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My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and more referenced in new ’emo’ South Park episode
In a new episode of South Park titled Goth Kids 3: Dawn Of The Posers (which aired last night in the US) the cartoon has tackled the stereotyping of ’emos’.Parodied bands in the episode include Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Sunny Day Real Estate, Coheed And Cambria, Jimmy Eat World, Hawthorne Heights, Saosin and more. My Chemical Romance, for example, are referred to as My Medical Relationship… see clips from the show, below.
#MCRmyForLife: 20 ways to celebrate International My Chemical Romance Day
July 23 is the fan-proclaimed International My Chemical Romance Day (better known as IMCRD), and though MCR announced their breakup in late March, the MCRmy is still holding strong to this holiday celebrated on the release anniversary of MCR’s first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love.
“The most common question I’ve been getting since the break up was whether IMCRD would go on at all,” says Devan Mickell, a long-time fan who is manning the @IMCRD Twitter account which helps direct fans on the big day, this year.
“I was actually really surprised by how many people thought that MCR’s break up would jeopardize IMCRD. Yes, it’s about celebrating our love and appreciation for a band, but it’s also about the experiences we’ve shared, the friends we’ve made the family we’ve gained, and how we’ve all grown and changed over the years with one another. To me, IMCRD is far more about the MCRmy than anything else”
For many of fans of the band, it was tough finding ways to connect with other members of the fanbase, especially in the early days when beyond spotting other kids in MCR shirts, going to shows and lurking the now defunct WBR Street Network message boards, there was no way to really connect.
The advances in technology since then opened very simple ways to find other fans and to stay in touch, both online and in real life. IMCRD celebrates the beauty of that, of fan unity and of a strong community built around mutual passion for the band.
Throughout the years, this grassroots holiday has spawned large-scale fan meetups, charity fund-raisers, effortless Twitter trending and many creative endeavors from the fan community.
20 Ways to celebrate IMCRD 2013
1. Attend A Meetup
Head to the “Gangs” section of the MCRmy (which will continue to remain active) or to your local fan page to see if local fans are planning to meet.
2. Create Something (Anything!)
Any Killjoy worth his or her weight in spraypaint and Zone dust knows that “art is the weapon.” Likewise, anyone who follows Gerard Way on Twitter knows that “#ArtIsSmart.” So pick up your weapon of choice today and make something.
3. Donate to charity
My Chem were always great proponents of giving back. From their work with the Make-A-Wish foundation and Shirts For A Cure, to Frank Iero’s custom Macbeth “Fuck Cancer” shoes and the #SingItForJapan fund for tsunami relief spearheaded by Ray Toro, the band always gave back and would surely love to see fans honoring their message by doing the same.
4. Listen to MCR in a new light
A couple months ago, Gerard Way took to Twitter to have listening parties for each of the band’s album’s offering his perspective and behind-the-scenes facts. Listening to the albums while perusing his Twitter commentary is one way to enrich your listening experience.
5. Get an MCR tattoo
This is something that has been on my personal to-do list since I was 14. Why wait? Tomorrow doesn’t exist.
6. Spam your Twitter followers
This year’s official IMCRD hashtag is #MCRmyForLife. Use it to celebrate the band’s career and tell others why you’re in it for life.
7. Celebrate the new work of the MCR members
All four MCR members have announced that they are embarking on new endeavors, some of which you can already hear online. Check out Ray Toro’s solo song “Isn’t That Something?,” “Where Are My Fucking Pills?” by Death Spells (Frank Iero and James Dewees) and Gerard Way’s “Zero Zero.”
8. Bask in nostalgia
If you’re like me, you have overflowing archives of endless MCR information. Here’s a quick directory of AP issues on which MCR have been on the cover or have been featured prominently:
–May 2003 (AP 178)
–February 2004 (AP 187)
–August 2004 (AP 193)
–December 2004 (AP 197) – COVER
–January 2006 (AP 210) – COVER
–December 2006 (AP 221) – COVER
–July 2008 (AP 240)
–January 2010 (AP 258) – COVER
–March 2011 (AP 272) – COVER
–November 2012 (AP 292) – Gerard Way and deadmau5
–June 2013 (AP 299) – Death Spells
–July 2013 (AP 300) – Gerard Way’s reimagining of their first COVER
9. Pick up an instrument
Both Mikey Way and Frank Iero have signature instruments—the Mikey Way Fender Squier Mustang bass and the Epiphone Wilshire Phant-o-matic, respectively. Pick up a guitar today and start practicing and saving up for one.
10. Write a letter to Gerard Way
Shortly after MCR broke up, Gerard Way published an address and asked fans to write to him or send him anything that could fit in an envelope. When we spoke to the singer a month later, he told us it was tough, and he was surprised by the response, but he’s still going to try to get through all the letters he receives. Send yours to:
Warner Bros Records
c/o Gerard Way
3300 Warner Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505
Just don’t send any packages. And “don’t make it weird.”
11. Go on a scavenger hunt to find a new copy of Bullets on CD for a reasonable price
Seriously. We’re not sure what it is—Eyeball Records going out of business, opportunists scalping because of the breakup, or what—but for whatever reason, finding a copy of I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love on CD online is quite the task these days.
12. Catch up on issues one and two of The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys
The comic series (which began as a comic series that informed the album, then became informed by the album) follows the life of “The Girl” depicted in the band’s Danger Days videos several years later. For bonus fun: Go on a hunt with some fellow MCR fans for the issues’ alternate covers! (Current issues and preorders available.)
13. Watch Life On The Murder Scene
You’ve probably seen it a million times, and you’re probably going to cry, but it never hurts. Plus sitting on your couch watching a DVD is “easy-peasy pumpkin-peasy. Pumpkin pie, motherfucker!” While you’re at it, you might as well whip out The Black Parade Is Dead! and ¡Venganza!
14. Dress up
Be fearless. Go to work in full Killjoys garb! Well, depending on your job or school, that is. If you can’t go to that extreme, or if you don’t want to go with the full on unholy living dead look, wearing a T-shirt, badge or subtle writing on your arm to show your support works just fine.
15. Listen to this two-hour 2005 Loveline interview
Yes, the sex advice show. NSFW.
16. Help out a fellow fan
Whether you’re an older fan who wants to welcome a younger one to the MCRmy or if you simply notice someone who wants or needs help, extend a helping hand and feel better for having done something nice.
17. Read Frank Iero’s writing
You can find the former MCR guitarist’s fiction-writing, poetry, rants, reviews, meme-generation and photography at frank-iero.com.
18. Celebrate with cupcakes
19. Revisit the “Helena” and “Sweet Revenge” flash games from the old website.
20. Heed this advice from Frank Iero:
“Your Imagination is the Ammunition.
Stay Dirty, and Stay Dangerous.
Create and Destroy as you see fit.
Embrace your Originality.
The Aftermath is Secondary.
You can and should do Anything.”
Now, GET UP AND GO!
How will you celebrate today? Reply with your plans and share on Twitter using the #MCRmyForLife tag. You might see your photo here later!
Our fearless leader acknowledges our efforts:
Exclusive Video: The Aquabats! Super Show!: Anti-Bats ft Mikey Way
Watch the video preview of the Gerard Way written and directed episode of The Aquabats Super Show featuring Mikey Way HERE.
My Chemical Romance Alums Join Forces With ‘Aquabats!’ (Exclusive Video)
The band’s former frontman, Gerard Way, and series star/creator Christian Jacobs talk to THR about collaborating on the upcoming episode in which the singer’s bass-player brother Mikey guest-stars.
The Aquabats! Super Show! gets some real-life rock infusion in its upcoming second season.
Hub Network’s live-action kids series — which centers on a crime-fighting rock band on a never-ending quest to right wrongs, destroy boredom and seek justice for all — will feature a forthcoming episode that was co-written and co-directed by former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way.
The collaboration with Aquabats! creator/executive producer/star Christian Jacobs came about after MCR — which announced its split in March — appeared in another Jacobs-created series, Nickelodeon’s Yo Gabba Gabba, in December 2011. Way and Jacobs kept in touch and decided to partner up again for an episode of his newest show, which is based on the real-life rock band that Jacobs (aka “The M.C. Bat Commander”) co-founded in 1994 with fellow Aquabat Chad Larson (aka “Crash McLarson”). (Incidentally, the series just received a Daytime Emmy nomination for outstanding children’s series.)
Their episode — which is titled “Anti-bats!” and airs June 29 — finds two competing bands who are seeking revenge on The Aquabats! uniting with evil Silver Skull to become the Anti-bats! Way’s brother and former MCR bandmate, bass player Mikey Way, guest-stars as one of the Anti-bats!
Ahead of the show’s season two premiere, Way and Jacobs talked to The Hollywood Reporter about their upcoming episode, their working relationship and what’s next.
The Hollywood Reporter: How did this collaboration come about?
Gerard Way: I had done an interview at San Diego Comic-Con — we were doing comics for the band — and they asked me what I wanted to do next. I had had Bandit, my daughter, and naturally I wanted to be on Yo Gabba Gabba, so I threw it out there. The universe works in awesome ways. Christian was on a flight with Frank [Iero, guitarist for My Chemical Romance]. … And then next thing I know, Christian and I are on the phone and collaborating on a musical segment. I realized how incredibly involved he is and how much he cared about every single segment. We hit it off and met on the set and stayed in touch, and he kindly offered me the opportunity to write for Aquabats!
Christian Jacobs: I saw that interview with Gerard. I thought, “That guy likes my show? Oh my gosh. That guy’s really famous and talented.” It was cool he was into our show, and it made an impression on me. And then organically I met Frank on an airplane, and we exchanged information and eventually scheduled a segment for My Chemical Romance to be on Gabba. Gerard was really the creative mind behind it; he really had a vision for what he wanted to do, and it just seemed like we hit it off. We became friends because we had so many things in common, not just influences and references but the way we are about things we like and our likes and dislikes. So a few months later, I asked if Gerard would be interested in doing [Aquabats!]. We collaborated on a few different ideas, and one script rose to the top and got shot.
THR: It sounds like you have a pretty easy working relationship.
Way: It was super easy, and when you find people who are inspiring, generally the smart thing to do is [continue working with them]. It’s hard work, but it’s supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to have the illusion of being easy, and it is, but it’s also long hours. Christian and I are the type of people who are very lucky to have people who want to support us and give us resources.
THR: Where did the inspiration for the episode come from?
Way: It’s not a tribute per se, but there are things [from my childhood] like Mad Max orSuperman 2. It’s the stuff that wouldn’t be so obvious to people — like the guy with the beard in Superman 2.
Jacobs: And we have homages to that in this episode. We put a lot of what’s called meta humor in the stuff that we do, it’s kind of a phenomenon going on right now. People are using references to tell different stories, and I think it works seamlessly in the episode we did together. It’s fun to create stuff like that; it takes real effort, but it feels effortless, and the end result is also very smooth and effortless.
THR: Gerard, your brother Mikey also guest-stars in the episode. How did that happen?
Way: It was super amazing and very organic. When we were trying to cast the episode, I knew that one of the most fun things, even though it would be challenging, would be to cast the Anti-bats! One of the things I’ve always loved is stunt casting. One of my favorite [Aquabats!] cameos is the Eagle Claw! spiritual mentor played in season one by Lou Diamond Phillips. And then Rip Taylor, that was a big one for me because I used to watch The Gong Show when I was a kid. So it was like, “Let’s get a musician to play this guy.” Christian thought of Mikey, and we thought it would be perfect. He said yeah right away. It’s cool because I know he always wanted to do something like that.
THR: Gerard, what’s your directing style like?
Way: Because I’m so detail oriented, I’ve always collaborated [on videos he’s directed]. I get so hung up on detail and would stand there and do a shot like 10 times. Sometimes that’s a benefit and sometimes that’s a hindrance.
THR: Do you want to pursue directing more projects?
Way: Any opportunity I get to do that and work with amazing people, I’ll take it. My music is — I don’t want to say my main focus, but it’s what comes most naturally to me. At this stage in my life, if somebody gave me $10 million to make an indie, and it’s just me, I don’t think I would do that. I like working in groups.
Jacobs: Take the money, I’ll help you.
THR: Gerard, are you working on new music now?
Way: I am working on music. I don’t quite know how to describe it or what to call it or how to put a name on it, if it’s a band or solo thing. I’m not even dealing with that. Right now, I’m trying to figure out what I want to do and what the universe needs me to do. What I’m doing is super organic and completely pure, and I’m positive the longer I continue doing it, it will stay that way. It’s connected deeply to what I was before I started My Chemical Romance and had that adventure. It’s more connected to who I really am, because who I really was in My Chemical Romance, that changed and reverted back to — I don’t know, I turned back into a pumpkin.
THR: Do the two of you have any plans to collaborate again?
Jacobs: Absolutely. We plan to. Hopefully we’ll be lucky enough to do some more episodes [of Aquabats!]. But beyond that as well, I’d love to keep working together and get more things going.
The Aquabats!, from Awesome Forces Productions, returns with new episodes at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Saturday on Hub Network. (The season one two-disc DVD was released May 21.) The second-season premiere includes a special appearance from pro skateboarder Tony Hawk. Watch a clip, which is exclusive to THR, below.
Coming up, The Aquabats! are set to perform July 18 during Comic-Con at San Diego’s House of Blues.
MCR’s 10 greatest video moments by Kerrang Magazine
It’s still hard to believe right now but twelve years, six Kerrang! Awards and four albums after My Chemical Romance first burst onto the scene, it’s all over. With their famous last words still ringing in our ears we’ve put together a playlist of the band’s 10 greatest video moments.
Watch, singalong, laugh and even have a sneaky cry – not that we did, we just had something in our eye, honest. When you’re done let us know your personal favourite MCR moment of all time in the comments.
The immortal opening line:
For many fans, their first taste of My Chemical Romance was I’m Not Okay (I Promise), the debut single from their second record that propelled them into the international spotlight. It may have been eight years since these immortal lines were uttered but has there ever been a better start to a music video since?
“You like D&D, Audrey Hepburn, Fangoria, Harry Houdini, and croquet. You can’t swim, can’t dance, and you don’t know karate. Face it, you’re never gonna make it.”
“I don’t wanna make it. I just wanna–“:
The first ever MCR music video:
Even in this low budget video for their debut record, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002), you can see the early potential that MCR possessed. You can also see Frank Iero’s dreadlocks. Weird!:
The 2005 Kerrang! Awards:
Kerrang! and our readers certainly saw the band’s potential and 2005 saw the MCR receive a whopping five Kerrang! Award nominations, taking the award for Best Video for Helena and beating Green Day, Foo Fighters, Trivium and System Of A Down to take home Best Album:
The no underwear announcement at Download 2005:
“I know something you don’t…” yells Gerard. “I’m not wearing any underwear! We’re gonna get sexy for a minute!” Just part of the madness that was My Chem’s Download 2005 set:
The number 1 single:
This is the song that took the band from The Black Parade to the top of the hit parade, earning them the UK number 1 single spot. Coupled with one of the most iconic videos of a generation, there’s nothing much more to say other than play this masterpiece loud:
The behind the scenes of that iconic video:
Take Gerard Way’s vision, combine it with Sam Bayer’s (the guy who did music videos for The Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Nirvana etc) directing skills, add a hundred or so extras, some buckets full of dust and costumes fit for a feature film. What do you get? A visual and stylistic bombshell. This mini documentary shows how the whole thing was brought together:
The pre-headline slot Kerrang! Podcast at Reading 2011:
Shortly before their Reading 2011 headline slot Mikey and Gerard spoke on the Kerrang! Podcast about having a surprise for the show lined up that was “Better than jetpacks”…:
The incredible Brian May moment:
And here’s that incredible “better than jetpacks” Reading moment; My Chemical Romance playing We Will Rock You with Queen’s Brian May as they headline Reading 2011. Truly epic:
The ghostly Kerrang! Awards 2012 acceptance speech:
They also gave us one of the strangest Kerrang! Award acceptance videos of all time when they won Best International Band 2012:
The catchiest song in the world?:
“Louder than God’s revolver and twice as shiny…” will there ever be a song catchier than Na Na Na? We’re inclined to say no no no there won’t:
Bonus video number 11:
There were too many moments to choose from and this video is just too great to leave out. So long and goodnight MCR:
Via
Gerard Way talk next album!
At New York Comic Con 2012 while promoting his forthcoming illustrated novel True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys, Artisan News asked Gerard Way about the next My Chemical Romance album.
Gerard Way discusses My Chemical Romance’s 5th album on “Spoilers” with Kevin Smith
Gerard Way discussed My Chemical Romance’s upcoming 5th album on today’s episode of “Spoilers,” hosted by Kevin Smith.
He said, MCR 5, as he is calling it while it is in-progress, is “going rather quickly” and that the album is “very dark so far.”
The album, Way hints, will also include the band’s wearing costumes. He told Kevin Smith he’s meeting with Colleen Atwood, who had designed the band’s costumes since The Black Parade, soon to work out the costumes to accompany the next album.
Gerard also played “Small Petunia Of The Galaxy,” a song he wrote for his daughter, from his iPhone during the interview.
Destroya News 