Twenty years. The Black Parade came out on October 23, 2006, which makes today the actual anniversary, and My Chemical Romance is celebrating the only way this band knows how: five nights at the Hollywood Bowl and total theatrical chaos.
The run kicked off Wednesday night, and during Teenagers the band brought out dancers dressed as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. They did the full cheer routine. Then they picked up rifles, defended the band from militarized forces on stage, got shot, and crawled off into the dark. I have typed a lot of sentences about this band over the years. That might be my new favorite.
“Five shows in one run makes MCR the first band to ever do that at the Hollywood Bowl.”
Moe Train
The history part is real too. Five shows in one run makes MCR the first band to ever do that at the Hollywood Bowl. The first three nights are the Black Parade celebration, and then it gets even better. October 30 is Devil's Night with The Used as special guests. October 31, Halloween night, has Thrice opening. Devil's Night with The Used and Halloween with Thrice. Somebody in that camp understands the assignment perfectly.
And because today is the day, the expanded 20th anniversary edition of The Black Parade is out now, with live recordings and fan favorite B-sides riding along with the original record. Gerard Way also hinted at a new album at a recent San Antonio show, telling the crowd, "You guys deserve another record, and we'd love to make it." Twenty years in and the parade might not be done marching. After the Bowl, the band closes 2026 with shows in Southeast Asia. Carry on, indeed.
Source: Consequence
