When My Chemical Romance released “The Black Parade” on Oct. 23, 2006, it didn’t just solidify their place in the emo genre – it redefined alternative culture entirely. When fans heard the famous G note on the piano, they prepared for a cinematic, grandiose concept album that blended theatrical rock with raw emotion. 

After headlining the When We Were Young Fest this past October, My Chemical Romance announced a 2025 reunion stadium tour on Nov. 15  to celebrate the 18th anniversary of “The Black Parade.” 

At its core “The Black Parade” is a concept album, telling the story of a character, The Patient, who is facing their death and reflecting on life. This exploration of despair and acceptance runs through the entire record. The album also offers moments of catharsis, hope and defiance. This is especially seen on the track “Welcome to the Black Parade,” which became an anthem for a generation struggling with personal and societal turmoil.

While making “The Black Parade,” My Chemical Romance took inspiration from Davie Bowie, Queen and The Who, while using a punk edge. The opening track, “The End,” fades into the explosive “Dead!,” which sets the tone for the rest of the album – a blend of cinematic drama and razor-sharp punk intensity.

The two slow ballads, “I Don’t Love You” and “Cancer,” are among my favorites on the album. Singer Gerard Way combines catchy hooks with emotional vulnerability, allowing the raw sentiment to bleed through effortlessly. 

However, I found the best song to be “Disenchanted.” It is easy for fans to connect with “Disenchanted” because the song gives voice to universal feelings of disillusionment and frustration with the realization that life isn’t always as idealized or romantic as it might have once seemed. In “Disenchanted,” Way wrote, 

“You’re just a sad song with nothing to say / About a life long wait for a hospital stay / And if you think that I’m wrong / This never meant anything to you.” 

Even though fans and critics loved “The Black Parade,” My Chemical Romance announced they were breaking up on March 22, 2013. The band’s sudden announcement felt like the closing of  a chapter full of emotional connection. The ending was bittersweet for fans who had followed them since the beginning. For many of their fans, My Chemical Romance’s music was more than just songs — it was a lifeline. 

After My Chemical Romance got back together and announced their new tour, tickets sold out quickly, at times in minutes, making it feel like a race against time. As a fan, I set many alarms to try and score tickets. I got into the ticket queue for the Chicago show, but there were 147,000 people in front of me. That’s the population of Darwin, Australia. It was not a g’day, mate. 

Fans have not been shy about expressing their outrage over tickets selling out quickly and the prices being through the roof. This is not the first time that Ticketmaster has received ridicule. Taylor Swift fans have been through high ticket prices as well, with Eras Tour tickets selling for hundreds of dollars. 

I understand that tickets are in such high demand for My Chemical Romance because they’re a band that rarely tours, but the concerts should be more about the artist-to-fan connection rather than the money. I say this as someone who spent way too much money on tickets. That’s right, I survived the Ticketmaster war. It was brutal. 

After reviewing the totals from Ticketmaster, my expectations for My Chemical Romance are high. To justify the steep ticket prices, the concert needs to be a perfect tribute to the masterful “The Black Parade.” For 18 years, My Chemical Romance has remained faithful to the legacy of their iconic album, image and sound. After their time away, they’ve earned a spectacular tour to honor the lasting impact of “The Black Parade.”

Edited by Ava McCluer | amccluer@themaneater.com 

Copyedited by Caroline Sweet and Emma Short | eshort@themaneater.com

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com