DelaneyJackson

It’s 2026, and the Black Parade is back in action.

My Chemical Romance (MCR), one of the most popular alternative bands of the 2000s, has recently come back to the world of live music after their breakup in 2013. 

After a six year long hiatus, the band reunited in 2019. The musical group has been touring their third studio album, “The Black Parade” for over a year now, and the production is nearing its end.

The “Long Live the Black Parade” tour reflects on the band’s most popular album from 2006 – 20 years after it was released.

MCR actually formed as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Lead singer Gerard Way was in New York on his way to work at the time and witnessed the tragic events in real time. Way has said that seeing the attacks firsthand made him think about what he would do if he only had a little time left to live. Thus, My Chemical Romance was born.

“I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love,” released as the band’s first studio album on July 23, 2002. The record’s raw, emotional feel reeled in listeners from the moment they heard it. “Bullets,” as fans have dubbed the album, would not have been the same without contributions from all four current members of the band – Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Ray Toro and Frank Iero.

“Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge,” the band’s 2004 sophomore album, is what kickstarted their fame. Featured songs like “The Ghost of You” even had music videos produced for them.

By the time “The Black Parade” came out, it was 2006. This record reflects on the heavy emotion of grief as it follows the story of a cancer patient in his last days realizing he is not proud of his life.

 MCR expanded on this concept by making “The Black Parade” the band’s alter ego name. In their last show for the initial tour in Mexico City, after playing infamous tracks such as “Welcome to the Black Parade” and “Famous Last Words,” the band “dies” in a tragic fire. This sets up the storyline for the 2025-2026 tour.

Prior to MCR’s split, they released “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys” and a series of five EPs — or Extended Play records — (“Conventional Weapons”) containing 10 songs. However, on March 22, 2013, Way released a statement saying, “My Chemical Romance is done. But it can never die. It is alive in me, in the guys and it is alive inside all of you.”

Years later, in 2019, the band played a reunion show and announced a full-length reunion tour (which got delayed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Coinciding with the “Swarm” tour, “Foundations of Decay” was released as MCR’s first single in almost a decade.

“Long Live the Black Parade,” which began July 11, 2025, is a callback to MCR’s third album; however, this new tour follows a completely different storyline.

On this tour, the band is again known as their alter “Black Parade” ego, and the characters live in the fictional country of Draag. This society is run by the Grand Immortal Dictator, a name which is pretty self-explanatory.

In one version of the show, the band members are forced to go on a propaganda tour for the dictator, making sure everybody in the country is in agreement that they must listen to the Draag authorities. 

These shows are known as the “Long Live” shows and feature different political aspects that both explore Draag further and also offer commentary on our current world. The combination elections and executions (elexecutions) during these concerts show the reality of the fictional dictatorship. “Long Live” shows end with Gerard Way’s character getting killed by a government worker (the clerk) dressed up as a clown.

MCR’s Denver show was a “MOAT” show, set in Draag’s prison area. I was fortunate enough to attend this concert, and it was one of the most creative and unique shows I have ever been to. 

These concerts show more of the behind-the-scenes of the happenings in Draag, explaining that the band must forget all of their rebellious behavior each night. “MOAT” performances showcase more of the surveillance state aspect of the dictatorship; a huge eye hangs at the top of the stage and is always monitoring the band members.

Upon entering Coors Field, my friend and I were given postcards displaying an attack on Draag. These free souvenirs further submerge listeners into the storyline of the shows. The stage also appeared as a dilapidated prison area.

MCR begins the show with their entire “Black Parade” album. Beginning with “The End.” and ending with a reprise of the same song, the album is performed with both passion and emotion. Hearing tens of thousands of fans screaming the lyrics to “Cancer” and “I Don’t Love You” was extremely impactful for me to witness and brought me a sense of community.

The main stage performance ended with Way killing the clerk on a hospital gurney (as a reference to the cancer patient storyline of the album). After this dramatic incident, the stage is cleared and a 10 minute intermission begins, featuring a cello set from Clarice Jensen.

As time for the B-stage set rolls around, fans all over the stadium are making their guesses as to what 10 songs the band is going to perform that night. 

“Helena” and “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” are performed at every single show, but the other eight surprise songs are left up to Iero, the setlist maker.

The show I was at featured “Vampires Will Never Hurt You” (performed during a blood moon!), “SING” – and the first MCR song I had ever listened to – “Cemetery Drive.”

The popularity of this tour emphasizes the role that 2000s music has played in the lives of younger generations. Audiences at “Long Live the Black Parade” shows have been primarily young people that have been emotionally impacted by MCR’s music. 

Even today, 16 years after 2010, it’s still very common to hear music from the 2000s era on a daily basis.

During the B-stage set at MCR’s show on Sept. 12, Way hinted at another album in the works. “You [fans] kept us alive so long, you deserve another record,” Way said.

Even 25 years after the band’s formation and 20 years after the release of their most popular album, My Chemical Romance, still manages to leave an impact on their fans and come up with new, creative ideas on how to play live music.