My Chemical Romance Invites You Into the "New" Black Parade
Written by Isabel Dowell
Photos by Bryce Hall
Graphic by Rebekah Witt
Before I even made my way fully into the city of Detroit, it was obvious that My Chemical Romance was in town. It’s hard to pinpoint the style of the city’s residents on a normal day, but the wave of brightly colored dyed hair, costumes that would put a cosplayer to shame, and the excitement that filled the city was hard to miss.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their third studio album, The Black Parade, New Jersey rock band My Chemical Romance took over the city’s center for a theatrical and unforgettable set at Comerica Park. Spanning over two hours, the band played The Black Parade from front to back, accompanied by a lore-expanding storyline that has spanned across multiple shows. (As a casual My Chemical Romance listener, bear with me through this explanation.) We are introduced to the characters as the Draag national anthem plays. Draag, the fictional country, is ruled by a dictator and is holding the band as prisoners. The band is known as the Black Parade, along with the Clerk, the Secretary, Marianne, Sylvia, the Gentleman (in puppet form and human form), and His Grand Immortal Dictator, most notably.
In Detroit, lead singer Gerard Way “kills” his bandmate, guitarist Frank Iero, who ultimately comes back to life. This proves to be a huge plot point in the overarching storyline as Way’s character realizes the band cannot be killed. Even though bassist Mikey Way and guitarist Ray Toro watch in horror, they are pleased to see the twist unfold. The clerk is using the band essentially as puppets for reconditioning and to please the dictator. Overall, the playthrough of The Black Parade plays into the band’s storyline and lore. Detroit provided some important twists for diehard fans and added extra excitement as the North American tour nears the end. If you’d like to dive deeper, fans have compiled their own Wiki page filled with information.
Photo credit: Bryce Hall
Hearing The Black Parade live was an unforgettable experience. There are only a few artists whose fanbase spans generations. Elder emos, Tumblr teens, and newcomers gathered to celebrate the same band we all know and love. As fan culture has grown, passing out and trading freebies, taking photos with and of one another, and unpacking the band’s storyline together has become the norm, no matter if you are an old or new fan. Concerts are made to be freeing, accepting, and a place for all of us to gather. My Chemical Romance has built a fanbase that allows their audience to express themselves and accept one another.
Following The Black Parade, the band changed out of their Draag costumes and opted for more casual clothing. They moved to a second stage set up between the general admission pit and floor seating, giving fans a chance to hear a handful of favorites (“I’m Not Okay (I Promise), “Helena”), lesser played tracks (“Bury Me in Black”, “Zero Percent”), and even a cover of Morrisey’s “Jack the Ripper”. A random burst of rain also hit during “Vampire Money” which was an once-in-a-lifetime, spiritual moment.
As mentioned, I am a casual listener of My Chemical Romance. I enjoyed them over a decade ago in my teen years and can sing “Teenagers” word for word. But after this show, I am reminded of why I loved being an angsty Tumblr teen, why I love live music, and how important bands like My Chemical Romance are to those looking for a place to belong. Their theatrics are weird (complimentary), their lyrics are relatable, and their fanbase creates a true community. I am completely engrossed in the lore of this tour and have been trying to piece together over a year’s worth of stories and shows. I have had The Black Parade on repeat for the last three days, and the lyrics I once knew by heart are starting to come back to me.
I cannot recommend a My Chemical Romance show enough. You might not have related to your inner teen in many years, you may be behind on the lore, but you will find a piece of yourself in their music no matter your age or how many songs you can sing along to. As the tour continues and their Draag storyline develops, I am excited to follow along and see what this legendary rock band has up their sleeves. It seems like My Chemical Romance will continue performing for many years to come, and you can bet I will be in the crowd.