By Erin Lemke
The Daily Cardinal
Every so often a band with the power to define and connect with a generation comes along and revolutionizes the way the world listens to music. My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Frank Iero, Mikey Way and Bob Bryar have managed to do just that. Once nothing more than a group of misfits with a passion for creating music that others could relate to, the New Jersey natives have managed to find success from their desire to make a difference.
Beginning Thursday, MCR will headline a three-month-long world tour in support of their latest release, The Black Parade. Rhythm guitarist Frank Iero recently spoke to The Daily Cardinal, giving his insights on everything from the band's symbiotic relationship with their fans to tour-bus antics and what to expect from the upcoming shows.
One of the most obvious things that sets MCR apart from other bands is the loyalty and closeness of their fans. The relationship between MCR and their fans is unique because of the way they support each other. The band believes that their music is so resonant with adolescents because the issues tackled in their songs deal with common anxieties like helplessness, the search for a purpose and wanting to live. The music is meant to encourage kids to find something to live for and pursue their dreams.
MCR's passion for their work is obvious and fans looking for a haven for their angst instantly connect to the music. In turn, the band is able feed off the energy and excitement of the fans, creating what Iero calls a ""mirror effect"" between the audience and the band. The amount of sheer energy and excitement found at an MCR arena show is infectious and both fans and the band members benefit from it.
After Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge was released in 2004, the little-known MCR were almost instantly tossed into the spotlight. Iero describes the overwhelming amount of media interest they have been receiving ever since as ""daunting,"" but is grateful because the attention is proof that they are making a difference in the world, something very important to the band.
Some have even said MCR is poised to become the biggest band in the world. The band's reaction to this is to feel ""warm and fuzzy inside, and kind of awkward,"" proving that the fame has not gone to anyone's head. They still try to identify with the DIY and punk culture where their sound is rooted by making a note of spreading the message that one person can help society by starting a band, handing out flyers for a local group or even buying a homeless man a sandwich. The band maintains that activism is necessary to make the world a more suitable place to be.
The Black Parade is the band's effort to ""push the boundaries."" Twenty-two songs were written for the album and 14 were recorded. In the studio, the band figured out the storyline of the album and then recorded each of the songs in order, finishing one and then moving on to the next part of the story. However, the title track, originally at the beginning of the album, was re-recorded and put into a more logical spot. The end result of this effort is a cohesive and epic album.
Even though The Black Parade deals with many dark topics, the band seeS the lyrics as hopeful and always try to ""find the beauty in some of the tragedy."" Tackling dark topics is their way of coping, and they hope their music will reach out to and help fans cope as well.
On the bus during their world tour, you can expect MCR to be listening to Elvis Costello, Joey Ramone and ""psych-up"" music, dancing around to get excited for the show. A popular MCR tour bus pastime is ""bunk diving,"" a game in which band members jump from one bunk of the bus into another bunk where someone else is sleeping. Apparently drummer Bob Bryar—Frank's sleeping victim—is a fan of the tradition.
MCR has a reputation for theatrical live shows and this tour will be no exception. There will be more visual representation in these shows, and the band will also be experimenting with the album by playing songs out of order to create a new story. The storyline of the album, an ""epic battle between life and death,"" is perfect for visual representation on the stage. While the music is always the backbone of any concert, going the extra mile to help the audience truly experience what the band have created is what sets MCR apart from their competition when they first exploded into the mainstream.
Whether it is because of the therapy their music provides, their rebellious misfit streak, the theatrics, their dedication or just the sexy eyeliner, MCR has managed to turn their own angst into a growing phenomenon. After spawning an entire subculture, they still keep raising the bar and record each new album like it could be the last. This willingness to play with fire, both metaphorically and literally, has spoken to a frustrated demographic and given them the hope to keep living life no matter what others think. As they declare in ""Welcome to the Black Parade"": ""Defiant to the end we hear the call / To carry on / We'll carry on..."".
