New Jersey, USA-based goth-punk band formed in 2000 by vocalist Gerard Way (b. 9 April 1977, Newark, New Jersey, USA) and drummer Matt Pelissier, with guitarist Ray Toro (b. Raymond Manuel Toro-Ortiz, 15 July 1977, Kearny, New Jersey, USA) joining up soon afterwards. Bass player Mikey Way (b. Michael James Way, 10 September 1980, Newark, New Jersey, USA) and guitarist Frank Iero (b. 31 October 1981, New Jersey, USA) completed the line-up of My Chemical Romance, an Irvine Welsh allusion. The quintet established a reputation on the US live circuit with their melodic hybrid of hardcore and rock ‘n’ roll, and in 2002 released their album debut I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love on the independent Eyeball label. Geoff Rickly, lead singer with fellow New Jersey band Thursday, and a unit to whom My Chemical Romance was inevitably compared, produced the album. The cathartic lyrics of many of the songs dealt with major personal issues in the life of chief songwriter, Gerard Way.
A recording contract with Reprise Records followed, with the band working on their major label debut while undertaking a lengthy series of tours. The polished concept album Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge was released in 2004 to favourable reviews, with the band gaining widespread mainstream press for the first time and enjoying transatlantic hit singles with ‘I’m Not Okay (I Promise)’, ‘Helena’ and ‘The Ghost Of You’. Bob Bryar (b. 31 December 1979, Chicago, Illinois, USA) replaced Pelissier as drummer later in the year. The band then played with Green Day on their American Idiot tour, before embarking on their first headlining tour in late 2005. The 2 DVD/1-CD set Life On The Murder Scene was released at the start of 2006, prior to the band entering the studio with Green Day veteran Rob Cavallo to begin work on their third album proper. The first track to be released from these sessions, ‘Welcome To The Black Parade’, gave My Chemical Romance their first UK number 1 single in October 2006.
