Saturday

A note on My Chemical Romance

I was hesitant about posting this. The internet is currently full of teenage girls sobbing into their pillows and I didn't want to come across as annoying or whiny. However, MCR were such a huge part of my life as I grew up that it doesn't seem to right to just ignore it and carry on as normal. I want to be honest.
~~~
This morning, I woke up to the news that My Chemical Romance have announced their split. As I've mentioned on many times before, most recently two days ago, MCR played a very important part in my life.
My Chemical Romance gig

I first discovered them in late 2004. Kerrang! printed a letter from a girl who wanted Gerard Way in her stocking for Christmas. Shortly after, watching Scuzz, a trailer for a film came on and I watched to find out what film it was. It quickly became apparent that it was actually a music video and, when the band and song name popped up on screen, I decided to carry on watching as I'd recently heard about them.

It's almost too cliché to say it, but I genuinely got chills. As an angsty 16 year old, this video spoke to me in a way nothing else had. I didn't have any real friends at this stage. I didn't have anyone who I could talk to about the way I felt. Then I saw this video and realised that it was ok to be the way I was. That I wasn't alone.
My Chemical Romance fans
Over the next year, I became obsessed. I plastered my room in photos of the band. I owned every single CD- albums and singles- and managed to see them three times. The third time, I hovered around the stage door for two hours after the gig. Then they came out. I spoke to them. I hugged them. I cried for days afterwards. 
Gerard Way 2005
By late 2006, I was in a really bad way. By now, I'd made true friends, but they didn't really understand what I was going through. I'd spend hours just curled up in bed listening to them. I saw them again and again and again.
Frank Iero 2005
I grew older, and grew out of my angst. MCR disappeared off the face of the earth for a while but it was cool. I still loved them but I was happy with my life. I met Rich, we moved in together, I studied at uni. Life was good. Eventually, they released Danger Days, which I connected with since it was all about colour, and joy, and growing up. 
My Chemical Romance NME Awards 2011
But now it's over. I guess everything has to come to an end at some point. I'm old enough, and mature enough, to not take this as an insult. They're older now, approaching their 40s in fact, and they have families. Of course they want to settle down and retire. I understand that. It's 2013, I've seen them 16 times- both in the UK and abroad, I've met them and they gave me comfort in my darkest days. How could I ever be upset about that?
My Chemical Romance Concert

32 comments :

  1. I really get this post! Three cheers for sweet revenge is still one of the best albums I have ever heard. my chem played a massive part of my teenage years as well. I remember also meeting Gerard Way at the signing for the umbrella academy years ago. so amazing and i'm gonna miss the music :(

    Lola x

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    1. Me too. I'll miss seeing them live the most.

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  2. I like you was a great fan of theirs in my teen years. Their songs will always bring back memories
    I am sad to see them go but I shall always live with memories xx

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    1. Yeah, the memories will always be there :)

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  3. I'm glad I'm not the only "older" person a little saddened by this. But, I'm glad they're ending on a good note. Unlike other bands who just kept going even after their hearts are clearly not into it, you know?

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    1. It does seem like only the teenagers are sad about it. It makes so much more sense to leave on a high than just keep going and going forever.

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  4. I really feel your pain today.

    It was 2004 when i discovered them also, at the age of 14 so they have influenced and been a huge part of my life too.

    I wish them the best in the future but this split won't effect how much I admire and listen to them <3

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    1. I think that was the best time to discover them. We got to see the whole rise and we were the best age to discover them. We were very lucky!

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  5. The 14 year old me refused to believe it was true!! I'm glad I'm drinking wine tonight

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    1. Aaw, drink yourself into happy denial!

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  6. I'm glad other people feel the same! I'm no longer a teenager, but MCR will always have a place in my heart. :)

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    1. It means so much to me to know I wasn't the only one upset by this!

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  7. hey, although i'm not a fan now I do get it. Saw them once at brixton for their tour after releasing their second album and they were amazing

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    1. Ooh, I saw them at Brixton on that tour too! I guess we were both in the same room at the same time. Weird!

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  8. Thank you for posting this, I'm glad you didn't hide away because of all the teenage girls crying about it. I never got to see them live, and that's what's depressing me most, that I never got to see the 5 guys who as good as saved my life when I was a teenager, thank them, nothing. I turned down so many opportunities to see them because I always thought there would be another gig next year. Absolutely gutted. I really have no words, but you've put it perfectly. Thank you. xx

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    1. Oh that's difficult. I'm so glad that there is somebody else who feels the way I do about this. I really hope they do a farewell tour. The fans need to say goodbye. xx

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  9. MCR were a huge part of my life in my teens too! I understand this post completely, and glad you posted it :) I loved their first few albums, but the music started getting gimmicky after a while which was a shame.

    The were amazing live, I saw them 4 times if I remember rightly!

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    1. Haha, The Black Parade wasn't their greatest achievement, in my opinion. I preferred their earlier eras, before they got too costume-y.

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  10. I'm so sad they've split! Welcome to the Black Parade is still my all time favourite song xx

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  11. Oh Lord, hearing about this made me feel mighty weird. I haven't listened to them in years, but I used to be literally *obsessed* with them, circa age 14-16. I saw them a few times and once queued in the signing tent for about four hours at Reading Festival, only to end up not even getting anything signed as there were far too many people who'd queued far longer and not enough time to get through everyone- you can imagine my phonecall to my mum haha. I was also pretty convinced Frank was the sexiest man in the world haha. Awkward xx

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    1. That happened to me at Download 05 too, although they had to close the signing tent because of health and safety. People were swarming the tent to get in and getting crushed. It was pretty crazy.

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  12. I used to be obsessed with them when I was about 14 as well. My friend really liked them and her obsession kind of rubbed off on me. I've never seen them or went to their concert, because it was too far away (in another country) and my parents didn't let me, but they'll always have a special place in my heart. Especially Frankie. He was my first 'celeb' crush, haha. :D

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    1. Oh, that's really sad! I had a huge crush on Frank too. Then I got to know them a little more and fell in love with Gerard. Weirdly enough, I remember thinking "Why are they all too old for me?" (as if I'd actually have a chance haha!). Then I got engaged to a man who is older than Frank and Mikey! b

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  13. It's exactly how I felt when alexisonfire announced they were splitting. It's bittersweet as the best memories come from their music. Granted once MCR did Black Parade I did stop listening, but my musical tastes were different and I still hold the respect I had for them at the beginning. It's sad as they are great musicians but all things must come to an end. They weren't going to do it forever. Who knows they might do an AOF and do a farewell tour in a few years! Xx

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    1. I wasn't a fan of The Black Parade after a while. I was into it at the time, but as I got older, I came to appreciate that their earlier stuff was much better. I hope they do a farewell tour too.

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  14. I can't believe how much I can relate to you.

    No matter how much I change as I grow, these guys will always have such a deep place inside & they'll always be able to bring up some super deep emotions.

    They saved me from doing alot of stupid stuff.

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  15. I'm saddened by this news too.. they were such a big part of my late teens and college years. I'm Not Okay was the anthem of my friends group and I saw them a couple of times.

    Lovely personal post :)

    Amy x cocktailsinteacups.com

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  16. Helena was the first MCR video I saw on Kerrang, I remember thinking it was an amazing video.

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  17. BUT NOW THEY'RE REUNITING AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST DAY EVER!!! :D

    Tania | teabee x

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