My Chemical Romance
Hit America rock band My Chemical Romance were icons of their time, and still maintain their cultural influence today. In this essay, I will explore why I fucking love this fucking band and why fangirls around the world continue to scream and cry over now middle-aged men.
First off, have you ever listened to an MCR album? They're all bangers. All of them. I smoke that shit on the daily. The talent that a shitty band from New Jersey can find is amazing. Ray Toro is a badass on the guitar. Almost every song on every album has a killer guitar solo somewhere and his skills really shine. And then you watch of video of him actually playing and you can't even see his fingers. Toro has devoted his life to the guitar and it has created some masterpieces that are difficult for even an experienced player to replicate.
Besides Toro, the rest of the band brings an energy that is indescribable. Gerard Way has a really stellar voice, especially for someone who prior to the band didn't have formal singing training. Frank Iero is a fucking joy to watch on stage, just rolling around and kicking and screaming all over the place. His chaotic energy really penetrates every show. Mikey Way is a lot less haywire on stage, but his presence is undeniable. The bass drives a lot of their songs, providing a back bone for all the other band members to build off of. And his hair's pretty cool so there's that.
I think the real reason I like MCR so much though, is because I'm transgender. During the revenge era, MCR, and a lot of other bands, really embodied that queer energy at that time. If you are even a little into the MCR fandom, you will notice that there are a lot of videos of them (mostly Frank and Gerard) saying some pretty homosexual things (ie. kissing on stage). Despite being two straight presenting dudes, they spoke out a lot about their support of the LGBT community and they weren't afraid to express these opinions in their songs or on stage. Despite our more "progressive" times, I don't know of any mainstream bands who has done anything comparable to that kinda of stage presence.
These losers were so confident in 2005 that being gay wasn't a bad thing that they started having two straight dudes making out on stage. That's fucking baller.
But even beyond that, these losers have really helped me become more comfortable with my trans identity. I've been identifying as a man for probably close to a decade, but I still get ma'am in public and I have a lot of feature that I consider feminine. But then I look at the 12 million pictures I have on my phone of these guys and I feel better. A lot of the features I consider "feminine" are the same features that cause fangirls to start screaming over these guys.
Like, I'm 5'8" and basically all of my male friends are taller than me, but then Frank is literally 5'6"
My chest looks pretty similar to Ray's and Frank's during the revenge tour. My jawline is kinds similar to basement Gerard's. I have a similar fashion sense to all of them in the early 2000s.
Realistically, I don't look like any of them, but seeing people on the internet going crazy about someone's features who are similar to your own, especially when you have the idea that no one will like you body, I don't know it's kinda nice.
But like, have you guys SEEN the I'm Not Okay music video? Work. Of. Art.
If there was an actual movie like that, I would watch it in a heartbeat.
Like the experience that these loser have in high school was so similar to my experience. I mean, I didn't play croquet or piss in fish bowls or anything, but like getting made fun of, not being particularly good at anything, failing classes, were a staple.
Also in the music video, they aren't shown to be very close. Other than when they are playing as a band, they all sit apart when eating lunch and they don't interact much. The only reason they really know each other or hang out is because they are all outcasts. Which was exactly my experience, by senior year, I hated all of my friends but I didn't really have anyone else to talk to, so I just kinda stuck around. I mean what else was I going to do, at least this way I could get out of the house.
I know that everyone goes crazy over the Helena music video, which is also a banger by the way, but nothing will ever top I'm Not Okay. Before I watched the music video, the song was a banger and I was smoking it on the daily, but now it's like next level.
But also just the energy these guys have as a unit is amazing. If I ever stumble across a video from one of their shows, I have to sit there and watch the whole thing because it's so entrancing. They have such an amazing stage presence and all of their antics make the shows really fun to watch.
I would love to see one of their reunion shows so badly, but god knows I'd never be able to afford the tickets. Although, I see all these selfies of people who spotted Gerard in a theater, which is crazy cool. Probably my only chance of ever meeting any of them.
FIC RECS!
In case you couldn't tell, I'm a fucking loser on the internet, and therefore I read fanfic. I haven't read unholyverse, and don't plan too as I have no interest in reading anything longer that 50k words. That being said, here's some of my favorites :3
(I also almost exclusively read explicit fic so if you don't like that maybe don't click these)
- Late Bloomer by orphan_account (E)
- Frank Iero/Gerard Way
- Fresh out of high school, Gerard has spent the last four years trying to crush his inconvenient boy-liking issues. He isn't expecting a family wedding, and the hot punk kid he's forced into rooming with, to pop his bubble of denial, but Frank knows what he wants. What will it take for Gerard to admit that he does, too?
- No Experience Necessary by ladyfoxxx (E)
- Frank Iero/Gerard Way, Mikey Way/Ray Toro
- The AU where they all work at Brian's pizza store.
- We're All Okay by rivers_bend (E)
- Frank Iero/Gerard Way, Frank Iero/Mikey Way (breifly for plot :p)
- A story in which Frank is not a stalker, Gerard is not a psycho, and Mikeyway is nobody’s boyfriend.
- Release the Bats by Sena (M)
- Ray Toro/Mikey Way
- Sure, Mikey's a vampire, but Ray's okay with that. He's still Mikey, after all, still Ray's friend, still dorky and sweet and funny and amazing and, yeah. Maybe Ray likes him as more than just a friend.
If you have some recs, or other stuff you'd like to share with me, leave it in my guestbook or dm me on tumblr (link on homepage)!!!!
Finish the quiz stupid...
You got Helena!!
This probably means your like, mega emo, or your a normie. or maybe you're just in middle school :/
Still a banging song either way. You probably have a weird relationship with churches. Probably some religious trauma. priest kink.
you live a very aesthetic life, you only wear/buy from one color scheme, and your a sucker for metaphorical imagery.
You've got great taste in books, movies and other media. People often come to you for recommendations.
And we should probably be friends :)
Add these to your site!! (but don't hotlink)
You got Give 'Em Hell Kid!!
You're a bit of a party animal, you enjoy a good headbanging-kind-of jam, the kind of songs you can get up and dance too.
You have a lot of energy, maybe some ADHD. Your friends have to tell you to quite down sometime because you don't realize your literally yelling in public.
You are a true revenge fan, it's probably your favorite album. You probably have like a million images in your phone of the band in revenge era.
Your probably an emo freak, but I could say that about any of these songs.
You are hopelessly in love with someone, but they don't know, because you don't think your good enough for them. (but that's not true. You're beautiful.) You probably have some low confidence.
Add these to your site!! (but don't hotlink)
You got To The End!!
You are probably gay. Or at least very flamboyant. You live for the drama, and you aren't afraid to do things a little extra. You might watch a little too much reality TV.
You might have an obsession with the morbid and macabre, but like Agagath Christie style. You read a lot of murder mysteries and true crime stuff.
You're very eccentric, your interests tend to make people confused or turn them away, but you have some true friends that love you for all your strangeness.
Add these to your site!! (but don't hotlink)
You got You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us in Prison!!
Dude. You LOVE gay porn. An unreasonable amount. but it's actually totally reasonable because gay porn is great.
You're probably a ferard shipper, or some other crazy shipper. AO3 addict. You might have more blorbos than friends.
You are no stranger to bad decisions. You tend to jump into things without thinking and live spontaneously.
You are a revenge purist. It's probably your favorite MCR album, maybe your favorite album period.
Add these to your site!! (but don't hotlink)
You got I'm Not Okay (I Promise)!!
Okay Ebony Darkness Dementia Raven Way...
You were not popular is school, and you likely thought that was a good thing. Despite that, you still had a lot of fun doing some questionable things ;)
You're high energy and impulsive, which has gotten you into some sticky situations, but it also makes you the life of the party. You likely have a very red-and-black heavy closet, and a very sterotypical MCR-fan kinda style.
You're not afraid to speak you're mind, which might have earned you a reputation, but it doesn't really bother you.
And you always kiss the homies goodnight.
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You got The Ghost of You!!
Shit man, this is a rough one.
You're life isn't the easiest. You seem prone to bad luck, and you're no stranger to misfortune.
You feel you're emotions deeply, and there's no such thing as "overreacting" for you. But more than sorrow, you feel love deeply as well. You would do anything for the people you are closest too, and they would do the same for you in return.
You might have lost something important to you, but it's better than never having it in the first place.
Add these to your site!! (but don't hotlink)
You got The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You!!
You have a love that means everything to you, wheter a person, a job, a hobby, or an addiction. But it's slowly destroying you. But you're struggling to give it up.
When you love, you love deeply, and you make that known. This can be a breath of fresh air in our modern, loveless world, but it can also be suffacating.
Anything taboo really get's you going, you love breaking the rules, going places you're not suppose to, and most of all you love getting away with it.
However, you can be sweet if you know that you're getting something out of it.
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You got Thank You for the Venom!!
You've got a bit of a cynical streak, you don't always see the glass as half-full. That being said, you are the life of the party. You're the kinda friend that never says no to a bad idea. Especially if they involve fire.
You've been known to have some self destructive habits. Probably a smoker. Or at least you don't brush you're teeth very often. Either way you're dentist is dissapointed.
You see all the things that are wrong with this world, and often call out other's on their bullshit. You're not afraid to speak up, but that doesn't always equate to the most meaningful action. Not saying you're into virtue signalling, but you might be a little lazy when it comes to changing the world. Which honestly me too, that sounds like a lot of work.
Okay but can we appreciate Ray's guitar solo on this song? Such a banger.
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You got Hang 'Em High!!
Did someone say gay cowboys?
You have a sort of unrequited love, whether for a person or another passion. You've been fighting hard for them, but it's not seeming to pay off. But rather than be discouraged, it's just making you more crazy about them. But not like in a stalker way though.
Some might consider you insane, you have a tendency to repeat actions until they work. Some call it persistence!
You have a specific set of comfort media, and very rarely stray outside of it. You know what you like, and don't always want to risk trying something new. You're ao3 is highly curated.
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You got It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Deathwish!!
You put the revenge in sweet revenge, princess.
You've held some grudges over the years, and don't always forgive easily. You're no stranger to the dramatic, and tend to make mountains out of molehills. You might be an actor/singer/performer of sorts, and can use this dramaticism to your advantage.
But you have a creative soul. You have an impeccable sense of style, and a unwavering commitment to you're creative medium.
You remind me a lot of Sharpay and Ryan Evans. In a good way though.
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You got Cemetery Drive!!
Most of you and you're friends are emo, but you are like the emo. A walking sterotype.
You've been used by some people in the past, someone close to you betrayed you're trust. It's made it hard for you to fall in love again. You don't make friends easily, and often distrust strangers, and even people who are close to you.
When someone can get past you're walls, they'll find you're not as sad/angry/tough as you like them to think. You have capacity to love, and when you do you do so deeply.
That being said, you also like supernatural. Big Destiel shipper. I'll let you interpret what that means.
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You got I Never Told You What I Do For A Living!!
Unemployed core. :3
In all seriousness, you have a secret. Something very few people know, that could really hurt you if it got out. It scares you, but you also kinda enjoy it in a sick and twisted kinda way.
You're a bit of an adrenaline junkie, the kinda person who would go skydiving for fun. You love horror movies, and you always choose the scary rides at the amusment park. You are my enemy.
Unlike a lot of you're emo friends, you tend to have a brighter outlook on life. That doesn't mean you're an optimist, you're just the least pessimistic of the bunch.
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Mikey's Pissed off!
Written 12/2/24
So there is a new MCR tour, which is very exciting!! Lots of really awesome new lore and cool promotional stuff, which made me really excited!
Totally pumped, and you know I'm buying tickets! Lets look at the dates.
Fuck, the closest one to me is like 6 hours away.
Whatever that's fine. I've driven farther distances. Looking closer, it's a stadium tour? Whatever, fine, get me some cheap nosebleed tickets and I'll have the time of my life.
THE CHEAPEST TICKETS ARE LIKE 300 DOLLARS????? WHAT THE FUCK
There is absolutely no way I could afford that. Plus the cost of travel and hotel, it's not happening. I guess I'll give up on that dream.
But like every other person on tumblr right now, I'm pissed off! Why the fuck are these tickets so expensive? These guys used to be punk! Why are yu charging such outrageous prices?
Why did you only give like 3 day notice for the ticket drop? If you had let people had more time, we could have saved up money at least. Now the only people with tickets are rich loser and scalpers.
These guys are uber famous, and I guess they can do whatever they want, but a lot of fans are feeling really betrayed by this. MCR means so much to so many people, and a lot of kids can't afford these tickets. Many of those kids didn't have a chance to see MCR in their hayday, and god knows they won't have a chance now.
I still loves these guys and their art, but it has been a lot more difficult to outwardly support them because of this. :(
And I swear to god if they don't release new music during this tour I'm going to FREAK!
Also R.I.P. Bob, you were a dickhead, but no one deserves to go that way. Condolences to the family.
Mikey's less pissed off!
Written 2/22/26
The last MCR note was in reference to absurd ticket prices, but a little over a year later, they are much more reasonable lol.
I'm actually going to see them in August! Which is a middle-school-dream come true! I'm going with my sister, and I know it's gonna be fun, even if we're in the nosebleeds lol.
Wierd thing is I'm not as excited about it as I thought I would be? Which is strange. I'm not sure why. Maybe I'm worried that it's not going to live up to everything I've dreamed of? Or maybe I've spent so long hating on their ticket prices that it feels weird to go?
Honestly, it feels like I've lost my passion for them a little bit. I'm not heavy into the fandom anymore, I haven't been keeping up with the new tour lore. It's just not really piquing my interest anymore. But it totally should! This Long Live the Black Parade stuff is totally my vibe. The authoritarian russia motifs and all of their outfits are tough as hell. It just doesn't feel as real as the revenge stuff does. And part of that may be nostalgia for the early 2000s, or that I never like Black Parade as much as revenge anyways.
IDK, I'm still gonna go, I'm still gonna have a good time, I'm still gonna sing all of the songs at the top of my lungs. But I would have done that on some back country road too. I don't really need to drive the 6 hours, stay at a hotel and fight through crowds.
Maybe I'm just a hater, but I don't really see the appeal to large stadium events like this. To be fair, I haven't been to a large stadium music event in a long time. I've been to some sports events recently, and those are cool, but mostly expensive, and I don't really care much about sports to begin with. The last music stadium event I went to was a Kip Moore concert in middle school. It was kinda totally a bummer, partly because I didn't care much about Kip Moore in the first place, and partly because I didn't really know what to do. Like you stand there and watch. And then you go home.
I've been to a lot of smaller basement shows recently, and I can't help but compare the experience to that. Basement shows are so intimate, you can't help but absorb the energy. I think the sheer scale of stadiums makes it harder to connect with the crowd.
Whatever, whatever. I'm still gonna go and have a fun time.