My Chemical Romance Breaks Up

The romance is officially dead.

Alt-rockers My Chemical Romance are calling it quits, with the band making the announcement on its website Friday night. In the post, the bandmembers called their experience together “a true blessing” and thanked their fans for the years of support.

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During their 12 years together, the New Jersey-formed group fronted by singer Gerard Way released four studio albums, going platinum with 2004’s Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and 2006’s The Black Parade.

MCR also notched several radio hits including 2004’s anthemic “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),” 2006’s epic “Welcome to the Black Parade” and 2010’s “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)” and “Sing,” the latter which was performed on Glee (both in the show and on tour) and used in an American Idol ad campaign.

But while its fanbase grew exponentially since MCR came together in 2001, a No. 1 album eluded the band, which also included Ray Toro, Frank Iero and Mikey Way, younger brother of Gerard.

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Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter week Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys was released in 2010, singer Way explained the band’s long process of making albums, one of which was scrapped entirely in the four years prior. How did they know when it’s right? “If you chase the art, you really can’t fail because you’ll always be able to look at yourself in the mirror,” he said at the time. “And that’s not about making angry decisions, either, where it’s like, ‘Oh I’m going to see how punk we can be,’ it’s about always doing the right thing for you, your fans and your art.”

Working to maintain the democratic structure of a rock band, the guys at one point would take any personal issues they had into what they called their “heavy room.” But as the members got older, they found less constricting ways of working out problems. Said Gerlad Way in November 2010: “We disagree about stuff, but the disagreements are so healthy and intelligently thought out. We’re very respectful of each other’s opinions, especially about music.”

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

Read the band’s message in its entirety below.

“Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We’ve gotten to go places we never knew we would. We’ve been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We’ve shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to and, best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.”

Twitter: @shirleyhalperin