My Chemical Romance and other like bands revel in teen angst.
“She belly-flopped in front of a car wearing a suicide note... just another case of a geek trying to imitate the popular people and failing miserably.” — Shannen Doherty, Heathers
Last month’s issue of Spin ruined my day. I opened my mailbox to find Gerard Way’s stupid pasty Bowie-wannabe face staring at me from the pitch-black chasm of his metal coffin, suffocating among the unpaid bills and slicing his wrists on credit card offers. “Kids were gonna kill themselves. Then they heard our music,” blurbs the My Chemical Romance frontman. Funny — that’s how I feel when I hear My Chemical Romance — l like I want to do myself in.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - El Bicho
The "adults" should do the same thing.
27 - Retro Music Chick
Sure, I do in fact have a day job. I'm a college English professor and I teach creative writing at a youth center, so actually, I have TWO day jobs. Thanks for playing.
28 - Anonymous
This has got to be one of the stupidest things I've ever read. My Chemical Romance is an amazing band that cares a lot about their fans. No, I'm not going to say they've saved my life. But they have changed it for the better. I find it funny how someone can say something like this when they obviously can't even figure out the meaning in their songs.
29 - Mia Rose
I’m disgusted with this article
You’re the only wannabe around here. You wrote this just to get a reaction and here is mine.
You know nothing about MCR and what they do for their fans, and how you’ve just portrayed them, tells me how ignorant you are. If they can help kids with their music, then why question it? You may not understand it, but don’t knock it. And as for calling kids “Weasel-faced wankers” that’s disgusting.
If these kids want to believe that MCR saved their life and it makes them feel better, then let them believe. Who are you to make fun of them?
Oh and BTW, I’m not a teenager; I’m 36 years old and love all types of music including My Chemical Romance.
Mia
30 - Jackson Dale
Go and listen to their song Cancer and then tell me that their music sucks.
You haven't got a clue lady.
My Chemical Romance are famous all over the world. You my dear, are not.
Keep your sad opinion to yourself.
Jack
31 - Alex.
i refuse to finish that article. you and your narrow mindedness disgust me.
i don't believe in jesus, but i believe in My Chemical Romance. they give me a will to live. they have helped me through so much.
in my opinion, the only reason you dislike them, is because you do not understand them! [Edited]
my chemical romance have always been there for me. and always will, even if they ever break up. so consider other people before you flout your stupidity on us.
32 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
I have a newsflash for all of you dudes out there.
Most of "teen culture," "pre-teen culture" and the rest of the garbage is made up by people who have products to market and want to make money.
If someone didn't hustle the idea of "teen rebellion" and "teen angst," they wouldn't be able to make money off of a multi-billion dollar entertainment industry.
In short, they would be out of work, and would have to find jobs at Burger King feeding frozen whopper patties into a broiler, instead of selling huge whoppers of bullshit that result in thousands of hours of air time on "entertainment" shows that sell the latest idiot dressing himself like a fool to sell a lousy song.
Next time you put on the TV, note carefully who is targetted for sales, and you'll understand what I mean.
33 - Alise
Wow! You are so awesome! Being a snide, heartless, Internet-brave bully of a music snob is totally original! You are so much better than everyone because you listen to Morrissey! That is so groundbreaking! Oh, and because you're "retro" too, huh? From this article, I can probably correctly guess that you were the one making your classmates lives a living hell. In all honestly, I felt the Spin article went a little overboard, but belittling the kids who like MCR and making them feel like shit because a band made them feel better about themselves is disgusting. [Edited]
34 - whatever
did that make you feel tough?
35 - Kim
I see near the add comment box... "Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy."
Does this rule apply to articles? Does this article constitute a personal attack on the boys in MCR?
oh well, I have my own for the blogger....
Ignorant
36 - Rowan Booker
Wow, this is the most narrow-minded, horrid thing I've ever read. The Daily Mail article was funny, but this is over the top.
You know NOTHING about MCR or their fans, obviously, or you wouldn't post this. I found it annoying that kids at my school seemed so narrow-minded about My Chem, but to have a fully grown woman like you writing an article about a band you hate so much makes my laugh.
I love MCR. I'm not going to say they've saved my life, but they've certainly changed it. I'd never felt anything towards music before, until I found MCR, then I finally felt I'd found a band that means something to me. Not only do they have awesome songs (which a sad person like you are probably jealous of) but they are the most amazing "celebs" I've ever seen. In a teen-world were the cool thing to listen to is The Pussycat Dolls and P Diddy, MCR are a band that stand up for what they believe in and set out to touch peoples lives with their music. They, unlike so many bands and artists that are popular with teens today, actually care about their fans and the messages they hear and how they lead thier lives. That is why thier fans are so dedicated and protective - This band has done more for them they anyone else probably will.
I'm going to quote Gerard Way now - Maybe it will make you see some things clearer. "If for one minute you think you're better than a sixteen year old girl in a Green Day t-shirt, you are sorely mistaken. Remember the first time you went to a show and saw your favorite band. You wore their shirt, and sang every word. You didn't know anything about scene politics, haircuts, or what was cool. All you knew was that this music made you feel different from anyone you shared a locker with. Someone finally understood you. This is what music is about.""
I'm going to leave you with that quote, and hopefully it will make you realise that so much you have said is wrong. You don't understand it at all, really. Please, do some reasearch before jumping to conclusions and making judgements - Judging and labelling happens everyday with teenagers and your no better then ignorant bullies that are normally the people that drive a lot of teens to suicide. Thing before you judge.
P.S Did you know that MCR LOVE Morrissey? Gerard goes on all the time about how they made a huge difference in his life. Theres a similarity between him and you.
37 - Rowan Booker
Oh, and you make want to check out this link: It might make you realise some things, and if not, it must be great to know how many people you've offended.
38 - olinda
WOW CONGRADULATIONS FOR BEING A CRUEL HEARTLESS PERSON LIKE THE REST OF THE JERKS IN THIS WORLD.YOU HONESTLY DONT KNOW WHAT PEOPLE GO THRU EVERY FRICKEN DAY LET ME GUESS YOU LIVE IN THIS PERFECT LITTLE WORLD WHERE EVERYONE IS EXCEPTING AND KIND AND THERE IS NO RACIAL DISCRUMINATION OR STEROTYPICAL GROUPS GET REAL GIRL WHERE I COME FROM (THE REAL WORLD) ITS SURVIVAL OF THE FITESS ESPCIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL HAVE YOU EVER FELT ALONE OR YOU JUST WANNA GIVE UP IN LIFE CAUSE NO ONE WILL GIVE YOU A BREAK OR A CHANCE IN LIFE THATS HOW I FELT AND I HAVE HAD FRIENDS WHO NEVA RESPECTED ME AND MCR DONT CAUSE SUICIDES THEY HELP PEOPLE THEY CERTAINLY HELP ME AND I STILL CANT BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE COMMITED SUICED SO FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF *******************K YOU (LITTLE BIRDY SHOWING U RIGHT NOW)
39 - olinda
wow congrats on only caring 4 urself
heres sumthing 4 ya they are a gr8t band and dont make people suicidal wot world do u live in if only i could go on but i would love to settle this on my url on my space and so wot if myURL IS A BIT DODGEY??
40 - olinda
and also you have just ruined my day why dont you read some interviews or watch the interview on utube and i have met the band there a gr8t bunch of guys sounds like to me someones trying to get publicity hmmm????
41 - Sara
You say this as if all kids who want to commit suicide are cutters.Thank you, but I'm more of a stand on a balcony and stare at the ground until I finally decide that my nice comfy bed would be more inviting. Suicide isn't brought on by music. In fact, My Chemical Romance and so many other bands are lifelines. Why? Because they give us something to relate to. We realize that we're not the only ones going though this, and that if they can survive and get as far as they have, we can too. Have you listened to his speeches? Have you experienced the same pain as we have? It's not always teen angst. It's moving, abuse, loneliness. Your views are opinions, don't be so harsh. I'll listen to your music and say whether I like it or not, but I wouldn't slander you and call you names because of it. It's really painful to see articles such as these, because I was taught all my life to know what I'm talking about before I argue a point.
For all the fans out there, I'm sorry people like this are trying to get you down. Stand up, and shove it back in their faces. They don't deserve your words.
42 - Kat
thats gold.
43 - Marie
Music makes people want to harm themselves? Crap. Someone should have told me this before now.
Why stop there? I mean horror novels and violent movies must make us want to do bad things too. I was trying to figure out why I was having this overwhelming urge to sneak a suitcase full of snakes onto a plane and spout really bad dialogue, but you are a frickin genius.
Thanks for clearing it all up for me. (Incase you haven't noticed, I am talking down to you)
44 - Ash
Was this article a joke? You mentioned trolling .. do you believe that stuff about MCR though? They do make a difference to people's lives, and you can say that if it stops them hurting themselves they can't have been that depressed in the first place, but if the pain seems real to them, then can't they just enjoy their lives seeming a little better? It's just music. It's going to affect people differently. I don't get why you guys (some of the people who've commented) have to be so agressive and insulting. It's like racism ... well not racism, but like persecuting a people for their religious beliefs, something they chose for themselves. You'd all come off as much more mature than the 'scene' kids who go 'emo' for attention if you just let them be. You can't pander to the attention seekers, but you can't say every miserable teenager is that way for the attention, or that every person who wears black or listens to bands like MCR or Greenday, or, (i dont know) the Used, cuts themselves. I guess I'm just repeating what other people have mentioned .. and maybe you'll flame me for this, or make some smart comment reducing me to one of the many labels used on here. It's just music. It's a living for the musicians, yes, and some fans take it way to far, but it's about appreciating something that touches you. Some people get that from the top 20, some from classical music, some from dance, and a fanatic of one of those will be considered 'weird' by others; maybe the world is just sick of teenagers. You guys have to be patient with us, we're trying to find our own path, if we bother you use a condom and stay out of MCR concerts and Hot Topic (i dont shop there, but apparently its an emo scene shop?). Peace.
45 - Michael J. West
Personally, Retro Music Chick, I suspect that you would probably find it helpful to, you know, do a little bit more research on MCR, and maybe listen to the songs, and perhaps get your facts straight. I can't believe nobody's thought to suggest these things to you yet!
46 - risa
You are wrong. DEADLY WRONG. As the aunt of a teen who killed himself, I can only hope that your advise to ignore depressed kids is a fucking joke. I wish my nephew had found My Chem in time - I wish he would have shared his feelings of isolation, abandonment with us, his family, or his friends, or his teachers, I wish he would have found this band the way so many others have. I believe My Chem does save lives, I believe those of us who have never really belonged anywhere, can relate to them, and their music and find strength there with our own kind.
I am in my 40's and have listened to MCR for years. They are artistically and philosophically brilliant, they give hope where there was none before. I honor the spirit of my nephew Joshua, each and every time I listen to My Chemical Romance.
After looking at your site and YOUR taste in music (and I use that term loosely) I understand why you don't get it! AND YOU NEVER FUCKING WILL!
47 - Robin
I can't understand why you would put these kids down like you have. These days kids need something to believe in, and if it is MCR then I think that's great. Personally I wish they had been around when I was a teenager. I don't think the band promotes any kind of self hurt or suicide. I personally love them and I am 37, but no they have not saved my life, but I talk to kids all day who say they have. Who the hell are you to judge these kids? I co-own a fansite for fans over 30 years old, and I hear the same stories from these people as the teenagers. MCR does save lives whether you like it or not. Shut up and get a life!
48 - Ash
Oh I just wanted to put in this quote from Gerard Way, against negative self-image.
"Hey, girls, you're beautiful. Don't look at those stupid magazines with those stick-like models. Eat healthy and exercise. That's all. Don't let anyone tell you you aren't good enough. You're too good. Love your family with all your heart and listen to it. You are gorgeous whether you're a size three or fourteen. It doesn't matter what you look like on the outside as long as you're a good person. As long as you respect others. I know it's been told hundreds of of times but it's true. Hey, girls, you're beautiful."
Can anyone reading this seriously say that MCR is an emo-death-cult band which encourages fans to self-harm themselves?
49 - M.C.R
Whatever...MCR are a band that understands young people who decide to lead that life....Not everyone likes the same stuff as you!
Get a life!
50 - THE OTHER
Libby Cudmore was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma but raised in
Cobleskill, New York. The daughter of a storyteller mother and an author father, Libby was gifted with an active imagination from the beginning and pursued her love of the written word throughout her childhood. In high school, she attended
numerous writing conferences, including the Pen in Hand"of which she is a
three-year alumnus"The St. Lawrence International Conference and in her senior
year, was selected as one of 25 writers in New York State to attend the Silver
Bay conference. Libby is entering her senior year at Binghamton University as
an English/Creative Writing major, and was recently named a recipient of the
2004-2005 Andrew Bergman Scholarship for Creative Writing and was a
first-quarter finalist in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest.
Libby’s previous publications include CosmoGirl, Long Story Short (Where she
was the featured author for July of 2003) and About Teens.
******L> Ron Howard??? Isn't he a fucking scientologist??? abducted by aliens or some shit??
writing for "CosmoGirl" the next Stephen King, I suspect!!
WTF retro-music chick Hope you aren't still teaching young people -
51 - Angel
This article was an awful assault on My Chemical Romance. Horrible. Just...ugly. Attention all MCR fans, we shouldn't even be here glorifying this, or paying it any mind.
"I see near the add comment box... "Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.Does this rule apply to articles? Does this article constitute a personal attack on the boys in MCR?"
I agree. If personal attacks aren't allowed in the comments, then it damn sure shouldn't be allowed in the article. And Gerard Way was very much singled out and attacked.
52 - Wendy
Attention whore: What's the difference between cutting your wrists for attention and writing a very scathing and controversial article? They are both "in".
I have a hard time believing you are a college professor who writes "anyways".
Bravo.
53 - Al Barger
Wendy, there's nothing wrong with wanting some attention, particularly to your ideas as formulated in a story for public consumption. For one thing, it's a contribution to civic debate, and could even conceivably do a bit of good. Maybe some moping MCR fan somewhere will read this and clue up.
It's an entirely different thing, however, to be going around acting all self-destructive and suicidal to get attention. I'm going to tend to look at that as wicked and wrong, a vampiric abuse of other people's natural empathy.
Angel [comment 51]- Not to put too fine a point on it, stop with the baby whining. How old are you to be carrying on like that? You're going to run to teacher to complain that the writer shouldn't be allowed to make fun of a cheesy pop singer?
Seriously, do you have such a limited scope of knowledge of the world that a digital slight against a singer would even make it onto your radar screen as an injustice requiring intervention?
54 - Hay
k so i find this article rather rude.
I also agree that if personal attacks are not allowed then they should be in this article too.
55 - Franklyn
*giggles*
You talk crap =D Major crap! xD
56 - THE OTHER
Hey Al Burger (#53) Spoken like a true van halen fan. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
THERE was music with a meaning!
57 - christina
your wrong mcr is one of the most dedicating bands ever they are heping these kids your full of it go playin traffic:)
58 - Al Barger
Yes indeed, The Other. In the Diamond Dave era, Van Halen were indeed beautiful, sophisticated music with deep meaning. VAN HALEN PHOTOS
Separately, besides being much better MUSIC (you know - melody, rhythm and harmony) than any of these cheesy goth bands, classic Van Halen would be a much more mentally healthy and uplifting thing on which a confused or depressed teenager could fix their mental energies. "Mean Streets" for example would likely tend to inspire determination and resolve to rise above your tough circumstances rather than go out and shoot yourself.
59 - mcr_rox
wat is wrong with u!I am 1 of those many mcr fans and i for one think tht you are very wrong!not all the ppl who listen to mcr are suicidal or have those kind of problems!I listen to mcr because there music rox!
60 - Kate
I am 32 years old and I don’t wear black any more often than anyone else. I don’t throw temper tantrums while cutting myself. I’ve never tried to kill myself and I’m not an attention whore. I work a full time job as a counselor and write and sew in my spare time. On lazy Saturdays I watch MASH reruns and drink tea with friends.
I love My Chemical Romance.
You can call me childish. You can call me ‘emo’. You can do and say whatever you like. But you will never be able to call me cruel, that which is the worst of human nature. You on the other hand, seem to reach pinnacles of ecstasy by rolling in the derelict filth of degradation and judgmental spitfire. This blog is completely uncalled for and represents nothing more than yet another pathetic attempt at making oneself feel better by cutting down others. You call the fans of MCR childish teenies?! Your behavior here reminds me of bullies in high school.
I find it terrifying that you run a writing workshop. I hope that your prospective ‘students’ are aware of the lengths to which you will go to cut down their creativity and judge their inspirations. I certainly hope that this foray into cruelty has brightened your day. I feel sorry for you. It is my hope that one day you can rise above your own insecurities to embrace passion and life in others. It doesn’t matter what inspires us…the world needs all of the happiness and excitement that it can hold. Be glad that kids haven’t killed themselves and be happy that others have found an emotional ‘home’. You may not understand it, but that doesn’t make it invalid or wrong. Look in the mirror and see if you feel better about yourself after stereotyping an entire group of people that you clearly know nothing about. If you don’t like it, don’t listen. I certainly don’t plan to ever READ your bullshit ever again.
-Kate
61 - Michael J. West
Oh, dear.
Ruvy tried to spell it out for you (#32), but he appears to have been too abstract about it. RMC was even more blunt, but it still seems to have gone over your heads. Maybe I can bottom-line it here.
Nobody is suggesting that My Chemical Romance makes adolescents sullen, moody, or bleak. God knows, if there's one group that needs no help at all being bleak, it's adolescents.
What My Chemical Romance does to adolescents is actually worse. They exploit your inherent tendencies towards sullenness, moodiness, and bleakness. They tap into it, and very successfully I might add, because they understand that doing so will allow them to sell records.
The haircuts they sport, the clothes they wear, the accessories they carry--their image--is what we commonly refer to as MARKETING. It is designed to appeal to a certain cross-section of consumers. And so, I might add, are their magazine interviews, album covers, videos, photo shoots, t-shirts, posters, and other merchandise. They want you to buy those things so they can make money, and to do that they have to convince you that their product is important to you.
Did you note that word "product"? That's what their music, and everything else they do in public, is. It may be art--that I don't dispute--but it is also product. They may be artists, by the same token, but they are also capitalists. They are contracted to Reprise Records, which is owned by AOLTimeWarner--making My Chemical Romance a subdivision of gigantic American corporation.
MCR know that adolescents are miserable: adolescence is a miserable time to be alive. And what they do, in essence, is take their knowledge of your misery, pretty it up with pop melodies and lyrical cliches, put it in an attractive package, and sell it to you.
It's business that peddles to your emotions, just as surely as Doritos are business that peddle to your appetite.
If it appeals to you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you despise it, there's nothing wrong with that either. (And even if there was, I assure you, Gerard Way is perfectly capable of taking care of himself.) Just recognize it for what it is: business, manufacturing and selling you a product.
But you almost certainly won't listen to me, and you probably shouldn't. It's part of growing up. Just ask yourself this: if MCR genuinely cares about you and your wellbeing, if all they want is to save your life and be there for you when no one else will....how come they're charging $16 a CD and $30 a concert ticket? Would someone who really cares about you, charge you for their caring?
62 - Robin
Come on now #61 Michael - Of course they are selling a product, but is that not what all bands do? I am sorry but you just don't understand kids these days. I know for a fact that parents are not as involved in their kids lives as they should be, and these teens need someone to turn to. To my kids music is very important, and yes I grew up in the Van Halen era (I even saw them in concert) but they had no message. Shit as far as I am concerned they were drunk drug addicts. Gerard has cleaned his act up and shown these kids they can get through their problems without drugs or self hurt. Have you seen his high school picture? I am sure he had a hard time in school and that his lyrics come from experience. Who are they hurting? Why are the adults so scared of them? Maybe you should talk to some of these kids and see what I see. MCR does save lives and I love them for that!!
63 - THE OTHER
I think the next well thought-out blog should be on how bad these (so-called) artists:
* Tom Waits
* the Smiths
* Siouxsie and the Banshees
* Warren Zevon
* Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
* Joe Jackson
* The Cars
* The Police
* Cherry Poppin' Daddies
* Royal Crown Revue
* Anne Dudley
* Danny Elfman
* Oingo Boingo
* Sting
* July for Kings
* the Killers
* Reel Big Fish
* One Who Stayed
* The Gin Blossoms
* Westz
* the Lightning Seeds
* Cracker
* the Trash Can Sinatras
* Billy Joel
* early Elton John
* The Crash Test Dummies
SUCK REALLY HARD! [Edited]
64 - Nikki
You disgust me....narrow minded, self centred rants about something you know nothing about!
i myself am a 32 year old mother of 3....I had the classic emotionally scarred childhood....many many seriously disturbing experiences that you could only ever think up in your warped little mind.
My Chemical Romance are a Major part of my life...and i feel sorry for you.....sorry because you will never get the feelings other MCR fans get when listening to these lyrics.
I can only pray that you find other ways in future to pass off your shitty, pathetic, unwanted opinions. No one wants to know what you think if you cannot write it without assulting a band because of the music they write/play.
I pity you....
65 - Jessie
Ok Iam 28 I also dont wear black anymore then anyone else. My hair is its natural color. I dont own black eyeliner. My babies nursery is not decked out in black bats or skulls.Iam one of the most optimistic and bubblie people you will ever meet.Yet I love My Chemical Romance. There is no way MCR can be exploiting anything because you dont have to be depressed to enjoy them. There music has reached out to people in need but wheres the crime in that? Thats what music does, it inspires and if it doesnt then whats the point? Why do you care so much that depressed or happy people found a band to lose themselves in? Why is that so ofensive to you? Leave us MCR fans alone let us enjoy what we want. Its our money and our ears not yours. Just because you cant relate doesnt mean you should put it down.
66 - Sarah - New Zealand
Well, well... that was quite the tirade. Not the most intelligent piece of writing I've ever read but then the fact that the writer doesn't "get it" (i.e. MCR's music & message) shows a lack of intelligence anyway... As does the use of name-calling (wanker, turd, etc, etc) - in fact, it was the most childish piece of writing I've ever read. But then, you know what they say - people who resort to the use of swear words have a limited vocab.
I will be 34 years old next month and am a big My Chem fan. I have never attempted suicide and only ever contemplated it in my teens once, but then I had just watched my mother die of cancer so I think I was entitled to at least one moment of self-pity. I work full-time for a law firm as an IT professional and own my own home. I have met loads of teenage fans at My Chem shows and they are not all suicidal and depressed - in fact the fans I've met looked pretty happy to be seeing their favourite band. They do not promote self-harm - far from it and in fact Gerard Way has been known to track down kids he has seen in the crowd who clearly self-harm and talk to them and their parents about getting the teen some help. Anyone who has ever been lucky enough to see MCR live would agree that they are a fun band who give kids/fans who feel like they don't fit in a place to belong. How can that be a bad thing?
PS: And yes, I wear some black but it's a very flattering and slimming colour!!
67 - Beth 28 yrs old
You're a little close-minded and don't get life at all. People find what makes them happy and if MCR is it, it's not for you to judge. I'm 28 yrs old. The happiest and brightest girl you could ever meet. You may not understand me because of my love for the 5 guys, but don't put me down.
I agree some teenagers do things for attention. There are others who really do hurt inside and this music helped them. Yes, HELPED them. Everyone has different opinions about everything in life. But when it comes to music, it's just opinions and you shouldn't dislike or put down what you yourself don't like. I absolutely cannot stand when a band screams lyrics...I totally don't get it, but some people love it. And good for them. It makes them happy.
You're so full of hate. If you can tell teenagers to go ahead and "do it"... you just seem like an evil evil lady to me. It must be so terrible to wake up every day with such anger inside of you. I'm sorry for you. Try taking a vacation and clear that head of yours. You need some joy in your life. I know!!! Pop in The Black Parade CD and you will feel so fabulous!
68 - Proud to be Fifteen Year Old Girl, so get over it.
You remind me of this interview I read when reading a book about John Lennon. After he said that thing about Jesus, A Klan member accused the Beatles of promoting Satan worship.
Insulting people for no reason is immature and useless. Please do a little background research before speaking writing something like this.
I usually hate music today. I really do. Other than Muse, The Arctic Monkeys, a bit of Fall Out Boy (good workout music, oddly enough), and The Bastard Fairies, I'm not much liking the music these days. I don't care much for Hot Topic and I find the Nirvana romanticism these days nothing short of puerile. I don't like that kids worship Kurt Cobain, he was a heroin addict that got his wife addicted to smack and killed himself leaving her and a little baby when people were determined to hate her. It was a really dreadful thing for me to realize there would never be another MC5 again. I can't believe what AFI did to themselves. The two Saint Davids of rock: Bowie and Byrne, are two of my heroes. I have a dependance on Fleetwood Mac and Patti Smith. I've actually spent time praying to Joey Ramone. I feel sick for having been born the same year Freddie Mercury died, but I think it's so cool I have the same birthday as Morrissey.
That's right. I'm fifteen. Going on sixteen.
In May, 2004, I was not looking forward much to my thirteenth birthday. It was a terrible year. I won't go into detail, but a lot of restrained memories came flashing back and not just in my head. I never cut myself, I never attempted suicide. I did not wear all black. I had friends down the street and everyone thought that for a twelve-year-old, I was a pretty happy person. In reality, I had nothing and didn't really give a shit about anything. I did not want to die, but I didn't care if I did.
For my thirteenth birthday, I got a burned CD from a new friend who had just moved from Jersey. It was MCR's first CD, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love.
I listened to it and started caring again. I had a rough summer, but I had that CD to hold onto. I wasn't even too sure who they were or what the names of their songs were (she had not labelled the CD), so imagine my surprise a few months later when I learned that the same band had come out with their first major-label release exactly seventeen days after my birthday.
Therefore, I started loving MCR BEFORE they became big. Fuck, their first record still hasn't gone Gold. BUT I LOVE THEM.
As for Gerard Way, one thing I guess that I especially like about him is that to me, when everyone was worshipping Kurt Cobain, he seemed like the Anti-Kurt Cobain. He TRIUMPHED over his alcohol and Cocaine addiction. He resisted suicide and still held love for his music. He treats his band members with respect and loves his fans.
And guess what? Not only do I believ in MCR, I also believe in Jesus. And I believe Rudy Guiliani could make a great President. Not really the stereotypical MCr fan, am I? Even though I'm a teenage girl?
I also believe something Iggy Pop (who loves Peanut Butter even more than I do) said recently about how there don't seem to be many real bands these days; just one person with the talent then a bunch of backup musicians with the same haircut. But every member of MCR contributes to the songwriting, which makes them by Iggy Pop's standards a real genuine band.
But guess what? I don't dwell in sad shit. I love to write. I want to write when I grow up. And I want to be a comedian. I love laughing and thinking of stuff in a funny light. I thought the Black Parade sounded like a chapter in the civil rights movement. See? I don't actually cry much, accept when I stub my toe (That really fucking hurts) or watch The Parent Trap (don't ask). I laugh. And now I'm laughing at you.
And yes, I am an attention whore. But I don't get it through acting sad and shit. I don't see what is wrong with liking attention as long as you don't try and get it through destructive or overexcessive methods. Usually if I want attention I'll shout something like "ANNE COULTER IS LUCIFER!" or "Oh wow! There are WORDS in this book!" in the middle of a Barnes and Noble. Or I go up to my mom and kiss her on the cheek. Or I tell my friends I love them.
I do that stuff a lot.
And I think in addition to this, if I want to do something funny, I'll think about this blog and laugh about just how stupid you really are.
69 - Proud to be Fifteen Year Old Girl, so get over it.
One more thing-- If My Chem really just cared about using the dark thing for money and did not give a shit about their fans, then they'd be doing ads for hot topic-esque crap instead of spending hours at meet and greets. Because let's think: It's really easy to have your picture taken and people pay you for it. Meet and Greets: No one is paying you jack shit and after playing a draining set you're hustling outside and standing their for hours in the cold, signing pieces paper so that everyone there is not disappointed.
Hmmmmmm.... Which are they doing again?
Oh yeah, the Meet and Greets.
70 - Angie
I can hardly bring myself to reply. I really can't believe so many people have jumped on the 'don't-have-a-clue-about-music-or-life-but-let's-slag-off-MCR bandwagon'! And why would people actually WANT to prove their lack of intelligence by spouting all this non researced trash?! YAWN!
71 - B.H.
TO: " Proud to be Fifteen Year Old Girl, so get over it.
I think you said it all. You will be an awesome writer one day!
72 - Al Barger
We have now several testimonials from fans of MCR saying that they don't fit the goth stereotypes that the RMC invokes in the article. That's fair enough. I'm sure she'd say that it's an if-the-shoe-fits deal. Hey, I've even heard from Black Sabbath fans who are apparently not glue sniffing Beavis and Buttheads.
But the sanctimony of some of y'all here who denounce the supposed wicked cold heartedness of the Retro Music Chick is not very convincing. How DARE anyone question YOUR unique and special pain? To quote the perhaps most obnoxious version of it here:
Oh my! What an evil monster she is! This makes me feel all tingly!
But I'd actually file this under "tough love." The sob sister crap doesn't really help you past a certain point. Perhaps being a band marketing to the self-absorbed misery of adolescents is truly cruel and exploitative. Whereas, a good sharp slap, and showing them the error of their ways might be the more truly loving gesture, ya think? Hey, maybe being a rich suburban teenager stuck in Fresno ain't so bad.
Besides which, you're wasting your lives listening to emo junk when you could just as easily be grooving on Cab Calloway or Johnny Cash. Crikey, no wonder you'd think there was nothing worth living for, if this goth crap is all the more you know of music.
Then there are frickin' maroons like The Other who apparently thinks he's proving something by pasting in RMC's fave band list with "sucks" at the end. For that to mean anything, you'd have to actually back it up.
Take one of these bands that she likes, and explain what sucks about them. Please elucidate what your beef is with the Police, other than that someone likes them who doesn't like your fave band. What songs would you use to contrast why MCR is great and the Police are not?
73 - MZ.WAY !!
HOLY SHIT !!
okay go get a job than playin around !!
well i have no cmnt about ur stupid fuckin article !!!
ppl i mean real mcr fans stop cmntin this crap !!
we have alot of things 2 do 4 our guys than reading stupid things like that well i feel fuckin sry 4 u cuz u dont rly know whos mcr n they did change this world mcr rawwwwwks n i do love n support them till death so get over it n goo get a job !!!
seems like u envy them cuz they did a great job !!
n they play music 4 us not only 4 fuckin money n u do the same too, u work for money every1 is doin the same .....
so stop sayin shit bout them also gerard way is a good man !!!!
I LOVE HIM !!! hes an amazing person also he has the most beautiful personalty in the whole intire world hes totallly amazing !!
N btw this stupid article will nvr change our thoughts bout them cuz they rock !!!!!
MCR WE LOVE YOU GUYS KEEP ROCKIN THIS WORLD
74 - Cindy
I'm 46 years old and I love My Chemical Romance. They have helped me a great deal. I have met a lot of great people and made a lot of friends through MCR. I know that you and your "you're-so-right" fans will make fun of me, but I'm sure my MCR friends never would. It must be great to be so knowledgeable about all music that you can pass judgement on it without really understanding it.
The fan base of MCR is mostly teens now but it is growing in other age groups, too. They're getting more and more fans in their 30s and 40s. That must be due to their clever marketing schemes!
Oh, well, like I said, if you read this at all, you'll probably just make fun so you go back to your narrow category of music you enjoy and I'll go back to mine. You wouldn't fit in with the MCR fans anyway.
75 - angel
[#53.] I am 21 years old. Not a "baby", thank you. And I assure you, Sir, I wouldn't waste my time posting another comment (or, in some cases comment. after comment, after comment.) here unless I was personally addressed. Which I was. I have already said my piece, why did you find it necessary to single out others who, just as you(over, and over, and over, mind you.), only wanted to express their opinion. Please, I'm asking that you do not address me anymore at all. I am not planning to visit again so I will not be able to defend myself. Get free publicity for your blog, or whatever it is that you do, from insulting someone else. Thanks. My previous statement stands.