The My Chemical Romance Story - The Black Parade

Moonshyne · 05-19-2008, 01:20 AM

The My Chemical Romance Story

Rating: 15+
Main Characters: MCR: Gerard Way, Matt Pelissier, Ray Toro, Mikey Way, Frank Iero, Bob Bryar and everyone else who made this happen.

Disclaimer: I know no one personally from My Chem or their crew. This story is based on facts however it is totally fiction as only My Chem knows exactly what happened.

Sources: Various magazines and interviews, including Kerrang!,AP, NME, Big Cheese and interviews found on You Tube.

Summary: Gerard Way watched as the twin towers fell and changed his life and the lives of many other people.

Chapter 1 Skylines and Turnstiles - Page 1
Chapter 2 The Boys in the Band - Page 1
Chapter 3 Let's Make a Record - Page 2
Chapter 4 Making the Record - Page 3
Chapter 5 Brian Schechter - Page 4

Moonshyne · 05-19-2008, 01:22 AM

It was around eight thirty on beautiful sunny morning, not a cloud in the sky, low humidity and it was going to be in the eighties. Not bad for almost the middle of September. It was an ordinary Tuesday just like any other Tuesday, as several people waited on the pier to cross the Hudson River into the city.

Someone on the pier noticed that their was a plane flying way too low and the people watched in horror as it rammed straight into the North Tower, better known as Tower One, of the World Trade Center. People on the pier wondered how this could have happened did the pilot have heart failure or something? They watched as the tower began to burn and then the sight of things falling from the floors. The people realized that it was other human being knowing that they were going to die jumping out of the building instead of the agony of burning to death.

People stood there and wondered what floors were hit and did they know anyone working on the floor. As they watched what was unfolding before them, they noticed another plane flying low and this time hit the second tower. It was then they realized their beloved city was under attack. The people gasped as they could believe that it had happened again. A few minutes later it was announced that the ferries would not be going into the city. Everyone just stood on the pier and watched. A man with headphones announced to the crowd that the Pentagon was hit by a plane. The crowd grew as a train let off it’s passengers that were supposed to go in the city. In the crowd was a young man who worked in the comic industry. An hour after being attacked they watched as the South Tower collapsed into itself like a carefully orchestrated implosion. The people on the pier all hoped and prayed that everyone got out, but they knew better. People on the pier started crying men and woman alike. The man with the headphones announced a plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. How many more were there, asked the people to themselves. They stood their and watched the second tower collapse, it had hung on for so long after the attack. But now like it’s sister tower it was gone.

“Did you know someone?” asked a woman in her mid forties.

The young man just shook his head no.

Gerard Way for all of his life felt like an outsider. He wasn’t cool and never really fit in. He loved to write and draw and often got lost in his own head. Both he and his younger brother Mikey were the same way. Maybe growing up in Belleville did it to him maybe it was something else. Right now Gerard had never felt more of an outsider than now, not having known anyone who was in either tower but just like everyone else standing there he needed to be here. The difference from here and school no one made him feel like an outsider. It didn’t matter that he didn’t know someone it only mattered was he was in pain and an American.

Gerard finally returned home to the loving arms of his mother and grandmother who were worried sick. They never knew if Gerard made it into the city or not. He went to his room in his basement and started thinking. Sure he had the cartoon network looking at a cartoon he created, but after what he saw he felt he needed more. Needed to do more, have a voice.

On September 14th there was a nationwide candle vigil and Gerard needed to be back on the pier. As songs of patriotism were sung, Gerard could only think of the broken city sky. As he recognized some of the people there were there that day, he asked what had happened to the one they knew. Some were there at the vigil and some were gone. He swallowed hard and said he was sorry. Looking around he saw at least they all weren’t in it alone. As they looked at where the towers stood he knew everyone wondered where we go from here.

Caught in the emotion of it all, Gerard sat and wrote down what he saw and felt that day, as it was still very fresh in his mind. It looked like it could be a song.

Before September 11th happened Gerard was in a deep depression, was seeing a therapist and taking Wellbutrin. He was twenty-four and felt his life was going nowhere. He again met with the execs from the cartoon network and as they sat there talking about his work being property and what they can do with it Gerard just knew there was something he wanted more than this. He was done with the whole comic book scene and wanted to form a band.

Over the years he had been in bands some with some without his brother Mikey. He had played with a drummer Matt Pelissier and a guitarist by the name of Ray Toro. It was funny to him thinking of those two because he hadn’t for years.

It was a few weeks after the attacks and Gerard went to a local bar by the name of Loop Lounge. He was sitting there minding his own business when he noticed someone sitting next to him. He was tall, shaggy brown hair that looked like it was starting to thin. He had a goatee and he reminded Gerard of Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

“Hey Otter, I was just thinking of you,” said Gerard.

“Good thoughts I hope,” smiled Matt.

“What have you been up to lately?” asked Gerard.

“This and that. Where have you been? No one has seen hide or hair of you?”

“I’ve just been hiding out in my basement.”

“I see Mikey here and there. You know him where there’s a party there’s Mikey.”

“I saw it happen Otter. I watched as people plummeted to their deaths right before they fell.”

“That must have been tough man,” said Matt shaking his head.

“I want more out of life I want to make a difference. My art career is fucking blown to shit. Maybe one last shot at music might help.”

“I’m not playing with anyone right now.”

“You know what. I’ve been writing songs. You’re not doing anything, and I’m not doing anything, so let’s get together and give it a shot.”

“Sounds good. Come by at my place and bring your guitar we’ll see what you have.”

“Sounds good.”

Gerard left the bar feeling good, it might have something to do with the alcohol he just consumed or maybe it was something else.

The next night he arrived at Matt’s house and they proceeded to the attic where Matt had a drum kit set up.

Gerard started strumming his guitar and started to sing the the opening versus of “Skylines and Turnstiles” the song he wrote the about the towers falling.

Matt listened and started to add drums to it. The guitar was still weak and Gerard knew he couldn’t play guitar and sing at the same time. He had an idea.

“What’s Toro doing?”

“Playing in a band,” Gerard should have known better. He was a great guitarist. “Get this as a drummer.”

“That’s a fucking waste. I think I’ll give him a call just to see if he wants to jam.”

As soon as he got home Gerard called his old friend Ray.

The phone rang five times and someone finally picked it up. It was Ray.

“Hey Toro.”

“Who’s this?”

“Gerard Way.”

“Hey Gerard, long time no see what’s up man?”

“I was with Matt and we were sorta jamming.”

“That’s cool.”

“I wrote a song about the towers collapsing, the problem is I can’t sing and play guitar at the same time.”

“Whoever said you could play guitar?” laughed Ray.

“Probably better than you can play drums.”

“So you heard about that?”

“What are you fucking wasting your talents for? But really, no strings attached; you don’t have to say yes or no. Just come, check it out, and bring your guitar.”

“I’m not doing anything tomorrow night, sure I’ll be over.”

Good to his word Ray went over Matt’s house and they went up to his attic. Gerard and Matt played the song for him. Ray looked at them, “How ‘bout a drum and guitar intro, something like this?”

Ray played a riff when he finished he played it again and this time Matt joined him.

“Wow that sounded great,” said Gerard.

For the next eight hours they sat there and wrote and practiced until they came up with what they thought was the perfect song.

All of the sudden Ray got up, packed his guitar, and started to leave.

“That bad Toro?”

Ray looked at his two friends and smiled, “I need to go home and quit a band. See you guys tomorrow?”

For the first time in a long time Gerard Way had something to really smile about.

darkestnight · 05-19-2008, 01:29 AM

Wow that was amazing
#1 fan spot is mine

**Lokeriel** · 05-19-2008, 01:52 AM

wow, it's great to see another fic by you!
i really like this so far!
lol, i was gonna say, "I can't wait to see what happens next"
but, we all kind of know what happens.
it's awesome to see your take on it though!
i look forward to more

Moonshyne · 05-19-2008, 07:54 AM

Hi there Darkestnight,

Thank you so much for that compliment. Congrats on #1 spot.
__________________________________________________ _______________

Hi there Lokeriel,

How've you been?

You're right we sorta do know what's going to happen next. No surprise endings here.

This won't be updated as much in the beginning because of the other story. But I'll really try once a week to get something up.

Moonshyne · 05-20-2008, 02:28 AM

Ray turned to Matt and Gerard.

“Hey guysI have this song maybe we can write the other parts to it. It’s called ‘Bring More Knives’.”

“Let’s hear some of it?”

Ray played some for them.

Gered smiled, “That was kick ass.”

“Here’s the words, I can sing back up a little but nothing like you.”

The three practiced until all hours of the night until they got the song right.

They practiced once a week and each week there seemed to be a new song.

“Hey look at this,” said Gerard showing them a new song. “It’s about when I worked at The Cartoon Network and they had us in cubicles.”

Another all night session and another song completed.

“These songs are pretty decent how bout next time we try making a demo?”

“Sure,” said Matt.

“Sounds great,” said Ray.

The next rehearsal there was a cheap beat up sixteen track tape recorder and some crappy microphones. When they tried to record the vocals just didn’t sound right.

“Hey Gerard this sounds crazy but why don’t you try recording your parts in my bathroom?” said Matt.

“What?”

“I think the acoustics are better in there.”

“I guess.”

Ray and Matt laid down their tracks from the attic, while Gerard sang from the bathroom one floor below. If anyone were to walk in at that point they might have tripped over the wires that led to the bathroom.

After they recorded their three songs they listened to the demo. It was messy and out of tune but it was also different and aggressive.
The question remained who were they going to play it for.

Later that week Gerard’s brother Mikey, who was taller than and thinner than him had light brown hair and the same shape eyes but his were hidden behind glasses, noticed he was holding something.

“What’s that?”

“Demo.”

“You’re really doing it this time?” asked Mikey.

“I think so.”

“Let me hear it.”

After hearing it all Mikey could say was, “Fuck,”

“You like it?”

“I want in.”

“I don’t know Mikey,” said Gerard.

Mikey took his bass and the recording and locked himself in his room. He only came out to go to school, work or eat. Also what Mikey didn’t tell his brother or the band is that he took the demo to Alex Saavedra of Eyeball records where Mikey was interning at the time. A week later Mikey went to Matt’s house put on the demo and played along with it perfectly.

Gerard smiled at his little brother, “Wow.” He went up to him and gave him a hug. “That was great.”

“So am I in?” asked Mikey.

The three said all together “Yes.”

“So do we have a name?” asked Mikey.

“Well Mikey I was thinking,” said Gerard with a grin.

“Oh no not that name.”

“C’mon don’t you want to be in a band with that name. Why think it up if you’re not going to use it?” batting his long black eyelashes with a knowing smile across his face. He knew his little brother was going to give in.

Matt and Ray just looked at the two curiously.

And he did, “Fine tell them the name of our band.”

Gerard yelled into the mic “We are My Chemical Romance.”

Ray and Matt looked at each other totally blown away by the name.

“By the way I gave Alex a copy of the demo.”

“And?” asked Ray.

“He loved it!!”

“So he’s going to sign us?” asked Ray again.

“No, he has a strict policy of not signing friends. He did say he would help us though.”

They knew Alex was always true to his word.

What they didn’t know was the demo was being copied and was distributed to certain other bands on Eyeball records. One of those bands was Pencey Prep. The band fell in love with the demo. Another band that also liked the demo was Thursday. Lead singer Geoff Rickly smiled when he heard that Mikey’s older brother Gerard was in the band. He liked Gerard, and thought he was a great artist. He even had him do some artwork for their T-shirts.

One night at one of the many parties that Alex was having at his house the whole band decided to go. Mikey was a permanent fixture there while Ray, Matt and Gerard have gone only to a few of the parties. That night Pencey Prep was there and they were talking about the demo. Geoff couldn’t help overhearing his former tour mates conversation.

“So you like that demo?”

“Yeah who are they?” asked the lead singer and guitarist.

“You know Mikey Way.”

“Everyone knows Mikey,” said the lead singer.

“Well the singer is his older brother Gerard, guitar is Ray Toro and the drummer is Matt Pelissier.”

“Gerard is kind of creepy isn’t he?”

“Not once you get to know him.”

“He just sits there and draws.”

“I can introduce you if you want.”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s not like he’ll bite you.”

Sitting in a corner was a guy with a mop of black hair, smoking and drawing spiderman.

“Hey Gerard,” Gerard looked up at Geoff “I want you to meet someone.”

“Sure.”

“Gerard meet Frank Iero, lead singer and guitarist of Pencey Prep.”

Gerard shook his hand and said, “Nice to meet you.”

“I love your band.”

“You do?”

“Yeah I got a copy of it and me and my band listen to it on the way to and from shows.”

“Cool.”

“Right now you’re my favorite band. Well after Bouncing Souls.”

“Thanks,” Gerard said quietly then he took a swig of his beer and a drag off his cigarette.

“Cool drawing. Though personally I think Spiderman is whiney.”

Gerard laughed, “I like the edginess of X-Men myself.”

“Yeah I like X-Men too.”

Geoff left the two shaking his head and thinking, ‘comic geeks’.

The two spent the next two hours talking about everything.

“So where do you practice?”

“Otter’s attic.”

“Nah, you need to practice in a studio.”

“We can’t fucking afford that.”

“Share one with us and Thursday. It’s definitely cheaper splitting it three ways.”

“I don’t know.”

“C’mon it will be fun.”

“I’ll talk to the other guys.”

“Where’s your next show I’ll come.”

Gerard looked down, “We don’t have any shows booked.”

“My cousin does bookings, I’ll see what he can get you.”

“You’ll do that for us?”

“Sure, that’s what it’s all about, helping each other out. Besides I love your band.”

“Your band is pretty cool too!!”

Just then Gerard noticed that Mikey could barely stand, “I think I need to get him outta her, my mom’s going to fucking kill me.”

“Hey it was great meeting you, I’ll give you a call and let you know what my cousin comes up with.”

A few days later as promised Frank called the Way home.

“Hey who’s this?” asked Frank.

“It’s Gerard.”

“My cousin got you a gig.”

“You’re fucking kidding me.”

“Nope. It’s at a VFW Hall in Ewing, opening for my band. ”

“Wow. I gotta tell everyone.”

Gerard called Matt and then Ray, who said that they would have to start practicing immediately.

Though there were songs written and perfected this was different playing for a live crowd. None of which had heard of My Chemical Romance.

They were practicing with Pencey Prep when Frank noticed something off with the band.

“What’s the matter?”

“I guess we’re just getting nervous about things.”

“How you guys going to get your instruments there?” asked John McGuire better known as Hambone. He was the bassist for Pencey Prep.

“Try to load it up in a couple of cars, or maybe rent a van.”

“We got a van, you can load your stuff in there.”

“Thanks.”

The night of the show they got to the VFW and started to set-up. The first thing Frankie noticed was Gerard’s t-shirt.

“What’s that mean, Thank You for the Venom?”

“I think it will be a real cool name for a song, I already have something sorta in my head.”

“That’s fucking awesome.”

After they set up it hit them they were going to perform for the first time as a band. They suddenly became nervous wrecks and decided a few beers in the back of the van would do the trick. It ended up being more than a few beers. By the time it they were to go on stage they were drunk, especially Mikey. They took the stage and opened with the first song that they wrote “Skylines and Turnstiles”, and the audience took to it immediately. Gerard looked at Ray and they knew they had something special.

During the set Frank got on a chair cheering them on. They rocked the house. Frank realized he was in love with this band it was definitely his favorite band.

They finished their set feeling exhilarated. After they brokedown everything and put it in the van. They went back and listened to the rest of Pencey Preps set. While they were sitting there some kids came up and started talking to them. Things like how do they know each other? How the band started, likes and dislikes. The band loved sitting there just chatting with them. Before they knew it the show was over and it was time to go home. The four looked at each other and smiled it was a good night.

A few states over at the House of Blues in Chicago Pressure 4-5 had just finished their set. The lead singer Adam Rich made his way to where the sound booth was.

“Hey thanks for making us sound great,” said Adam.

“It’s my job,” said the big man with the blonde crew cut and beard.

“Well you do it great.”

“Thanks.”

“We were thinking of hiring a sound guy for our tour. You interested?”

“Might be.”

“Well here’s my card. Call if you are. What was your name again?”

“Bob Bryar.”

“Hope to hear from you,” Adam shook his hand.

Bob looked at the card and thought, ‘Well it’s half of what I always wanted to do.’