Singer-songwriter Gerard Way. (Photo from Facebook)
THE September 11 terror attack that destroyed the World Trade Center towers in Lower Manhattan in New York City was really terrifying and Gerard Way was moved by what he saw up close.
However, because of this, inspiration made its way into Way’s heart and it made him start a band.
Long before he was the frontman of My Chemical Romance, Gerard was a comic book illustrator trying to figure out what came next. Then, on that fateful day in September 2001, he witnessed the something that made him rethink the direction of his life.
Way turned to music and what began as a response to one of the darkest days in American history eventually became the group known as My Chemical Romance, one of the most influential rock bands of the 2000s.
In interviews since September 11, 2001, Way has described the impact of seeing the World Trade Center collapse as “surreal” and he took inspiration from the profundity of the day’s events to change the direction of his life.
Citing a feeling that he didn’t want to continue doing what he was doing, the New Jersey-born illustrator was inspired to do what he found more meaningful with his life.
The then-24-year-old channeled the experience into music, writing ‘Skylines and Turnstiles’ as a response to the attacks.
He quickly formed My Chemical Romance with drummer Matt Pelissier. Ray Toro, his brother Mikey Way and later Frank Iero joined in and in 2002, the newly formed band recorded its debut album ‘I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love’.
From there, My Chemical Romance went on to become one of the era’s defining bands, combining emo and alternative rock while perfectly capturing the post-9/11 angst that dominated pop culture.
Their 2004 album ‘Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge’ produced songs that included ‘I’m Not Okay (I Promise)’ and ‘Helena’, while 2006’s The Black Parade transformed them from alternative-rock darlings into a mainstream phenomenon.
‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ became the band’s defining song and cemented their legacy with a generation of fans.
Currently, My Chemical Romance is still making music, although the group split in 2013 but only to reunite in 2019. Seven years past and they’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Black Parade with their Long Live the Black Parade tour.
