Spinner

My Chemical Romance Slam Fame-Hungry Musicians on New Album

My Chemical Romance

After going the concept route -- or at least making a linear work on 'The Black Parade' -- My Chemical Romance are going in another direction on their forthcoming album, due early next year. Spinner visited the group in their L.A. studio to get an early preview and we were left suitably blown away by the nine very disparate songs we got to hear. The tracks ranged from the atmospheric 'Light Before Your Eyes,' a song frontman Gerard Way describes as Pink Floyd-ish, to the '80s-flavored 'Trans Am' and the punk/dance party tune, 'Death Before Disco,' which starts off with a Judas Priest 'Living After Midnight' vibe and turns into a lyrical salute to the Stooges, Velvet Underground and MC5.

Way tells Spinner the as-yet-untitled album is a definite answer to 'The Black Parade.' "Every single record we make is a response to the last," he says. "But sometimes it's not only a response to the last record -- it's a response to the opinion of that record or a response to the world at the time of that record."

What he sees and documents on the new album is a lot of rockers who are in music for the wrong reason. "There's a definite undercurrent of fame versus working class, people having stuff handed to them with zero talent versus working class kids that start a band," he says. "Rock 'n' roll is not red carpets and MySpace friends -- rock 'n' roll is dangerous and rock 'n' roll should piss people off. Right now, there's not a lot of that happening. What it is is a lot of people trying to be famous. That seems to be the goal."

In Way's opinion, that desire to be famous is messing up the sanctity of rock ''n roll. "It's bled into rock. It came from other places, but it's bled into rock 'n' roll and kind of tainted it a bit," Way says. "This record is really a response to that as well."

MCR certainly have the resources and notoriety to bask in that fame as well, so how do they resist that temptation? "Instead of us panicking and trying to see where we can grab the money or grab the opportunity, we just wrote music instead," Way says. "We tried to write a great record; that was our response to things. I think that writing a great record will sell records these days, as opposed to doing every other f---ing thing that people seem to be doing to sell a record."

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Lilly

You people...

Why can't a band say anything without someone critisizing them for it? Gerard mentions in the article the new album is a responce to TBP and you all attack! They're obviously happy with what they're doing now, can't you guys just be happy about that?

June 27 2010 at 11:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mand

My Chemical Romance isn't ashamed of The Black Parade. But, maybe in the best way possible, they're sick of it. Not in a bad way. They still love it. But, they've moved past it. It's done with. When he talks about the new record being a response to the Black Parade, he means just that. He means they wrote an awesome theatrical-like album, and now they want to do something entirely different.

Hasn't that always been their way? Revenge was different from Bullets. The Black Parade different from Revenge. It would only figure that this new album would be in many ways different from The Black Parade, and, since the Black Parade was such a controversial album (most people either loved or hated it) of course the next album would have to be dramatically different. It just wouldn't make sense to do something too similar, since they've done it already.

My Chem are happy with their success. They don't hate being famous. They're not all unhappy because the Black Parade launched them into this gigantic fame. Sure, they might be surpisedand shocked, and they might never have expected it. But they don't hate it. And they don't regret it. They want to make music, and they want people to love their music the way they do.

They've never cared if they had ten fans or ten million. They're not about the numbers. But, I highly doubt they're upset about it. Nor are they critical of ANY of their fans. Yes, there are newer fans of their music, the ones that are always getting picked on for jumping on the bandwagon. But, so what? They're still fans. Let them appreciate the music in their own way.

My Chemical Romance isn't judging anyone. I don't think that's ever been their way.

Everyone has to remember that Gerard is human too. Sometimes, he may just say things in the interviews and not realize how they sound. And, anyway, these interviews are text. So, there's no proof he's 'cold' or 'critical.' He might be saying some things with an air of sarcasm, and if the interviewer doesn't catch that, we'd never know.

February 11 2010 at 7:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
angie

I really am kind of worried about their new "lets be a rock band" out look. If you go back and watch the video diary from "life on the murder scene", it really is the exact opposite opinions of what this article says. and don't get me wrong, I love the band, and they're allowed of course to change their mind on their sound, but it just makes a huge jump. also, why can't they stick with their own sound instead of how this article compared each song to a band or song that's already out there. It just is kind of odd I guess. I love MCR though, and will support their music no matter what! They are really great guys, and have actually helped a lot of people! Rock on My Chemical Romance!

January 30 2010 at 11:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shaleea

All I have to say about all of this is...bring on the music who cares what he says about it...who even cares if the band even likes their fans or not...its the music we are all suppose to like not the band members...besides...i was not impressed with the black parade anyway...i thought it sounded too poppy...but like i said it doesn't matter i bought the album and i listened to it because it was music and their music...another thing there are plenty of other good bands out there...Kill Hannah...From Autumn to Ashes...Authority Zero...Aiden...Anberlin...Matchbook Romance all these bands are amazing also...some aren't even making new albums but we all listen to them still anyway. Who cares what people say just listen to the music and shut up!

January 09 2010 at 12:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brendan

Gerard, you and your veryveryveryveryX 8 laying down band need to be the working peoples band PS. Keep beeing the greatest band in the world.

December 21 2009 at 8:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Katie

I am super excited for the new album and hope it lives up to all expectations! But I was wondering if anyone had any info. about if MCR would be touring anytime soon and If so what citys will they be performing in? If you have any info. plz respond and you can make my day and if you have the answer I'm looking for maybe even my life! JK, but really I would luv you if you told me they were coming to my city!

December 21 2009 at 3:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
yourleastfavorite

Gerard talks about how he thinks rock music should be about "working class kids that start a band" and "should piss people off," instead of being about getting rich and famous. I wonder what he thinks about the hip-hop version of that idealized narrative - working class kids making music and then pissing people off *by* being rich and famous.

December 20 2009 at 1:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mcrforever

Gosh, I hope this album lives up to my expectations. MCR is my FAVORITE band ever. I'm just a girl who loves a band so much I'd give anything to see them.

December 19 2009 at 9:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jamie diebel

I cant wait for this album gerards my F--king hero im getting in to the cartooing biz and a lil graphic meida so yea saving for art school in new your if any one rly cares lol but yea my friends that want 2 start a band and tease me saingim gonna be like gerard cartoonis then decides ya kno it would be epic to start a band but yea so far carttnong sounds like a good call 4 me

December 17 2009 at 2:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nossinoonoo

Can´t wait,neeeeed now!!!!!!

December 16 2009 at 5:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply