Gerard Way Explains My Chemical Romance Breakup

It took the liberation of a trapped bird for Gerard Way to accept that the 12-year stint of his mega-successful alternative rock band My Chemical Romance was over.

Writing in a long and elusive essay on twitlonger, the Belleville High School graduate explained to fans that “there was no divorce, argument, failure, accident, villain, or knife in the back” that precipitate the break up that “ had been quietly in the works.” Instead, the end of the band was seemingly precipitated by Way’s feeling during an Asbury Park performance that felt unpleasantly disassociated from his music.  

The band’s breakup on Friday via a brief statement on their official website followed four acclaimed and high selling records and a string of modern rock radio staples like “Helena” and “I’m Not OK (I Promise).” The Black Parade, a 2006 concept album, is considered a stand out in their catalogue by critics and sold over 1 million copies after debuting at number two in the U.S. on its release.

Way and fellow New Jersey musicians Matt Pelissier, Ray Toro, Frank Iero and Way’s brother Mikey Way formed the band shortly after 9-11. Their dark, intricate guitar work and confessional abstract lyrics quickly attracted them fans and their followers expanded through the social network MySpace. Their major label debut Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge was released in 2004 by Reprise records.

The band's fans have a reputation for passionately following the group, a reputation that seems well earned judging from the Change.org petition requesting a farewell My Chemical Romance tour that sprang up and quickly attracted 15,000 signatures after the break-up announcement. 

Ireo spoke with Patch about the band and his Belleville roots in 2011. Check out the interview here.