terminal 5 - New York, NY 04/23/11

ARTICLE: O Music Awards Roundtable Debate

Ever since they were first announced, the O Music Awards have proudly proclaimed themselves the untraditional alternative to the staid world of red carpets, acceptance speeches and celebrity glad-handing.
And for further proof of that point, consider the following: Though the inaugural O Music Awards won't premiere until April 28, the first award will be handed out on Monday at 4 p.m. ET ... and it's a big one.
 For weeks, fans have been voting for the Most Innovative Music Video through the O Music Awards official site, and on Monday — in a roundtable debate moderated by MTV News' James Montgomery — a winner will be crowned.
The O Music Awards Debate for the Most Innovative Music Video, presented by Fuze, will stream live on OMusicAwards.com and MTV.com. Joining Montgomery around the table will be acclaimed video director Wayne Isham, Mashable's Brenna Ehrlich and some super-secret celebrity guests.

The Black Eyed Peas, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and more will also take part in the discussion about just what makes a video truly innovative, and the folks who are nominated for the award — a list that includes Arcade Fire, Robyn, OK Go and Andy Grammer — will also Skype in to make the case for why their video deserves to be named Most Innovative.
On Monday morning, the original list of 10 nominees will be whittled down to the top five vote-getters, and then, during the debate, our roundtable and the Internet audience will cut that list down to the final three. At the very end, we'll announce the winner of the very first O Music Award for Most Innovative Video.
The inaugural O Music Awards will stream live from Las Vegas at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on OMusicAwards.com. Tune in to see who will reign supreme in categories like Most Viral Dance, Funniest Music Short and NSFW Music Video!

CREDIT: MTV

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/19/11 - KOOL HAUS - TORONTO (CANADA)

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PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/23/11 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY

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VIDEO: Saturday Night Online w/ Romeo - Ask Anything - My Chemical Romance

Watch Video Here

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/19/11 - KOOL HAUS - TORONTO (CANADA)

                     
                CREDIT:  Live N Loud Magazine

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/23/11 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY

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PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/22/11 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY

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REVIEW: The World Contamination Tour 04/22/11 - TERMINAL 5 - New York, NY

My Chemical Romance - Fri April 22 - Terminal 5 - NY

i knew terminal 5 would be a zoo when I'd arrive there after work, but i was still a little shocked when i saw the line snaking to the end of the block and doubled-back in triple-file across the street. an ocean of x-ed hands confirmed this crowd was mostly under-age, which was not a huge surprise given the cute-silly bows and amusingly inappropriate attire (like waiting outside in tank tops without a coat in the freezing weather). i also spotted "cool moms" in MCR t-shirts accompanying their kids, and even a few scattered jersey rockers.

the architects (from Kansas City) are the quintessential warm-up act: super-energetic, no-frills rockers who make up what they lack in good looks with a perfect blend of heavy and confident. i dug them, though not a lot of people beside me seemed to.
I'd never heard of the second opener, neon trees, either. they had the styling and energy and seemed pretty likable but their disposable pop songs left me mostly unmoved, though not for lack of trying. the increasingly shove-y crowd sang along to some of their songs, so I'm guessing they're "on the radio".

By the time My Chemical Romance came onstage I was in the 5th row, a mere 12 feet from that adorable cherub Gerard Way, though the pit actually almost broke me: the shoving got so insane people were falling down, stepping on each others hands, and getting piled up on top of each other, the floor was littered with phones, shoes and bags, and the security staff was having trouble keeping up with pulling all the exhausted, beet-faced girls out of the steaming pit. right around neon trees a bunch of flannel-shirted boys had infiltrated the front, ready to dominate anyone in their way, which led to a few altercations between the tiny, lovesick tween-princesses who’d gotten their spot by camping out for 12 hours, and the testy newcomers. my survival up front came at the price of exhaustion, so after twenty minutes i let myself fall back to the tenth row or so to catch my breath and move a little on my own volition, and later i actually went get some water, which is extremely unusual for me. i love mosh-pits that have room to move around, where the shoving is done by a certain code (like not stepping on people who have fallen), and i can dance and hop around. i also love tightly packed crowds i can relax into and "ride". what i like less is having to be ever-vigilant to avoid injuring myself though i should stress this show was, in the end, extremely fun.

the music was, not surprisingly, awesome. mcr play a very high energy mix of all the stuff that makes the hives, emf, green day, queen, duran duran and about fifty others really yummy, and mixes it into a hooky, rock-anthem bliss, that you can easily love if you are not a snob. since their show last november i'd played their new album (which had come with the ticket) more than any other album on my ipod (which explains why i bought a ticket for their second show). in addition to his angelic good looks gerard way has a joyful charm, which, paired with un-selfconsciously sexy dancing, high energy level, and some of the catchiest rock tunes i’ve ever heard, created a super-delicious live performance. he mentioned his family was here (it being a local show and all) and cited the roseland show where i’d discovered them, as in his all-time top 5. ever. and tonight once again the excitement was, without a doubt, mutual.

CREDIT: muskati's blogspot

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/19/11 - KOOL HAUS - TORONTO (CANADA)

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PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/20/11 - METROPOLIS - MONTREAL, QC (CANADA)

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FAN TOUR REPORT: Cleveland

By. Cassie
“No talking shit!” was the playful threat about this review that Ray Toro left me with when I met the band for the second time this weekend after soundcheck at the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio. A chorus of laughs and an “Ooohh!” rose from the members of MCR as I joked back that I just might talk shit. I shook my head and reassured them: “As if I have a single bad thing to say about you guys.” Toro then shook my hand again, sealing the deal, telling me that he knew I wouldn’t with a smile.
But it’s not just because of a joking pact with Toro that I wont “talk shit” about My Chemical Romance or anyone who works with them. The truth is: I can’t think of one bad thing to say about the people who made April 17, 2011, hands down, the very best day of my life.
Read rest of review here

ARTICLE: L'Uomo Vogue, April 2011 - Gerard Way

Enough of the dark-gothic aura they surrounded themselves with ever since their debut - ten years it is now with the album "I brought you my bullets, you brought me your love" - and with the somber rock tracks like the ones contained in the concept The black parade, the last work recorded in the studio five years ago. Away also with the make-up, tight fitting suits and black shirts. My Chemical Romance have completely changed.
"They have grown artistically", reassures Gerard Way, singer and front man of the group.
The change for the band from New Jersey regards also, above all, the sound that in the recent album Danger days: the true lives of the fabulous killjoys (Warner) embraces the sonority from rock to pop, from punk to the audacious disco and new wave influences.

(On the left. Jacket John Richmond; T-shirt Prada; pants Lanvin. On the right. All Gazzarini. Fashion editor Sarah Grittini)

Stefania Cubello, L'Uomo Vogue, April 2011 (n. 420), p. 137

source 

FAN TOUR REPORT: Minneapolis

By. Amber E.
As I sit and type this, my smile hasn't left my face, and I'm still in amazment. I can't talk or hear correctly, but I could care less. Some girls were waiting outside the little First Ave venue since 3:30 that morning. Since it was my very first concert ever, I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know how big the venue was, and I was soo nervous to meet MCR. I'm 19 now, and have been listening to them since 13 or 14, so it was a very exciting day. We got there and people were lining both sides of the venue on the corner. Waiting for doors to open was nerve racking. I knew that once the doors opened, it would be a rush to the front. I got to go straight to backstage.
Read the rest of the review here

ARTICLE: Q&A: My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way on Vampires, Glee, And Liza Minnelli

My Chemical Romance's fearless leader talks about mocking his own concept albums and rebelling vicariously through his hair.
What are your favorite post-apocalyptic movies?
Night of the Comet, Mad Max obviously--I actually prefer the first one. A Boy and His Dog. I think those are like the three main classics.
You've said the new album's "Look Alive, Sunshine" intro was inspired by A Clockwork Orange, but it also reminded me of Vanishing Point, have you seen it? It's a 1971 car-chase flick with a guy on the radio sending messages to the driver so he can escape the police.
Yes! Vanishing Point and The Warriors were two very big reference points for the album. I definitely wanted it to feel like there was this DJ out there like, inspiring these lunatics to drive around. And I also wanted it to feel a little bit like The Warriors as well. But yeah, I love both of those movies.

So what came first, Fabulous Killjoys the album or Fabulous Killjoys the comic book?
The comic actually. Me and my friend Sean Simon--who sold our merch and was a friend of ours who just kind of volunteered to do that, he was in the van with us from the beginning. We had the idea for this comic that really was in a weird way semi-autobiographical, although had nothing to do with us and we weren't in it. Just like, all the stuff we would make up and the way we viewed the world and all the metaphors we'd use for the world. So that was kind of the starting point. And then I didn't realize it until [comic book writer] Grant Morrison had pointed it out that we were in fact making that album, that was going along with the comic of us.
REST OF ARTICLE HERE

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/20/11 - METROPOLIS - MONTREAL, QC (CANADA)

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REVIEW: Emo rockers Romance fans in Toronto

New Jersey rock band My Chemical Romance would never be accused of sounding like fellow native Bruce Springsteen.
Yet the group led by Gerard Way has sustained a career that is often waist deep in “emo” and punk while still touching on ‘70s rock bands like KISS and Queen to get their songs across.
It was that mixture which made the band’s roughly 90-minute show at Toronto’s Kool Haus Tuesday night a decent evening out for the primarily teenaged crowd (and some of their parents).
Touring on the World Contamination Tour behind the wordy Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys, My Chemical Romance had plenty of strobe lighting as Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) kicked off the often high-octane set (note: the “Na” tally in the title stops at 12).
Stating tonight was “going to be a hot one,” Way and guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero drove songs such as the frenetic Give ‘Em Hell, Kid and later a cover of The Damned’s Neat Neat Neat. But the sextet also had a lot of payoff during Planetary (GO!), a very danceable nugget that seemed to be a twin of Franz Ferdinand’s Do You Want To. Here the crowd pogo-ed almost as much as Way did onstage.
With a backdrop consisting of an American flag with a spider on it, the word Exterminate on drummer Michael Pedicone’s kick drum and a motorcycle helmet perched atop an amplifier, My Chemical Romance tore through the rampant, galloping punk tune Hang ‘Em High. Following a strong Vampire Money, the group’s second big highlight was Mama, a polka-ish tune that comes off like a demented nursery rhyme that fans lapped up.
The middle portion had the group taking a proverbial breather with the radio-friendly, mid-tempo Summertime being dedicated to a girl they met earlier in the day and The Only Hope For Me Is You which seemed to sink quite quickly as did DESTROYA moments later.
Wasting little time between songs, My Chemical Romance tossed out their signatures near the homestretch starting with the dramatic, Queen-influenced Welcome To The Black Parade as Way let the fans belt out the lyrics. Thanking the “old fans for being nice to the new ones,” Way and company definitely got a great response to the set-closing Helena and especially Teenagers, a quirky little jewel most of the audience instantly related to.
Overall the group put on a good show considering they had just performed in Toronto at the Sound Academy during the Christmas holidays.
Earlier in the evening, Pittsburgh punk group Anti-Flag pulled out some surprises, including a quick cameo by Billy Talent bassist Jon Gallant for one number. The group also covered The Clash’s Should I Stay Or Should I Go for “the parents” in the crowd before moving drummer Pat Thetic’s entire kit into the audience for the closer.

CREDIT: Toronto Sun

PHOTOS: My Chemical Romance at Vertigo Music for Record Store Day II

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FAN TOUR REPORT

Ever since I first heard “Welcome to the Black Parade” back in 8th grade, My Chemical Romance has had me hooked. From there, I discovered “I’m not Okay”, “Heaven Help Us”, and countless other tracks of theirs that I listened to on repeat, over and over. I bought every CD and downloaded every song I could, dreaming of the day when I could finally see them live. Unfortunately however, because I was in middle school at the time, my parents wouldn’t allow me to attend the Black Parade tour.
This time around, however, I was eighteen. I was finally going to be able to attend their show and I couldn’t wait. I bought tickets online and was planning on attending the Grand Rapids show with my best friend, Zakk. A couple days later, while on the My Chemical Romance fan site, I found the MCR Road Reporter contest and entered it on a whim, thinking of how awesome it would be to win, but never imagining it would happen. Then, however, I got an e-mail back saying that I was getting two free tickets, two backstage/meet-and-greet passes, and a photo pass. I was ecstatic! My excitement was barely containable. When I called Zakk to tell him, half of what I said weren’t even words—it was just me screaming in delight.
Read the rest of the review here

FAN REPORT: Chicago

As I sit down to type this, my feet are throbbing, I am still covered in a mixture of my own sweat and the sweat of hundreds of other My Chemical Romance fans, my head is pounding, and I feel as if I may soon die. Those are all signs that April 15’s show at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom was a perfectly destructive force of hot and loud praise and energy exchanged between the “soldiers” of the MCRmy and the men who bring them together.
Read the rest of the review here

CREDIT: MCR Blog

MCR to Play Werchter and Rock For People Festivals

My Chemical Romance will be playing the main stage at the Werchter Festival in Belgium on Friday, July 1st . On Monday, July 4th MCR is scheduled to play the Rock for People Festival in the Czech Republic.
Tickets for both festivals are on sale now. For more info visit the tour page.

CREDIT: MCR's Blog

REVIEW: The World Contamination Tour 04/10/11 - Val Air Ballroom - Des Moines, IA

Before the day even started, fans were lining up at the doors of the Val Air Ballroom to secure their front-and-center spots for The World Contamination tour. Four in the morning might seem a bit excessive to some, but Killjoys (My Chemical Romance diehards) were camping out at the venue well before the sun rose over the fields of Iowa. Headliners My Chemical Romance spent the last two weeks on the road with Neon Trees and The Architects thus far, with much of the tour left ahead of them. Selling out venues across the country, The World Contamination Tour is sweeping across North America all spring long.
Kicking the night off was Kansas City punk rockers, The Architects. Despite definite genre differences between each of the three bands on the bill, The Architects roared through their set, winning over the crowd with ease. Pounding out an old school, straight shooting rock-n-roll sound, the band ran through tracks from their catalog, gaining momentum quickly. Feeding off the crowd’s response to more popular tracks such as “Bastards at the Gate” and “Daddy Wore Black”, The Architects became increasingly animated in their stage presence, playing with an intensity that kept everyone’s blood pumping.  Still riding hard off of their 2009 release, The Hard Way, many fans were familiar with The Architects material; both new and old. Reminiscent of other punk rock legends such as Rancid or Social Distortion (both of whom they have previously toured with), their harsh and frenzied sound combined with impassioned antics provided for an entertaining and enjoyable start to the night, setting the bar high for pop all-stars Neon Trees.
Neon Trees spent the last year tearing through the charts with heavy hitting singles such as “Animal” and “1983” off of their 2010 album Habits. With the power of Habits behind them, Neon Trees pulled their own weight on The World Contamination tour.  Lead singer Tyler Glenn rocked a Mohawk and a diverse portfolio of dance moves that, combined with the band’s poppy hooks, quickly impressed the sold-out crowd. The opening chords of chart-topper “Animal” resulted in an eruption of cheers throughout the venue, and turned into an all-out sing-along. A seven song set was rounded off with “Farther Down”, and the general consensus was that Neon Trees certainly wasn’t just a ‘studio band’, and that the band’s live show was just arresting as their catchy radio hits.
Since recording and scrapping an album as a follow up to 2006’s The Black Parade, My Chemical Romance has had to refrain from touring most of the country over the past few years.  Last November, the band released their second attempt at a new album, entitled Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. The long-awaited album made a huge splash amongst new and old My Chemical Romance fans alike. On their first North American tour since the album’s release last fall, many fans have been eager to witness the new material performed live.  Iowa’s date of The World Contamination Tour was no exception. A packed venue was electric as smoke gave way to the members of My Chemical Romance, as they broke into their first single from Danger Days; “Na Na Na.” Lead singer Gerard Way’s between song banter, and the band’s creative interludes between songs kept things interesting between songs, while showcasing his ever-improving voice with soaring vocals. The set list contained a considerable amount of new material, but kept a number of fan favorites and timeless tracks from the band’s discography.  The anthem of rebellious kids everywhere, “Teenagers” resulted in a deafening response from the crowd. The band’s wildly successful singles from 2004’s Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge; “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” and “Helena”, were met with equal amounts of excitement. Gerard Way and his band mates orchestrated a blast from the past; playing “Vampires Will Never Hurt You”, much to the excitement of their older fans, who are more familiar with their first release in 2002. Despite negative remarks and press towards the band in the past, My Chemical Romance often outwardly expresses a positive message through their music and words. With a knack for inspiring and reminding fans to never lose hope, the band’s messages has spread loud and clear amongst the world’s Killjoys, and many fans credit the band as life savers, bringing them back from dark times. Before breaking into the night’s final song, “Bulletproof Love”, Gerard Way left the room packed with thousands of Killjoys one final piece of advice; “never stop running.”

CREDIT: Matt Vogel - thesoundalarm.com

REVIEW: My Chemical Romance Bring World Contamination Tour to Grand Rapids

On Saturday, New Jersey's punk/alternative rock band My Chemical Romance treated a packed crowd at the Orbit Room in Grand Rapids to a powerful evening of music that touched on all of the band's discography.

The band began the day with a meet and greet downtown at Vertigo Record's where hundreds of fans lined up early in the rain to buy the band's special Record Store Day 7" picture disc release.

 

 

The first 100 people who purchased the disc gained wrist bands to come back to the signing later in the afternoon.

Fans also lined up early outside of the Orbit Room to try to secure their spots up front for the sold out show.

They were more than ready to see the band who had not toured in a few years as they worked on the follow up to their popular 2006 release The Black Parade.

My Chemical Romance actually recorded a album and then scrapped it when they were unhappy with it's direction.

After taking some more time, the band put together Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
and embarked on their current World Contamination Tour.

Danger Days is a concept album built around The Fabulous Killjoys; a group of outlaws who are fighting against the evil corporation Better Living Industries in California in 2019.

The album immediately gained a following of old and new fans and the band's subsequent inventive music videos have had those fans eager to see the new material performed live.

Saturday night, the show was opened by Kansas City punk rockers The Architects, who ran through a animated set that included the hard hitting "Bastards at the Gate".

The Architect's enjoyable set was a nice lead-in to My Chemical Romance's heavily punk-influenced set.

Before My Chemical Romance took to the stage, there was a electric feel running through the crowd.

As the band entered the stage through a cloud of smoke and to their Danger Days' intro "Look Alive, Sunshine", the crowd went into a massive frenzy jumping, screaming and singing along as they launched into their first single off the new album "Na, Na, Na".

 

Their stage set was filled with items from their "Na, Na, Na" video including some of their Killjoy masks and was filled with a elaborate light show that helped set the pace for many of their high-energy

 songs.

The band ripped through songs off of all of their albums including "Give 'Em Hell, Kid", "Planetary (Go)", "Vampire Money", "House of Wolves" and "Teenagers".

Band members Gerard Way (vocalist), Ray Toro (lead guitarist), Mikey Way (bassist), and Frank Iero (rhythm guitarist) seemed to really be enjoying themselves and feeling their new music as they all moved across the stage.

Toro was particularly impressive since he had sprained his ankle at a previous date of the tour.

It was nice to see them perform rare older songs "Hang 'Em High" and "Vampires Will Never Hurt You" alongside powerful performances of new songs "The Only Hope For Me Is You" and "Summertime".

Throughout the evening, Gerard interacted with the crowd, thanking them for coming out and bearing with them as they took the time to record a album that they were proud, inviting them to dance along with him on "Planetary (Go)" and howling before "House of Wolves".

Their performances of "Welcome To The Black Parade" and "Ghost of You" stood out for their interesting intros but it was classics "I'm Not Okay (I Promise) and "Helena" that got the biggest reactions with Gerard using the song's verse "so long and goodnight" as a way to leave the stage, leaving the crowd chanting for me.

Gerard returned to the stage alone to perform "Cancer", showcasing how far his voice has come since the band's early days.

The rest of the band then returned to close the show with new song "Bulletproof Heart" which was proceeded by Gerard telling the crowd, "No matter how bad it gets, don't give up. Always keep running. We will always be there for you. Just turn up the speakers, sing like no ones listening, dance like nobody's there."

It is obvious My Chemical Romance has a special relationship with it's fans and the crowd was obviously more than satisfied with the show that the band put together.

CREDIT: associated content

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ARTICLE: Meeting My Chemical Romance was mind-blowing

  My heart was beating so fast, I thought it was going to explode! The only thing that was separating Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Frank Iero and Ray Toro from me, was an ugly, plastic curtain.

I remember the security guard motioning us to come in because it was our turn. I walked through the curtain and the thought running through my mind was that there was no way this was real!! As I walked a few steps farther, I saw the beautiful, fiery, red hair -- it was Gerard Way. Then I knew it was real, and my inspiring idol was only a few feet away.

These weren't just four ordinary men in front of me, it was My Chemical Romance! I got to meet the band in the empty venue prior to their recent show in Salt Lake City. I had been waiting for this for more than eight years, and it was finally happening, so I lived in the moment. I introduced myself, and made sure to hug all of the band members, because this was something that would most likely never happen again.

The band members were all extremely nice and friendly; the only downfall was we only had a few minutes with them, and their security guard would not stop yelling at us to hurry and get out. Meeting My Chemical Romance has always been something I wanted to do. I am so blessed and grateful to now say I have done it.
It had been almost three years since I was screaming for MCR at their last concert on April 11, 2008, at Saltair. My Chemical Romance finally returned to perform at "In the Venue" April 8 as part of their World Contamination Tour. The show sold out within a couple of days, and people were willing to pay any price to get in at the last minute. Being the crazy fan I am, I called the radio stations countless times, and eventually was entered in a drawing for a chance to meet the band.

The Architects, a new band from Kansas City, Mo., opened the tour with loud, energizing songs that pumped up the crowd.

Next came Neon Trees, an alternative rock band that originated in Provo. They performed all of their hits, including "Animal," and put on a very entertaining show. Lead singer Tyler Glenn was very ecstatic and wild; his funky, outgoing style kept the crowd's energy high.

Then it was finally time for My Chemical Romance to steal the show; when they finally came out, the venue blew up with raging excitement. The alternative, punk rock band opened with their hit single "Na Na Na." They switched off playing songs from their newly released album, "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys," and old hits from their previous albums, "Life of the Murder Scene" and "The Black Parade."

MCR kept the crowd wild and screaming for more. Way, the lead singer, mentioned that Salt Lake City was the best crowd so far on their tour. The venue was insane, and people were constantly moshing and crowd surfing.

"Helena," one of MCR's most famous songs, was the number the band closed their performance with and the crowd loved every second of it. The band truly put on a mind-blowing, fun, crazy, breathtaking show that no one will ever forget. It was completely worth all of the desperate and anxious waiting of the past three years.
It is MCR's inspiring, meaningful lyrics, and crazy, upbeat songs that keep me begging for more. Their music is unlike any other band's or artist's. It is original and always holds an important, uplifting message, and that is what I love.

Now it is time to start counting the days until MCR will return again for another amazing performance.

CREDIT: www.standard.net

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour: 04/13/11 - EAGLES BALLROOM - MILWAUKEE, WI

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PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour - 04/17/11 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH

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PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour - 04/16/11 - The Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, MI

The Orbit Room

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour - 04/15/11 - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL

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REVIEW: My Chemical Romance tear up Chicago's Aragon Ballroom

My Chemical Romance impressed a sold-out crowd last night at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago with a high-octane set heavy on material from their latest album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.
The last time we saw them, the Jersey rockers wore their Sgt. Pepper-inspired outfits and performed the entire Black Parade album from start to finish in a brash display of rock & roll arrogance.
Four years later, as many of the "emo" contemporaries they were mistakenly lumped in with have gone by the wayside, MCR remains one of the most powerful live bands in rock music.
Newly-svelte frontman Gerard Way commanded the Aragon stage from the opening moments of the band's first song, "Na Na Na," his fire truck red hair standing in contrast to the black, goth-inspired look for which he first became known.

Way didn't bother with much crowd interaction, nor did the band offer many ballads to slow the tempo. This was straightforward rock & roll, minus any bells and whistles, and it was refreshing.
It wasn't until the sixth track that the band delved into material from The Black Parade. Way had the entire crowd swaying from side to side on "Mama," which rocked even without Liza Minnelli.
Midway through the set, just as the show was starting to drag slightly, MCR began pulling out its biggest hits: "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," "Teenagers," and "Helena."
Surprisingly, they skipped recent hit "Sing," opting for an encore of "Cancer," the only true ballad of the night, and their recent single "Bulletproof Heart."
The satisfying Aragon concert reinforced My Chemical Romance's status as one of music's most interesting and capable rock acts.

CREDIT: Chicago Examiner

PHOTOS: World Contamination Tour - 04/15/11 - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL

Examiner.com
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ARTICLE: My Chemical Romance: When self-indulgence is a virtue

Memo to Gerard Way and the rest of My Chemical Romance: Being ordinary alternative rock stars doesn't really suit you.
The band can deliver a conventional mix of punk energy and pop melody reasonably well, as they showed during their sold-out Friday night performance at the Aragon Ballroom, but the best moments in their 90-minute set came when they were musically and emotionally overwrought.
That kind of self-indulgence is rarely a virtue, but My Chemical Romance does extravagance better than most bands. Formed in New Jersey as an angst-ridden response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the group's mix of punk, goth, glam and theatrical rock reached a creative and commercial peak with their 2006 platinum record, "The Black Parade," a rock opera about a dying cancer patient.
The tour for the record found lead singer Way wearing his tortured soul on the sleeve of his black marching uniform for two years. Understandably and commendably, the band tried a different direction on last year's follow-up record, "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys," trading goth darkness for pop sunshine.
My Chemical Romance's new approach was evident in the title and chorus of their opening salvo, "Na Na Na (Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na)," which Way sang over his brother Mikey Way's chugging bass, the buzzsaw guitars of Frank Iero and Ray Toro and Bob Bryar's thundering drums. With the help of a keyboard player, other "Danger Days" selections nodded to synth-pop, as "Planetary (Go!)" rode a disco beat and the pretty "Summertime" recalled A Flock of Seagulls.

A few new songs, including "Bulletproof Heart," displayed Way's knack for Broadway-style melodies, but even they didn't make as deep an impression as the huge choruses and Queen-indebted guitar breaks of older material such as "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" or rival the Eastern European-flavored descent into hell, "Mama," in its fever-dream inventiveness.
Way and other members of the band now are in their 30s and married with children, and no one should begrudge them peace of mind, but in getting rid of some of their demons, My Chemical Romance also have lost some of their music's obsessive power.

CREDIT: KEVIN MCKEOUGH - CHICAGO TRIBUNE

ARTICLE: Vertigo Music's Record Store Day a Total Blam Blam: Huge crowds, vinyl sales, long line for My Chemical Romance

The national Record Store Day event has become an enthusiastic annual celebration in support of independent record/CD retailers, who have become a dying breed over the past decade or so.
And there's been no more enthusiastic, even wild, celebration of Record Store Day than that sponsored by Grand Rapids' Vertigo Music on S. Division Avenue.
Today was certainly no exception as hundreds of young fans lined up outside the store in the rain to await the afternoon arrival of popular rock band My Chemical Romance, which plays a sold-out show at the Orbit Room tonight.
My Chemical Romance was slated to meet fans and sign autographs at 4:30 today and some fans even started lining up Friday night.

Inside Vertigo Music, things were just as hectic, as hundreds of customers took advantage of CD and vinyl sales, lining up with their prospective purchases, listening to a host of talented West Michigan bands performing in the corner of the store, and enjoying free refreshments.

Vertigo Music manager Herm Baker said the overwhelming majority of customers were purchasing vinyl LPs, part of growing nationwide trend that began several years ago.


Grand Rapids rock outfit The Total Blam Blams -- which has quickly become one of my absolute favorite local bands -- put on a muscular, energetic set around lunchtime, giving away copies of its EP for free to fans.
Also performing today: The Long Count, Shores, Boss Mustangs, The Blue Squares, Big Dudee Roo, and Hannah Rose with Soulshine.

Record Store Day continues at Vertigo Music until 8 p.m.

CREDIT: mlive.com

PHOTOS: My Chemical Romance at Vertigo Music for Record Store Day

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VIDEO: MTV World Stage - My Chemical Romance - Full Performance

Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)
Thank You for the Venom
Planetary (GO!)
SING
Vampire Money
The Only Hope For Me Is You
I'm Not Ok (I Promise)
Bulletproof Heart
Welcome to the Black Parade

REVIEW: MCR Plays to Sold Out Audience

After releasing their new album, "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys," pop rock giants My Chemical Romance set out on the World Contamination Tour, which included a North American leg in recent months. Much to the delight of local fans, the band was booked to perform at the Val Air Ballroom where they played to a sold out audience.

While My Chemical Romance may have shed a lot of the bite in their sound since they last played the venue six years ago, they have not lost their energy. Their long anticipated return to Des Moines did not disappoint all the diehard fans ravenous to see a glimpse of the band they loved.

The opening band was Architects, Kansas City natives who were unheard of to the majority of the audience. The band delivered a groovy, straightforward, hard rock sound that contained hints of a southern flavor throughout the performance. Architects tried their hardest to energize and entertain a crowd that was completely unfamiliar with them, certainly not an easy feat. The band was entertaining but not anything to write home about. Architects merely served as a warm up for the two bigger acts that followed them, and the crowd seemed anxious for their set to finish so they could get to the good stuff.

Following Architects were Neon Trees, who have recently received mainstream exposure with their popular single "Animal." Neon Trees were a good fit on the tour, considering the pop and synth heavy sound of My Chemical Romance's latest release. One of the more interesting and note worthy aspects of Neon Trees was their female drummer, Elaine Bradley, a rare sight in any form of music. Seriously, it is not common to see a girl behind the drum kit. The band's lead singer, Tyler Glenn, was the only performer of the night to actually step down from the stage and interact with crowd.

After many hours of anticipation, My Chemical Romance stepped onstage to a deafening roar from the crowd that practically shook the whole building. The screaming continued through the night as frontman Gerard Way crooned and milked it for all it was worth for the audience. The band's set list was a mix of songs mostly from their last two albums and opened with the first single of their new album, "Na Na Na." (It is not hard to guess what the chorus to that one is.)

While My Chemical Romance played all of the singles off of their new album, they did sprinkle a few songs from their second album into their set. Fitting, as these songs are their best known and are what helped make them famous. The band only performed one song from their 2002 debut album, "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love," but it was a treat for older fans as well as certain people who greatly prefer their earlier works to their last two releases. (Names will not be mentioned.)

My Chemical Romance left the crowd dazed and delighted after they finally left the stage. It was clear as everyone left the building that band had just played to an audience of deeply dedicated fans.


CREDIT: The Grand Views