My Chemical Romance (often known as MCR or My Chem) is a Newark, New Jersey-based American rock band. The current lineup is Gerard Way, lead vocalist, Ray Toro, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way, Gerard’s younger brother. They are regarded as one of the most important rock bands of the 2000s, as well as a prominent player in the pop-punk and emo genres, despite the band’s rejection of the latter.
Gerard, Mikey, Toro, and drummer Matt Pelissier (later joined by Iero) formed the band on September 12, 2001, and released their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, in 2002. The next year, they signed with Reprise Records and released their major-label debut, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, in 2004. Pelissier was replaced by Bob Bryar shortly after the album’s release. The record was a commercial success, and it went platinum a year later.
The band’s prior albums were overshadowed by the success of The Black Parade, their 2006 rock opera concept album, which was a great financial success, with lead song “Welcome to the Black Parade” topping the UK singles chart. Despite unfavorable criticism in the Daily Mail, the album helped to solidify the band’s fan base. Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, the band’s fourth studio album, was released in 2010. Bryar left the band before the album’s release, and they acquired touring keyboardist James Dewees in 2012. In 2012 and 2013, the band released a collection of singles recorded in 2009 under the title Conventional Weapons.
