My Chemical Romance Splits Up After 12 Years
by Shannon Keirnan
The announcement came as a quiet statement on their website that simply said:
“Being in the band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We’ve gotten to go places we never knew we would. We’ve been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We’ve shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.”
The band, which consisted of Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Mikey Way, and Frank Iero, was started by Gerard Way after 9/11 left him turning to music to help cope with his view of the world.
“Beyond any sadness, what I feel the most is pride,” tweeted Way.
The New Jersey-based band produced an album in 2002 but didn’t really make news until 2004, which saw the release of “Helena” appearing on their Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge album.
2006 saw the release of The Black Parade, their most popular album. It went platinum and reached number 2 on the Billboard 200.
Songs from the band have appeared on soundtracks like “Watchmen” and “House of Wax,” and they have helped develop music for “Glee.” They have performed on shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “So You Think You Can Dance Canada.”
The band has been nominated for one Grammy.