The world will never take my heart.

Save yourself, I'll hold them back.

2011-08-15T04:48:00.000-07:00

From now on the site of My Living Romance will be on undefined hiatus. As you've most likely noticed, I no longer have the time and resources to keep updating the site as often as I'd like. The forum keeps living its own life and the stories won't go anywhere, but unless there are any groundbreaking news or changes in the MCR camp the site will, for now, stop updating.

With these thoughts in mind, I'd also like to ask if there's anyone out there who would be interested in becoming our updater / admin / blogger? If so, please contact admin@mylivingromance.net and we can discuss further details. There are no requirements else than that you love the band.

IMCRD

2011-07-26T01:19:00.001-07:00

THE BEST OF RECENT INTERVIEWS vol. 1

2011-03-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

Gerard, in your lyrics you talk a lot about rescuing people, rescuing yourself, rescuing the whole world what do you need being rescued from or to be protecting the world from?

I think there was definitely a moment in my life when I felt I needed to be rescued and I think anytime when I was a kid I just disappeared into comic books and where there was always somebody rescuing someone else and I thought somebody was going to rescue me too, and everytime I was talking about it in a song it was just this really kind of angry cry of help because I never thought I was going to rescue anybody else.

Then I stopped needing to be rescued.

And that was a really cool thing and I think that's maybe why I write about the things I write about today.

Like rescuing people? Like Save yourself, I'll hold them back...

Yeah. That's one of my favorite song titles that I've written and I wrote it right after the Black Parade, or when the touring had ended. I wasn't saying like "I'm not going to help you out" I was saying "You've got this" you know, "I'll just go fall in the sewer but just you know, go ahead, just get our of here, shit's going to get ugly." It was more like that.

I would like to know personally because I'm emotionally attached to a lot of your songs and they got me through a lot of hard times in my life: how do you feel when fans come up to you and say you saved their lives? Because I'm kind of one of those people.

It's one of those things where I could never express the gravity of that statement. We never thought we would reach as many people as we've possibly reached or that we'd mean as much to so many people or even a one person. All we did was that we wrote some songs that meant something to us and put them out there in the world.

It chokes you up how universal music is and how much that can change everybody's lives and that's really great, but the way I feel when you guys say that or when some of you say it: I feel like you're not giving yourself enough credit. I think that the people who love this band are so strong and they're such amazing people, and we were there as a soundtrack or maybe provided you some comfort but you're the ones that have actually saved your lives. The applaus and all that, they're all for you, you guys are the best.

From the Grammy Museum interview, February 2011

"Never Stop Running."

2011-03-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

The last time I went to a My Chemical Romance show I was still a kid. Lost but eager to set my life right, I dreamt about a lot of things but never thought to push to achieve those things. Though I had just finished school I was still young, yet still at the point where I should've decided what to study next. I was 16 and unfortunately, due to the current education system, I should've known what to do for the rest of my life and I didn't which made me feel lost. And feeling lost made me feel confused because nothing felt worse then growing up.

MCR inspired me a lot those days and pushed me forward with my artistic endeavor; I wouldn't be as creative as I am today without them. I started to write a lot of stories based on their songs, or at least inspired by their music. Later on I also started to paint their songs into life; (a method that I still use a lot) painting music. I painted nonstop until I completed my work, then I put the finished painting aside and started a new one. Or put the brushes and paint down altogether and started to type; wrote to the wee-hours until my fingers bled. Just to write, to learn, and to create.

Tonight kind of felt like a follow up from their side even though they personally most likely have no idea about the effect they've had specifically on me and my identity as a person and an artist. After the previous show I was filled with passion, exuberance and drive to keep going long enough to try to pursue my dreams and make something out of my life. I kept chasing the things I wanted for a while, ran to catch them but never fully reached them because, well, I guess I got tired of running. It got to the point where I was starting to give up and around last year I felt lost again.

Ironically this band never seems to cast anyone aside. Even if I tend not to listen to their music for a while they sneak up on me if I'm feeling bad and make everything better. When I started feeling lost again it didn't take long until I was reading an announcement about MCR returning to the safe soil of Finland. Needless to say I was excited, I knew this was exactly what I needed and I now had something to look forward to.

Back in 2007 the band's tour reached Finland in the summertime. I was determined to be in the front row with my friends so I made the effort to be there. The show was on Tuesday and we got on the spot on Saturday. We slept the nights outside and chatted the days with other fans. We even survived a major rain that destroyed most of the camp but made the fans pull together even stronger. Overall everything sums up as three nights, four days, one band, six thousand fans and for me; first row in the fucking middle.

I remember other fans being pulled out of the first row because of the pressure but I don't recall feeling any pain myself. I even remember someone laughing and saying how amusing it is that "the girl that's standing in the middle on the first row is only smiling." In the first row, sweaty, without any water, being squeezed by everyone just felt like the only place I could ever get along all by myself. The concert gave me so much faith in myself, in not needing other people to get through life and to be what I want to be. I realized that my life is my mission and depends on nobody else but me.

Tonight I had no intention of staying the night in the snow storm outside or even getting into the first row. I showed up as the doors opened, stood in line to the merchandise desks for a while, got my stuff and headed to the hall, picked a good spot on the floor and laid down just to take it all in. Once MCR took the stage everything made sense again. How could I've forgotten this? I remembered how much they've inspired me and how much I still get off their music. I mean, I could write a book out of each of their album. Shit, why won't I? I felt a new hit of willpower and determination rushing into my body making me feel alive again, like I could achieve anything I put my mind into. And I can.

It was like walking through fog for a while and suddenly seeing everything crystal clear. It was like seeing everything blurry for a while and then buying glasses. "Never stop running" Gerard stated out before Bulletproof Heart and suddenly I understood the song in a nanosecond. Gravity don't mean too much to me. Without gravity you don't have weight on your shoulders. Without weight on your shoulders you can move forward. Without gravity, you can run faster. So I dropped all the weight from my shoulders to the arena and decided to start running again.

I never thought that I could return to achieving the same state of happiness that I achieved four years ago but lost just a while ago. I've come a long way from 2007 and flew too low for a while. Still, just like that, I can see my whole life clear again. MCR show... my beautiful crystal castle. I will chase my dreams. I will run faster.

Gravity don't mean too much to me,

Joanna

Comment this entry.

27 DAYS LEFT.

2011-02-21T02:55:00.000-08:00

I'm seeing My Chemical Romance live on March 20th. The last time I saw them was in 2007, I was so filled with happiness and confidence that it kept me going for a long time. Now I can't wait to see them again and to be filled with all that joy again.

I wish I could promise you an interview with the guys but I can't. Some of you may remember how close I was getting to interview the band in 2007 and then the interview was cancelled on the last minute. The Danger Days album really exploded so this time I haven't really been able to even get a hold of anyone at their management. Doing interviews is a tricky business and you need to understand that the decisions aren't usually even made by the band but their management. I have 27 days left and I'll do everything in my power to arrange the interview. If it won't happen at least I'll be reporting about the show!

In other news:

The winners of the Romance awards are now picked out and will be announced soon. Thank yous go out to everyone who's participated!
I'm looking for new writers on the site! Your job description includes writing opinionated articles, writing statements towards articles written by others, networking with other sites and scooping MCR related news and interviews.
We've been thinking about putting together a forum meet up at Skype! If you want to state your opinion and take part to the planning head over to our forum! There's also a poll on the sidebar of this site!

"Armenian police target teenage rock cult"

2010-12-27T03:36:00.000-08:00

When police officers arrived at 13-year-old Masha's home, searched her room and inspected her computer, it was not because they suspected her of any crime.

Her offence was simply to be a devoted follower of the angst-ridden punk-rock subculture known as 'emo', in an ex-Soviet state where pressures to conform remain strong.

"It was offensive and frightening at the same time," said Masha, a schoolgirl in the Armenian capital, clearly upset by the experience.
Police in Yerevan have been conducting a campaign against the capital's small but controversial emo community since the recent suicides of two teenagers who were rumoured to have been emo fans.

They claim that the subculture represents a threat to young people's welfare.

Officers have visited schools, searched pupils whose distinctive clothing marks them out as possible 'emos', and mounted surveillance on public places where young people gather.

Several fans have been detained for questioning, despite the lack of any specific legislation against the musical genre or its followers.

In a recent newspaper interview, Armenia's Chief of Police, Alik Sarkisian, claimed that emo could "damage our gene pool". "We should fight against such phenomena because they are morally harmful to our people," he said.

Emo -- an abbreviation of 'emotional' -- is a more melodic and melancholy form of punk rock. It has origins in the United States but has become a well-established global subculture in recent years.

Masha and her friend Ani, also 13, say they started dressing in the unconventional emo style in an attempt to stand out from what they call "the grey masses".

But they now feel that they have to disguise themselves in ordinary clothes for fear of detention or harassment by other youths. "They point and laugh at us. Or even worse, they sometimes beat up our boys," Ani said.

Sensationalist media reports in Europe have suggested that the gloomy lyrics of some emo songs can influence teenagers to harm themselves or attempt suicide, although fans have consistently rejected the accusation.

Young fans like Masha and Ani have been worried by the anti-emo campaign, but they insist that they will not be pressured into abandoning the subculture that they love.

"It is impossible to ban youth movements using repressive methods," Ani said defiantly. "We will not stop listening to our music and dressing how we like. This is my choice."

Source and full article

RYBY'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2010-12-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

The world can be really messed up sometimes, and I sometimes begin to wonder how anyone can see beauty in such chaos. But then I look at My Chemical Romance, and I see beauty. I see this pain, this desire to reach out and just take all the hate, intolerance, everything bad from the world. I see artists, amazing, talented, unique artists who actually have something to say.

Their music touches you in a place you never even new exsisted, they connect with you on a level that you never imagined. You listen to your music and - unlike many bands - you aren't confronted with the artificiality and mudanity of normal bands, but with this excitement, creativity, and unbelievably blinding energy! They constantly evolve and grow, and us along with them.

MCR started with a mission: to reach out to the outcasts, to take their hand and never let them be afraid. To cleanse the souls of millions and rid them of hate, and they succeeded.

-Ruby

Broward New Times re-loves MCR

2010-12-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

MCR is getting ready to kick off their 2011 tour. In response, instead of telling readers why they shouldn't go Broward New Times embraced MCR's fans in listing 4 reasons to love them. Again. Why do you love this band? Leave a comment!

Read more...

Brigitte from Taste It TV has another heart to heart with Gerard Way!

2010-11-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys

2010-11-18T09:42:00.001-08:00

ROMANCE AWARDS 2010

2010-10-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

~ Nominated for the best literature artwork

1. Typical Afternoon by Kay
"I see you smile and I smile right back, a simple show of courtesy that others lack. " READ MORE!
2. My Dirty Little Secret by Juliet
"You hurt my feelings, then I hurt myself." READ MORE!
3. Stronger by Tazzy
"I'm a much stronger person than you, and you won't destroy me." READ MORE!
4. My Living Romance by Sarah
"They don't share my blood, but they share my heart." READ MORE!
5. Fourth by Lay Still Like The Dead
"Alone and shaking on the floor, the sleeve upon your arm is torn." READ MORE!
6. Fifth by Lay Still Like The Dead
"Goodbye to all the silent tears, hello to all the dirt." READ MORE!
7. To The Haters by Casey
"I'm the girl sitting at the back of the bus with my headphones in my ears and black nail polish on my nails." READ MORE!
8. Cubicles by Joanna
"The hearts you draw are more symmetric than any other hearts drawn in the whole wide world." READ MORE!

~ Nominated for most dedication

1. Sarah
2. Anja
3. Someone else, who? Your pick!

~ Nominated for the best artwork

1. "We're Okay Now" by Bronnie

2. "Wake Up" by Judita

3. "The Monacle" by Judita

4. "The Black Parade" by Judita

5. "Fly Free, Straight Into The Vivid Sun" by Niiro

6. "Fear and Regret" by Sarah

7. "Dark Rose" by Sarah

8. Notebook cover by Laura

9. "The World Ain't Pretty, Kid" by Stevie

1.2.3.

4. 5.6.

7.8.9.

~ Nominated for the best quote

1. "To all those who've tried to belong, and just didn't fit in...you are loved. To all those who've tried to stand out and be heard...you're admired. To all those who've tried to be themselves, only to be shut down...you are supported. To all those who've tried to kill themselves because life's unfair...you're NOT alone. love you friends, love your enemies, because in the end, they'll all be kissing your ass when you make it."

2. "This is an amazing project. Thank you for doing something that I wished I could do but couldn't. It's both really impressive and really brave. Thank you for helping me realize that there are other people who think this way. We can't change anyone's mind, no one can, but we can spread the message and stand up for what is right. Thank you so much. Defiant to the end, we'll carry on."

3. "They were raw displays of universal pain, the voices of a generation growing up in a fucked up world, they were real feelings from real people still trying to find their place in the world and in the world of music, best of all and offered a flamboyant light at the end of the tunnel without being the prissy optimists so many bands became when they offered that angle. They were just like me."

4. "This article said that people who listened to our music - they called you a cult. And said we promote self harm and suicide. You all know its not true. We want you to live. We want to save your lives. You saved ours. We never want to let a single thing hurt any of you. And you should all know, if you support us.. you are not a cult - You are a fucking army."

5. "Every time you listen to it you feel like screaming the words at the top of your lungs so the whole world can hear. Like a big "F*CK YOU" to the world, to tell them that you don't care what they think anymore, that you are proud of who you are. Its just you and the music and thats all that matters. It makes you feel better about yourself and that you are not alone because they will always be there."

~ Nominated for the best video

1. Our side of the story; I never knew I could ask for something

2. Manifesto; Let's unite this army

3. Website trailer; May I present to you; Scars and a heavy heart!

1.2.3.

~ Nominated for the best manifesto

1st Manifesto
2nd Manifesto
3rd Manifesto
4th Manifesto

~ Nominated for the best event

1. My Living Romance's first official birthday party at the forums
2. The peaceful protest against The Daily Mail
3. International My Chemical Romance Day

1.2.3.

~ CAST YOUR VOTE ~

Look closer into the nominees, pick your favorites and e-mail them to admin@mylivingromance.net! Remember to include your contact info because the voters win too! Both winners as well as a random voter will be rewarded with My Chemical Romance- and My Living Romance -related prizes!

MY SIDE OF THE STORY LIES WITHIN MY STEREO

2010-10-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

My Living Romance to this date is a big fat book of stories. Stories of different colours, layers and hooks. It's a celebration of uniqueness, opinions and respect, all this giving birth to a hell of a family. I couldn't be more proud to finally release the permanent new template of the site that is now mainly focused on sharing, commenting, and overall keeping to build this foundation together.

Let me egoistically quote myself from a recent entry; "Wherein the bashing in the media has somewhat settled down at the present, My Living Romance is still alive as a loving community. Though our main priority is no more seeking distorted articles and e-mailing to magazines and sites, we still stand up for what we believe in and the site is still here to give hope and support to those in need. I encourage everyone to continue to spread the word and join the community. I welcome your story."

It's hard to explain the bond that is born when a music lover puts the stereo on. Though I feel like I know each one of our participants, I can only talk for myself when I say that the best way to describe my emotional life would be to compare it to a doctor's office. Doctors often ask patients to determine their pain on a level 0-10. Well, I live at a constant 8. It's not a depression thing, it's just who I am; I take everyone's worries as my own and I carry the world on my shoulders. My pain, on any given day, is at an 8. It's so easy to slip to a 10 or over.

The thing is, it's also kind of easy to keep myself off from slipping to a 10. Because, as a music lover, all I need to do is put the stereo on and wait for my wounds to become scars. And before some hysteric soccer mom turns that sentence into a sign of a suicidal cult, let me specify that I do mean mental wounds and scars which -to my exploration- are way harder to heal then any physical injury.

I've heard that it's possible to grow up - I've just never met anyone who's actually completely achieved it. Without parents to defy, we decide to make rules for ourselves - only to break them. We throw outbursts of rage when things don't go our way, we whisper secrets to our best friends in the dark, we look for comfort where we can find it, and against all logic and all experience; like children, we never give up hope. And as a music listener, my hope lies within my stereo.

Forever love,

Joanna

PS. The voting for our first official Romance Awards begins within a few days and will continue for a few months. I already have the nominees....

NME; SAVE YOURSELF

2010-01-20T15:20:00.000-08:00

"Gerard Way's in full-on audience-empowerment mode on this classic rock rallying cry, showing the gllimmers of the Judast Priest vibe he insists is on there. "This ain't just a room full of suicides" is the key lyric, and the theme of survival burns through it ("You can live forever if you got the time"). It's as if he wrote it with the Daily Mail's 'war on emo' article in his hand..."

"Indeed, if any album sums up the spirit of the album, it's the line in blustery opener 'Save Yourself': "This ain't a room full of suicides"."Yeah," he agrees, "it's saying this is a room of survivors.""

TO LOVE SOMEONE...

2010-01-16T14:23:00.000-08:00

I've been planning the Awards for My Living Romance like crazy ever since I first got the idea to to create such event. These are the first awards of the organization even though My Living Romance has been alive for three years or so. There are a lot of people to thank and most definitely a lot of people to reward for their dedication and unconditional love towards the community.

I went shopping for the prizes today. I love buying presents and these prizes in particular were very important to me: since this is like another family to me I wanted to make sure that each and every prize is unique and very special. And I think they're going to be. The prize-packages are more like gifts than prizes, well, I guess they're prizes in the way that I'm rewarding people with them but regarding the structure they remind me more of a gift. Every single note and card is going to be handwritten and every item is going to be special, so there's no one else in the whole wide world who owns the exact same thing. Very special gifts for very special people.

For some reason I very often find myself in the wee hours of the night all welled up by this band and especially this project and the people it's surrounded by. I'm only human: I make mistakes, I have a very low self-esteem, I'm melancholy and awkward and I have the worst luck in the whole wide world, but I feel so, so proud to have created something as amazing as this community. I can't wait to reward a few people from the community from their great dedication.

I'm all filled with love tonight and yes, I'm a hippie.♥ Peace out!

XOXO,

Joanna

FORUM REBIRTH

2010-01-14T15:16:00.000-08:00

Our forum needs to get more activated. I know we've all grown and have a lot going on in our own lives, I do as well, but right now our board is basically dead comparing to what it used to be. As our new era is less about the bad press and more about our MLR family, I'd like to see it alive again; Tighten up, form a group, be together.

As a motivation, I'm revealing something; the very first Awards of MLR start as soon as the forum activates a bit! I already have a few ideas for the categories and prizes but I take suggestions! Once we've came up with the categories I'll think through the top 5 of each category and after that everyone on the board gets to vote for the winner!

Fun, isn't it! And yes there will be a MCR/MLR related prizes for the winners, I may have already bought them! ;)

Now chop chop, to the forums! And remember to hint our friends to join too!

Hugs & kisses!

Joanna

THE NEW ERA; SAFE AND SOUND

2010-01-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

I think we can all agree on the fact that this band has begun a new era in their life line. To celebrate the new era of 2010 I've released a new temporary layout and updated a lot of the content on this site. This will be a new beginning for us too. A whole new layout will be released later this year.

On May our site has been running for three years which, I guess, isn't that long. But it surely feels like forever. I remember founding the site in 2007 to protest against the improper image the media put over the band. We got immediate support from the fans who were touched by the issue and it pushed me to eventually give birth to the current website that later on turned out to be a loving community.

As many other My Chemical Romance fansites did, our site in particular offered a place to share thoughts and own stories about the good affect the band had. The stories flooded to our mailbox in light speed eventually spreading the word to the point where I actually started to feel like this organization was making a difference. We felt influential enough to later start to support other messages the band encouraged as well, such as being yourself, living life to the fullest and doing one good thing a day.

Since I founded this site, it's not hard to guess that the band has made a big difference in my life as well, therefore I'm not going to talk about the meaning of the band in my life this time. I'm going to talk about the meaning of this project in my life instead. I was a youngster, a 16 year old girl when I started out. Even so I had a lot to say. Other periods in my life affected on how I dressed, what I listened to or how my life in general turned out to be, but this band and this project had the biggest impact on my worldview and I had no doubt it felt wrong that the media was claiming what they did. I've grown a lot during these three years but my views are still the same, I still believe in being yourself and fighting for what you believe in.

"I listen to a band that sings about death and loneliness, I die a little inside and after a while I arise from my own ashes and so I'm alive again", is something I wrote in the beginning of this project and it still applies. I still think it describes the emotional side of me and my life. I tend to get a bit melancholy from time to time, I'm never in luck so life kicks me around quite a lot and eventually I just always burn out. Those are the days in my life when I don't want to see anyone or talk to anyone and I don't shower or clean the house, I just stare at the wall and cry a lot because I feel dead inside but in a way those exact moments are the most important ones in my life: After a few days I pick myself up, listen to something good, take a shower and create something new. I'm a new born every time time this happens and quite often I find myself listening to My Chemical Romance the moment I decide to pick myself up and live my life. It always comes back to this band and this project. They have given me like seven new lives or so.

Wherein the bashing in the media has somewhat settled down at the present, My Living Romance is still alive as a loving community. Though our main priority is no more seeking distorted articles and e-mailing to magazines and sites, we still stand up for what we believe in and the site is still here to give hope and support to those in need. I encourage everyone to continue to spread the word and join the community. I welcome your story.

Today, I took a shower and created something new. This is how the site looks for now. I hope you enjoy it, please leave a note to the guestbook!

xoxo

Joanna

DEANDRA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2009-10-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

I was eleven when I realized that my family was unraveling. No, wait. I knew much earlier than that, but I refused to believe it. When I was growing up my parents would always put on a happy front in front of my sister and I. there was this one time, however, while my sister and I were watching an episode of Pokémon, where they were fighting. My father ended up flipping the table over, breaking most of the things on or around it. My mom picked up Dezi and I and put us in the car, my memory goes blank from there. Desiree was seven, I was five.

Anyway, I was eleven, and just starting out in seventh grade. I was, and still am today, a very awkward child. I didn't have many friends, and out of the eleven period day, I was completely alone for three of them. That may not seem like a long time, but three periods out of every day of a five day week takes a toll on ones self confidence, which for me was dwindling at best from the start. In those periods there were five very cruel, mean spirited people, and I seemed to have a target on my back. Anytime I was near one of them, or got to the classroom too early, one of them would find me and begin to make my day a living hell. This living hell consisted of calling me names, teasing me about my clothing or grades (Even if my grades were better than theirs were), and even physical abuse.

While this was going on to me at school, I was also being neglected at home. You see, Desiree was having emotional issues as well. My father began to hit her, shove her up against walls, and I'm guessing other things that I do not know about. She told me that this has been going on before I knew it was, she just started fighting back. I tried to tell my mother what was happening to me at school, how I was so sad, how I was being tormented. She wouldn't listen to me, she explained to me that "The squeaky wheel gets the oil". It was as if I no longer existed, that I was no longer important, like what was going on to me was nothing compared to her. I didn't matter anymore. My sister threatened to kill herself, tried it once too. She was admitted to the hospital several times. We discovered that she had something on her brain that's effecting her. My mom was with her every step of the way.

Yes, I do realize that this situation with Dezi was bad, probably much worse than anything going on with me at the time. But that shouldn't give them permission to let me fall through the cracks. I was only eleven, and at eleven years old I did not know how to handle this without somebody by my side. During that entire year, I believe I missed as much school as I have every other year combined. I would often go to the nurse, fake sick and get my father to take me home before period two. At one point in the year I swallowed several pills, wanting to die myself... needless to say it didn't work out. I ended up throwing them up in the toilet and going to sleep. The next morning my mom woke me up, and I went to school like nothing happened.

So, your probably wondering by now, 'where does MCR come into this??'. Well of course you are, this is a MCR tribute page after all. This all happened late 2006 early 2007. At the same time My Chemical Romance released their album 'The Black Parade'. Until that time, I detested music, any music. To me, it was just noise coming out of the radio, giving me a headache. However, I was on my bus one day going home, and 'Welcome to the Black Parade' came on, and I loved it. no that wasn't my first MCR song, I've heard some of Revenge before from Desiree, I just wasn't paying attention then. That one song sparked my interest in them, and my birthday was coming up soon, so I asked my mom for the album, and a CD player. Once I received the album I couldn't put it down, I obsessed over every word Gerard sung, every note Frankie, Ray and Mikey played, and every beat Bob dropped. Eventually, I wanted more of them, and I started looking them up, I wanted to know what they looked like, what they were like, and of course, any more music of them that I could get my hands on. I received Revenge from Dezi just about a month after I got 'The Black Parade', and Bullets just months after that. I focused on them, and them only. When I was listening to them, nothing else seemed to matter. Those people were only people, and hopefully I would be rid of them by the end of the year. (This was not the case but the thought got me through the day) I felt like somebody out there, those five wonderful men I call my heroes, understood me, and I've never even met them.

These men saved my life, I know that that's a total cliché, especially with this band, but it's 100% absolutely true. They pulled me out of this horrible, dark place, and gave me hope in my crumbling world. Even now, whenever I need them, they are always there for me when no one else is.

Life Is hard sometimes, and sometimes I just feel like quitting, like dying, like I'm going to eventually. But then I think to myself, if people like Frankie, Gerard, Mikey, Ray and Bob can do something like this, something that Is so special, that has touched so many people, then maybe, just maybe, I can live, I can survive. It's simply amazing to me that five men can change my life forever, that they can allow me to hope, it's even a little strange. But this is the truth, this is real, I'm real, and I'm alive. I'm not quite okay yet, but I will be.

So, now I have something to say to anyone who is reading this. If you feel hopeless, like your worthless or like everybody is against you please, please know, those people, the ones who are putting you down, They aren't worth anything. They aren't worth your pain, your time, and most definitely not your tears. Help is possible. And even if you have to scream at the top of your lungs to get someone to notice, do it, because it's worth it, you're worth it. I know I don't know any of you, and I probably never will, but I love you, every single one of you. It's people like you who I reach out to in difficult times in my life, people like you who have helped me be able to tell you any of this. But if you take away anything from my story please take this: You. Yes, You! Are Worth So Much. Don't let them change you, because there is no one who can be you, better than you.

In the words of Gerard Arthur Way "Be Yourself, Don't take anyone's shit and never let them take you alive..."

I wish you all happiness, love, sun, sea and books. <3

Forever Yours,

Deandra

THIS BAND WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE

2009-04-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

Through the wonders of Expos I had to stop by Hot Topic the other day for a tattoo magazine (research material for an essay) as I was grabbing the magazine I saw a book on MCR on the shelf and of course I bought it. The biggest play in me buying this book was the title.

Yes, the title of this book is indeed This Band Will Save Your Life and seeing that title is what made that little impulse shopper in the back of my head go "Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!" Of course I bought it.

As with most books I buy I read the back after buying the book, and after doing so I couldn't wait to read this book.

Sadly that day I never managed to find the time to start on my reading, so yesterday during second hour I began reading. I hadn't even barley gotten past the start of the introduction and I was already grinning like a giddy little kid. Most of the introduction is devoted to how much My Chem have influenced our (the fans) lives and how that was their purpose all along. It starts off with a quote from Gerard "If you keep believing in us, we'll never stop believing in you." of course that made me happy to see that but what really had me grinning was the first damn paragraph.

"As rock phenomena go, My Chemical Romance are different. sure, like a hundred other bands, the New Jersey quintet sell records, fill dance halls and appear on the cover of magazines worldwide. In addition to the uniqueness of their accessible, genre-transcending sound, what sets them apart is the very personal manner in which the group interact with their fans."

Reinhardt Haydn did a wonderful job with this biography of this life saving band in that he didn't shy away from the fact that My Chem saves lives, instead he embraced and put it into writing for all who read this book to see. Haydn wrote their story from start to now, and he went in depth to a certain extent as well. Interlaced into the text are quotes from the band, quotes that are funny and inspiring at the same time in this humble fan's opinion.

I call it a must read for any and all MCR fans. This is breath of fresh air from the swarms of media that are constantly telling us that MCR is supposed to be some evil band that promote self harm that only proves that members of the media have no insight into what My Chem really is.

By: Vampirina_08

DESOLATION ROW

2009-02-24T07:55:00.000-08:00

STEPHANIE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-11-08T05:18:00.000-08:00

This is a story I'm never tired of telling,

I would just like to say that My Chemical Romance does NOT promote self harm/suicide in anyway. Their lyrics may mention some things about the subjects. But they would never want any of there fans that look up to them and hang on there every single word to harm themselves in any way. My Chemical Romance is a caring band and always has been and will be.

You may be thinking to yourself, "Oh She's only standing up for them because she loves the band!" And yes! I do love My Chemical Romance because they have helped me through my life and have even saved it. I know with different people comes different opinions but my opinion about this whole My Chemical Romance issue is that children/teenagers do what they want and most of them are too stubborn to stop even if you tell me to. You just have to trust in your kids to make good decisions and if they don't please don't label there choice of music as the problem. Maybe there's issue at there school with some kids or even at home right in front of your face that you can't see.

Its unfair to all the members of My Chemical Romance to have and deal with this being said about them. And sure they do dress in black. But that makes no difference in any of this. Stereotyping them as "Goths" or "emos" just because of how they look is moronic. Stereotyping anything at all in my opinion is stupid.

People stating that My Chemical Romance wants there fans to commit suicide? Well that's beyond idiotic. Who would go to their shows? Who would buy their merch? Who would sing along to the songs that mean so much to the band? They would be broke and unimportant if they wanted that and I sure wouldn't listen to them if they wanted me to kill myself.

-Stephanie

HEATHER'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-11-08T05:16:00.000-08:00

My depression started some years ago, when I was ten years old. I was depressed because of my difficulties going on at home. We weren't wealthy, I hate the word…but all I can say is that we were poor, really. I wouldn't ever call that house a home. My dad was an alchoholic, and it really put pressure on me. My aunt and uncle on my mother's side of the family were very very religious, and were always looking down on us. We had terrible neighbors, and I could never go outside because my parents didn't trust them. I was already beginning to become suicidal. Both because of where I was at, and because of my father. I waited until winter, and then I would sneak into the bathroom at my house, or any other house I could go to, and I would cut myself. It was terrible. I tried to kill myself in so many ways over the years. I would try to suffocate myself, I would try to stab myself, I'd do anything that might end my life. And I failed every time. Every day I prayed to God that I would die the next day. I couldn't take living with my father, and my mother. They constantly argued about everything and the sound is what struck me to go and cut myself. Every day I was coming closer and closer to just taking a knife and stabbing myself in the throat. I don't know why I didn't do it anyway in the first place, but I'm glad I didn't.

The next problem I had, was being in school. I would constantly get into verbal fights and physical fights. If I wound up with a black eye or a small cut or a busted lip, I'd try to apply as much make-up as I could before leaving school so my parents wouldn't see. I didn't want anyone to know anything about me. And it stayed that way for I don't know how long.

My next problem came with underage drinking that no one knew about, and they STILL don't. I never told my parents about it because I didn't want them to lock me up or put me on some kind of medication. So…I was one messed up little f**k.

And I suffered this for 4 years until 2005. At first, it was December 12th, 2004. My mother was at work, and my father was asleep in bed. I was awake, and I was on the computer going through a fan-site for a band that I liked, until I stumbled upon My Chemical Romance's official website. I got curious and clicked and dug around in their website. The band seemed to be interesting to me, and I started to like them. Later, I got off the computer and went into my room and turned on the radio while I was playing a video game. I heard them announce on the radio station that they were playing a new song by the band that I'd just got through looking at on the net. They played "Helena". When I heard it…I was just hypnotized by it. The words were so based on what I was doing to myself and it seriously reminded me of what I was doing to myself too. It matched. I kept thinking…"Coincidence? Or just some weird Deja-Vu?" I was obsessed with the song and called the radio station an hour later, telling them to play it again for me. Then I called back two more hours and asked them to play it again. And again. And again. Until I had the words stuck in my head. I felt changed. But MCR didn't save me yet.

Another year passed into 2005, when they released the Helena video. I had the TV turned on, and again, my mother was at work, my father asleep in bed, and I had the TV channel set to MTV. I was just coming into the living room from the kitchen with a can of coke in one hand, and my other hand…hanging, because I had just finished cutting myself…again…as I walked in, I saw the video starting up immediately. I stopped to watch because the song sounded familiar. I watched it, and I felt…paralyzed. I saw Gerard singing the words, Mikey, Ray, Bob, and Frank all in the background playing the music. I saw the men and women dancing around Helena's casket, I saw the one girl shedding a tear for the funeral…I felt my breathing slow down. My eyes were wide; I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And then I saw Helena come out of the casket, I saw her dance down the aisle, and then fall right back into the casket. Then I see the group carrying it out to the hearse, and the men and women dancing in the rain with their umbrellas, and then the final scene where Gerard looks into the hearse, and then walks off. I'm not lying to you…I thought I felt my heart stop for three seconds. I dropped my coke (which made a loud noise…) and I realized that I was crying. My eyes were wide, I hadn't blinked until the video ended and I felt my heart drop along with my body. I felt to the floor, sobbing, crying like a baby when it's cranky and wanting to sleep. I finally realized that I needed to stop cutting myself. The video scared the shit out of me…I realized that if I kept doing what I was doing…that I would be like Helena, in the video. I'd be the one inside of that casket, I would have all of those people - my family and friends - sitting in the church, crying their eyes out.

"And what's the worst you take, from every heart you break, And like the blade you stain, Well I've been holding on tonight…", "What's the worst that I can say? Things are better if I stay, So long and goodnight, So long and goodnight…", "And if you carry on this way, Things are better if I stay…" Those lyrics are my life. When I heard Gerard scream those words from the video, it finally hit me in the head. I didn't want to be like the girl in the video yet, I didn't want to see people I loved crying their eyes out because of me, I didn't want to be buried 3 feet down into the ground, never to see anyone else again. It scared me. In a good way. My Chemical Romance scared the shit out of me, and they got a message to me that I couldn't recieve before. I finally cried myself to sleep on the floor, and I lied there for hours until my dad woke me up, worried sick as to why I was on the floor in a fetal position. I never told him or my mother about it, about why I was crying and on the floor that day.

Over the years listening to their music has kept me going. Their music is like my own medication, that keeps me from doing it again, every day. I found out so much about the band over the years, that I didn't want to let them go. I didn't want to obssess over any other band, I didn't want any other clothing for any other band, it was all just MCR, MCR, MCR to me. They were a part of my every day life, and they still are. I'm 15 now, and I'm in better shape and condition than I ever have before in my life. I've recently quit doing the underage drinking problem. I'm doing SO much better in my education now. I'm homeschooled now to keep me away from pests at school, we've been able to move out of our house and into an apartment. I'm honestly, much more happier now than I've ever been. Thanks to My Chemical Romance's 3 albums and their DVD, I'm not afraid to keep on living, I'm not afraid of falling, and I'm not afraid of death either. I owe these five men my life. They have done so much for me, by just through their lyrics. My parents have even said that since I'd discovered MCR, that I'd become a better person. I was able to tell my mother about my past issues of being suicidal and cutting and why. I have yet to tell my father. I'm just thankful that back then, I didn't cut deep enough to leave scars. I'm not as private as I used to be, I'm more open now, which brightens my parents and family and friends.

People don't understand why I'm so attatched and connected to this band…because they know nothing of my history. They think that my love for them is just a teenage thing, but it's kind of hard to let go of someone who has saved your life and has inspired 3/4 of your life. Sometimes I'm afraid to tell my story about back then…but then again, I wouldn't be able to tell them about this amazing band that saved my life. I truly hope that one day I can meet them and thank them for all that they've done for me. I owe My Chemical Romance everything and more. And I will take my love for them 'till death, and beyond. They are in my heart forever.

-Heather, 15, US, Tennessee

JEN'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-11-08T05:14:00.000-08:00

I don't really have a story here. All I have to say is last year I was constantly made fun of because I loved the music I'm into. I didn't want to wear the band shirts or be myself really, I just kind of wanted to fit in.

Then I started listening to My Chemical Romance. They changed my life honestly. Now I'm myself and not afraid to show it at all. They made me realize it's okay to be yourself, even if that means your weird or made fun of. You have to be who you truly are. I have never thought of them as a band that would promote suicide. I don't even understand how The Black Parade promotes suicide. It's really stupid, I mean whatever is wrong mostly the blame should be put on the parents. Yes I have thought about suicide once or twice, not like I'd ever have the guts to do it. I always remember what Gerard said; "If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide then you need to fucking talk to somebody. Your mom, your best friend somebody at school I don't give a fuck. Cause pissing your life away on suicide is fucking bullshit."

So see, My Chemical Romance is not promoting suicide, they are against it. So that's not even a story really, mostly an opinion.

- Jen, 14, Massachuttess

ANONYMOUS SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-11-08T05:12:00.000-08:00

The other night I was laying in bed, hugging pillows as usual, trying to get some sleep.

However, that night was different from the others. Even after I had convinced myself the pillow was actually someone who wanted to take care of me, who wanted to love me for who I am, it still didn't work. I still felt as lonely as ever, but only this time I felt even more pathetic for actually thinking that hugging pillows imagining them to be someone I could love made me feel even more sad. So I pushed the pillow away, and I started thinking.

And with thoughts came tears.

I thought about how lonely I was. There's a song that says "you don't have to be alone to feel lonely" by Ok Go and I feel it is completely and utterfly true. I'm not alone in the actual sense, because I have some good friends to hang out with at school and I have my family and up until a few days ago I even had a best friend (before I screwed it up and now we're not all that buddybuddy anymore). I've received pretty much everything I've ever wanted from my parents, I even got to go see my favourite band play in a foreign country with a 'stranger'.

So why did I still feel so miserable? I know I should've been happy about all these things (and I am greatful for them, I really truly am) but it still feels like I need more to be happy. I guess I still haven't figured out that happiness isn't something that be gained from the outside in, but from the inside out.

All these thoughts started running through my head so fast I couldn't control them anymore. It hurt, too. It hurt, but there was not physical outlet for my pain. So I thought about the fingernail clippers I had on my nightstand, and I thought about attaching them to my left wrist. Maybe it would help, maybe it would make this all go away, maybe just maybe people would see the way I'm hurting (as stupid as it may sound). I was desperate at that point, I really was.

I was actually thinking about it, planning to do it when something I had read made me change my mind. A quote, a quote by none other than the lead singer of one of my favourite bands - Gerard Way. I had read it from My Living Romance's myspace/website number of times, and I had read it a few times even before that. The words that were for me the words of strenght.

"...if you find yourself depressed, hurt, like an outcast, like the only kind of place you could ever fit in is in a show like this, that's not the case. 'Cause even though we're all outcasts in our own way we all belong to this world an we all fit in to this world. Do you understand me? We all have something to say, but you never ever say it with violence."

So I found myself with even more tears, but no blood. Once again they had saved me in some sense, and not for the first time either.

We're not alone.

LET'S UNITE THIS ARMY

2008-10-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

JOANNE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-10-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

I am a fifteen year old girl who has been listening to My Chemical Romance since I was twelve years old. That's three years. And not once in these three years have I ever been compelled to cut or harm myself because of My Chem. I am not an "emo". I've never harmed myself. It makes me so mad when I hear stories from parents or journalists about how My Chem convinced their fans that self-harm is okay. The people that cut themselves have problems, often caused by the people around them, and these people are shallow and stupid to think that they can get away with simply blaming it on a band.

My Chemical Romance are an amazing band, with amazing talent. They've inspired me to do so many things- to write, to draw, even to learn an instrument. But never, not EVER, have they made me believe that self-harm is okay. Often when I am upset about something, I will listen to their music or I will watch their DVD, because both of these put me in an uplifting mood. The members of My Chem are compassionate and kind. They are a hilarious bunch and I often find myself laughing out loud to a random video of them on Youtube, or once again, watching their DVD.

All in all, I am usually a person to sit back and observe things like this. But I felt it my duty as a loyal fan to stick up for them. They are an amazing, talented bunch of men who give their fans hope, and for people who obviously haven't done their research to paint them as "dangerous" is just rude and disrespectful, to both the fans and the band.

- Joanne

KIM'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-10-08T04:56:00.000-07:00

My name's Kim, and I know I'm not one of the worst cases or suicidal stories or those who are bullied. But I know that My Chemical Romance has affected my life.

I was in a state of depression about a year ago, and My Chemical Romance was one of the things that helped me stay alive. Yes, I did have suicidal thoughts, but I knew I could never do it because honestly, I was too afraid to even cut.

My Chemical Romance helped me think through things, soothed me with their music. Calmed me down. They made me what I am today, and I am grateful for that.

The most important reason I was depressed was because I honestly didn't think my parents loved me. And when I thought about it, I became even more in grief because I would tell myself how stupid it was that I was depressed. I thought that I was doing all of this on purpose to receive some sort of attention, and not a real reason.

I have friends, two close friends that are suicidal, six people who have cut before, one who was raped by two of their own close friends and also abused by their father, a sibling who was surly suicidal and depressed, who cut and still has scars from so long ago...and I know it's very important to help, and I try. I've talked to all of them.

But I felt like that...I'm taking things too seriously sometimes; Like I...was doing this purposely...that I wasn't really as depressed as I thought I was. But even though I was telling myself that... I was still sad.. So it didn't really matter what the reason was that I was depressed...I just wanted it to stop. The reason I thought I wasn't really depressed and that it was in my head because I couldn't cut myself...and I thought just because I thought my parents didn't love me should be no reason to become depressed.

My Chemical Romance helped me realize how much it does matter how I feel. They helped me realize that just because it seemed as if I wasn't as hurt as others...it mattered just the same. That we're all equal.

I find myself subconsciously doing actions positively...because of them. MCR has affected me so much that I everything I do when confronting a conflict is based totally on their rules.

Realistically, they are the reason I don't resort to violence, accept all sexual orientations, accept peoples' attitudes, accept peoples' differences, accept peoples' opinions that are different from my own and help others out as much as I do.

And it's so nice to know that they've helped me just as much..

A quote from MCRmy.net that I love so much is by one of the soldiers their by the name of Chanelai:

"You're a real fan whether you've been a fan for a day or 5 years. As long as you understand the messages they are sending out to the world."

I'm so much more carefree and open-minded now that I've been introduced to My Chemical Romance. I've known them for 3 years, and not until the second year have I realized that they were trying to send out messages to save lives. I can't wait for their next album, which is said to be released in a couple years.

A simple message can't explain how much I'm thankful to them.

-Kim

STEPHANIE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-10-08T04:52:00.000-07:00

I felt empty

I was a breath never breathed, until the music met me.

I hadn't a clue how to find myself in an overbearing world.

Conform, that's what the world told me to do.

Until I grew, and saw over to the other side.

That was where all people's hopes and dream lay asleep.

Waking when they were found and embraced.

I never knew I could ask for something.

I hate the channel that showed me the band that helped me grow strong inside.

Fucking MTV, no music, just scripted reality shows,

But burried in all the fake a truth came around.

A band, just like any other I'll say.

I saw something cloaked in mystery, which rushed the stage in a bright emotion.

I saw them all, playing along with the audience.

What the hell was this?

My eyes went wide and air rushed into my lungs, an air I have never breathed before.

It was new air, a different kind, one that made me feel HUMAN

My eyes welled up and i stifled a sad laugh,

One I would swear was directly from a hole in my chest that was just now filling.

My world went from ugly shades of grey and death to a world ALL MY OWN.

Music now spoke to me.

Art was now a weapon I held close.

Voice was the mediator of my troubles.

Head was no longer a closet but a paper with art that read a quiet phrase,

in which MCR gave.

I wont conform,

I wont sit and cry,

I wont blame myself for your mistakes,

And I will never let this perfect dream die.

Not this time.

Not ever.

BECKY'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-10-08T04:49:00.000-07:00

"MCR saved my life" has become almost like a slogan for the band's fans over the years. I've heard many people say it, seen it on t-shirts, websites, in magazines...everywhere.

Frank Iero has said "We're definitely a band that wants to save your life."

And they do. Despite what certain, ignorant tabloid newspapers may tell you, My Chemical Romance send out a very powerful message to the world - a message against suicide, against self-harm, against selling yourself out and pretending to be something you're not. They teach us to be brave, stand up for ourselves and, most of all, keep on living.

I join the legions of fans in saying MCR did, in fact, save my life...but not in the way you'd expect.

Usually, people who declare this are referring to the fact that they were suicidal and MCR gave them the strength to pull through. They felt so deeply depressed that they just didn't want to live anymore, but then something in this band's music or words made them think "I won't give up."

Perhaps they heard the anthemic chorus of Famous Last Words, which declares "I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone...", or maybe they read an interview in which Gerard Way talked about his past depression and suicidal tendencies, and how the band gave him the strength to carry on and eventually get better. Or maybe they went to an MCR show and heard him make a moving speech, telling anyone who was depressed to talk to somebody "because pissing away your life on suicide is f**k bullshit!"

But no. While I have experienced clinical depression in my life, I have not been deeply suicidal. So My Chemical Romance did not save my life in this sense. Instead, they saved my future life. I used to be afraid of taking risks, of doing what I really wanted to do. I was going to get a safe job, regardless of whether I enjoyed it or not, and live for the weekend my entire life - not satisfying myself and not helping anybody.

The tabloids think that music is responsible for kids being depressed? Maybe they should take a look at the prospect of adult life that schools constantly remind us we are doomed to for 50+ years. That life scares me more than anything.

But then MCR made me realise that I don't have to settle for this. They made me realise that I can do anything I want as long as I believe in myself, am determined and work really hard. I can get my message out to people, and have the impact on future people's lives that bands like MCR have had on me and many others. When my time comes, I don't have to leave this world unnoticed - I can leave my mark.

As far as my depression...well, I know how much worse it would be if I did not have this hope for the future. This hope that MCR have given me. Added to which, their music is always there for me: my safety net to fall back on that then springs me back into battle. When I'm sad, they understand. When I'm angry, they're angry too and they let me get my anger out in a more positive way. And when I'm happy, they're there laughing and having a good time with me, all through their music. They inspire me: they make me feel that I can get through whatever hurdles life throws at me if I just keep fighting. They teach me to "stand up f**k tall", that "the world will never take my heart" and, as is tattooed on Frank Iero, to "Live each day as if it were your last". They teach me to believe in myself.

This band have gone through so much to get to where they are now...and if they can do it, I believe that I can do it too.

And you know what? Now, I am not afraid to keep on living. I'm glad that I'm alive. MCR saved my life.

-Becky

MEGHAN'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:46:00.000-07:00

I feel a little weird submitting my story. Some of the other people who have posted on this website...I mean, wow. They have all gone through such crap, and here I am, submitting a story that isn't half as sad or important. But everybody has a story, and everybody's story has to be told. So here's mine.

I was originally a happy kid. My parents were and still are the best parents I could possibly have. Before middle school, my life was, for lack of a better phrase; totally freakin' awesome. Good friends, good parents, good life. Then middle school came and everything went straight to hell. Well, maybe not straight to hell, as I made three of the best friends of my life in that school, but it was certainly hellish.

Every day for four consecutive years, me and my friends got picked on. We were picked on because we "read too much," because we liked anime. We all have retained some psychological damaging from that place. Two of us are currently in therapy for it. Two months after I graduated eighth grade, my mother was reading a Rolling Stone magazine. She saw an article about MCR in there, and she said, "Hey Meghan, these guys like Teen Titans, too." I could hardly believe it. A punk rock band as geeky as me? Surely it couldn't be possible! Well, I looked them up on the internet and saw their music video, 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise).' As soon as I saw this video, I fell in love with them. Not because the lead singer was extremely good-looking (actually, at the time, I didn't think he was all that attractive), but because they actually understood what it was like to be picked on. They knew what my friends and I had endured. They freaking understood! And their music! Their music was completely different from what I had ever heard before. I knew right then that these people would mean so much more to me than almost anything else.

Well, ninth grade came. New school, new people. Unfortunately, because of middle school, I had developed a severe social anxiety that has still not gone away. I was petrified. There were and are three thousand kids in my school. While it is torture to walk the halls everyday, it's still better than middle school. So, I had made friends. I had met new people, and they all seemed nice. Though while everything was going great, what my friends didn't know was that just about everyday I was having panic attacks. They came from stress about grades, social stress, and, oh yeah, my mother having cancer. A few months away from the end of ninth grade, I had a quiet mental breakdown. I tried to keep from anyone noticing, but people noticed. They didn't think anything was wrong, they just thought I had turned into a jerk. I became more irratable, more likely to yell and scream and insult. While I was mean on the outside, I was broken on the inside. A couple weeks went by, and my mental breakdown was going strong. My grades began to slip ever so slightly, but my mom attributed it to the end of school laziness. I began to think more and more of ending my life. I wasn't going to do anything. I knew I wasn't going to do anything, and that sickened me, that I would be that cowardly and scared. The only comfort I had was My Chemical Romance. I played I'm Not Okay over and over again until I was singing it in my sleep. I reasoned with myself that if I died, I wouldn't be able to listen to MCR anymore. A pathetic argument, I know, but it's one that kept me alive. I stayed alive for MCR, and I am forever in their debt.

I am still depressed enough to want everything to end about once every two months, but MCR helps me pull through. I still get major social anxiety; I am terrified of people. But whenever I get scared in a crowded place, I sing Teenagers and I feel a little bit better. As I've said at the beginning, I'm not sure why I'm putting this story up. It's not real important, but I guess I just wanted people to hear my story. It's not intense, like some of these other stories, but it's mine.

Frankly, the media should be ashamed of themselves. If they want to write about a band, they should get to know the whole story before they make ignorant assumptions. MCR has saved so many lives. People who save lives are not ones who advocate death. As long as there is breath in my body, I will stand up for the band that saved my life.

-Meghan

AMANDA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:45:00.000-07:00

I've read most of the stories that have been posted. I will tell you that mine probably sounds like them, but with this particular band you would think that is common place. It is. My Chemical Romance draws a certain kind of crowd. Its the crowd that sticks together when in danger and will stick up for the ones who save lives. I am proud to say I'm part of that crowd.

I'm 20 years old. Too old to be a teenager but too young to be an adult. Yes I don't have a curfew, yes I can vote in the next elections, and I can get a job that pays a little more than minimum wage. But trust me when I say this kids, I'm still looked upon as a child who does not know her own mind and isn't fully an adult. I think you have to be almost 30 before someone realilzes that you're not a kid.

I was happy as a small child. Loving parents, two siblings who weren't yet old enough to fight with, lots of little playmates to run amok in the neighborhood with. Then, as a tragic cliche that happens so often, it all changed. Parents divorced, I moved, my siblings started growing. Not all of it was bad I assure you. I have some very good memories along with some nasty ones. But I didn't notice how much life throws at you till I became a teen.

I was living at with my dad at this point. My mom developed breast cancer and wasn't able to take care of three kids any longer. My dad had remarrled. My stepmom was okay, though truth be told I didn't like her that much then and I still don't now. We all lived in a fragile harmony. It was like you could almost tell that if anything huge happened, that harmony would be permently destroyed. Costant egg shells. And guess who was the one to break them.

It started with my stepmom.I lied to her about some grades I had(I had an F in math. I'm not good at math.)But with some skillful manipulation on my part, I had convinced the teach to give me a D so I'd stay in a play I was in. Stepmom found out, absolutely BLEW a gasket. Never forgave me for lying to her when she had done all this stuff for me like picking me up from practice and bying things for my first prom. I felt awful then. I tried to turn to my dad, whom I was very close to, but he was no help. Things started between me and my stepmom, and he always took her side. My siblings couldn't help me, though they tried. But she was on a warpath. I couldn't turn to my friends because at the same time I was having trouble with them as well. So I turned on myself. Started self mutilating and literally just shut down. I never talked to anyone, I cried constantly at night, stole anything sharp to abuse myself with, and was basically dead. If you look back on all the family event photos of that time period and you could see that my eyes were blank. Dumbfounds me now how I survived in that state for so long.

I'm in 10th grade by now. Dead inside, only coming to life occasionlly to lash out at my stepmom and dad who were constantly on my case. Then one day my younger sister came home to the room we both shared and put a cd in her player. "I want you to listen to this,"she said. "Its a new band called My Chemical Romance and they've been touring with The Used. I think you'll like them."

At first I didn't. Three cheers sounded to pop-y to me, and I just ignored the music that she played constantly. Then I started to actually listen. To the lyrics, to the music. To that slightly girly voice that sang of lost loves and hanging out in graveyards. I woke up. I started doing better in school, being sociable,. Things with my parents didn't change, so I latched on to My Chem like a barnacle to a ship. I wore my cds out and was forced to start burning the songs on a blank cd to save money. I surfed the net for news of them.

Of couse I started being harassed. I was surrounded by peers who were pop and country lovers. I was called a goth and an emo(lived like one for a while too.) A nerd and many other things I don't wish to repeat. Pushed out of all social circles, I was utterly alone. Even the friends I had mangaged to gain soon left because they didn't understand why I clung the way I did to a band that didn't even know my name. I wasn't clinging to the band members themselves but to the music they created. I was holding on to the only thing I understood because I had nothing left to hold on to, and I was too cowardly to off myself. So I stanchly defended the band that had come to mean so much to me. And as time worn on I saw that my old friends had been right.

I was starting to care about the men who put themselves out there so people like me could live. I whooped with joy when Gerard stopped drinking and doing drugs, cried and prayed for Mikey who was having problems, Got worried when Bob went to the hospital and later on for Frank for the food poisoning, and congratulated Mikey for getting married. I loved Ray for the way he saw things and his lovely fro, and loved them all for the way they cared for each other and their fans. I still love them. I still care about them. I still live because of them. I will probably never meet them, but if I did all I would say was Thank You. That would be all I could say. I would be too choked up to say anything else.

Amanda H., United States

ANONYMOUS SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

My story of My Chem saving my life started in the summer of 2005.

In the beging of the summer, my grandmother dIed. Then I was introduced to MCR, I saw the Helena video and I realized that I wasn't the only one going through this shit. The first time I saw the video I new that this band would change my life.

Unfortunately my parents banned my from listening to them. So I waited the whole summer until school started, I still wasn't that into MCR. I mean I knew a couple songs and that was it. Then my grandpa died and my dad started drinking. It changed him, it made him yell more. When he yelled I felt worthless, I started drinking. Then I lost my best friend, so I started cutting. Then when I did get new friends they were all druggies. So I felt I had to take pills to fit in. I took so much Vicodin, and when I did I got more and more depressed.

I tried killing myself, but then over the summer I decided "You know what; screw my parents". And I started listening to MCR. They made me happy and I realized I don't need to be doing this shit to be me. They brought me out of my depression. I got out of my goth stage. When I found out about Gerard's struggle with pills and booze I quit cold turkey. I've been clean since then.

A couple months ago I was talking to my mom and I said "You know what, I listen to MCR, but they make me feel happy, they make me feel like I'm worth something, like I'm beautiful." So my mom talked to my dad and I had them read a magazine about them about how they save lives and now they let me listen to them. And I have to say, my life hasn't been any better.

KAITLYN'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:41:00.000-07:00

My Chemical Romance has saved so many people from doing terrible things, including myself. I used to cut my wrists and abuse pills because of the emotional pain that I go through thanks to my family and school, along with me always thinking about what's going to happen if I don't met people expectations, and I contemplated killing myself a few times too. But I didn't, and I stopped cutting and taking pills because of MCR; they saved me.

They gave me, along with many many other kids, and outlet for our emotions, wether they be anger or sadness. The world is full of so many terrible things, murder, war, starvation, and to say that with all of this going on that the reason kids are depressed is because of a band is completely idiotic. It's ridiculous that parents and critics are willing to attempt to tear apart a band because they won't admit to themselves and their children that they haven't always been there for them when they needed help. Gerard Way has made it perfectly clear several times that MCR wants to save your life, and they want you to keep on living and to not end your life when things get tough and take a turn for the worst.

If critics took a good long look at the youth of today, they'd realize that it's not the music that's making us upset, but much bigger things, abuse (mental and physical), being bullied in school, society not accepting people for who they are, and much more. Music will always be there for you, it doesn't judge you, it doesn't call you a freak or a failure. My Chemical Romance is a perfect example of this. All in all, people that can't see the beatiful thing that MCR has done, how they have saved so many from themselves, don't have their eyes open to the truth of the world, and hopefully soon they will see what's really going on.

-Kaitlyn Graves

N'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:40:00.000-07:00

When I say that My Chemical Romance saves my life, I really mean it. I ve been listening to MCR over three years now and every day I love them even more and more. I know it sounds like a cliché but I know that without MCR I won t be the person I am today, or I probably won t be there at all. There s lot of things I can t talk even to my closest friends, and I m not going to talk about them now either, because they re such a complicated things and mostly I d just want to forget them. I ve suffered from depression couple of years ago, but I ve ever got professional help, because when I was younger and angry I refused to receive help from therapists and such, but now I know that I would have needed it.

I still haven't been there alone with my messed up head. I always have My Chemical Romance by my side. They ve helped me to get through the hardest times, they've taught me confidence and not to hate myself, they ve gave me so much strength and will to live. Thanks to MCR, I also have got amazing friends who I never would have meet otherwise.

I'm so grateful for everything I've got from MCR and I will always love them and support them. Now I know that I will keep on living, no matter what, I m going to survive. I won t hate or hurt myself anymore, I know it's okay to be messed up and weak sometimes, and I know I will get through it. And most of all, it's okay to be yourself.

I'm not so afraid anymore and I think I'm okay now. At least because of them I want to be.

-N, 17, Finland

TARA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

It started about 3 or so years ago when I started Middle school. One of my really close friends had passed away for unknown causes and I started thinking about death. I realized that everyone that is close to be can die at any moment and I can br left alone in a single second. I had never tried hard to commit suicide but I had resorted to cutting. At home, my now ex-stepdad was telling me that I need to change who I am and start dressing more like a "girl", in other words pink and frilly clothes. I didnt want to change, so he started to take away things, like my music, saying that it was all the bands I listen to fault.

I couldnt take it anymore so I started cutting deeper and thinking more and more about suicicde. That is until one day when I was listening to local rock station Channel 93.3 and they played Im Not Okay (I Promise). I really liked it so I went online to find more of their songs, but my mom had already bought their CD, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. I statred to see what their cause was and learned that it is okay to be different and nobody can tell you what to be. From that moment on I started to cut less and less and rarely ever think of suicide anymore. This band has really helped me more thank anyone realizes.

- Tara, 14, Aurora, co

ANONYMOUS SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:35:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved rock music. My dad tells me that he used to hold a toilet paper roll to my mom s belly when she was pregnant with me and recite the names of the Beatles and which instruments each one played.

While most kids grow up on nursery rhymes, I grew up on Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones. Music has always been like family for me, the only constant in my often turbulent life. I feel so lucky to say that My Chemical Romance has been permanently added to playlist.

I've never been the kind of person who easily fits in. Ever since the first day of kindergarten, I was teased, whether it was for biting my nails or not believing in god. By the time I started middle school, I had been abused physically, mentally and even sexually by classmates and teachers alike.

During those periods, I would always pop in whatever was my favorite CD at the time and have a small moment of healing before I would have to face the ordeals again. I was always able to carry on and live a decent life but things slowly got worse. All those years of teasing began to take a toll on me. A few years ago, I was officially diagnosed with depression. I began cutting a year later and attempted suicide for the first time that summer. If there was any time for music, this was it!

The first time I ever heard My Chemical Romance was online. Yahoo was doing a promotion for MCR saying, "This band is going to change your life! Check them out now before anyone else". So I watched the "Helena" video. At first, I really didn't know what to make of the band's cake eyeliner and flamboyant style. By the end, I realized that there was definitely an appeal to it and watched again.

The first thing that I realized the second time was the quality of the musicianship and songwriting (that's me and my nerdy rock brain.) I soon bought Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge online and was very impressed. They had a great ear for melody with an epic hardcore mindset to match. The best qualities of mall punk, hardcore, pop, classic rock, Goth, and glam all in one little NJ post-punk group. Who wouldn't fall in love at first listen?

My Dad says that for many music fans, there will come a time when they feel like they have lost all hope and then as if by magic, a song or band will emerge out of nowhere. They will grow up as you do and become almost like your friends. I am very tempted to say that for me, My Chemical Romance was one of those bands.

Even as I used their music as an escape, I didn't t realize their value until years later. While on vacation, I began getting unbearable stomach aches. I soon was unable to eat without vomiting nonstop. I was sent to the hospital and was told I had a blockage in my stomach needed surgery to take it out. I stayed in the hospital for nearly a month because of numerous complications following the surgery. Though my ipod was not well stocked at the time, I was lucky enough to have most of "Revenge" on it.

As I lay in my hospital bed, IV's stuck into my arms and tubes stuck into my nose and mouth, those songs took on a new meaning for me. They weren't just well crafted power pop songs.

They were raw displays of universal pain, the voices of a generation growing up in a f**k up world, they were real feelings from real people still trying to find their place in the world and in the world of music, best of all and offered a flamboyant light at the end of the tunnel without being the prissy optimists so many bands became when they offered that angle. They were just like me.

Later, as I began to recover, I got the newest issue of "Rolling Stone" as a gift. I remember having my dad read it to me while I ate by myself for the first time since the surgery. I distinctly remember him reading the article that was the first press release about "The Black Parade".

It definitely put a bit of a brighter spin on being in the hospital. At least I would have something to look forward to. It was like my dad said; this band was growing up as I did, as so many others did. They were chronicling our lives.

I would like to say that my problems ended there but that would be too happy an ending. I am still very much depressed but am learning new ways of coping with it. The Black Parade actually came out the day after I was released from a psychiatric unit. I have met numerous new friends, many of which can say that they owe their life to My Chemical Romance. I am home-schooled now and little by little, I am rebuilding my life.

No, I don't believe that MCR saved my life. However, their music has always been a comfort when I've needed it the most. I have come to realize that there are so many people who feel the way I do about the band, not that they're the flavor of the week, but a bonafide rock band that deserves respect.

I can't say I'm as obsessed as some others but I can't help but be ecstatic that there are still great new rock bands changing the lives of those who need it, even if they wear eyeliner.

ASHLEY'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:33:00.000-07:00

There was a point in my life when I reached complete darkness. When I say complete darkness, I mean there was no hope left. I had resulted in cutting and eating disorders. I was the kid that always got picked on for being different, or always pushed away because I was a "nerd." I had no reason to keep living; no reason to keep breathing. The sadness and pain was unbearable. This was a few years ago, a time that still haunts sometimes.

I would cry myself to sleep at night, feeling that nobody understood. That`s when I heard My Chem`s, "I`m Not Okay (I Promise)" on the radio. I had heard of them before, but I had never really heard their sound. That song was a light in the darkness. I asked for that CD, but my grandmom wouldn`t allow me to get it; however, I would not give up hope. Instead of buying "Three Cheers," I bought their first album "Bullets." I had never heard another band that captured me in such a way.

Being me, I looked into the band. I became interested in the members, in what they had to say. I was getting better. I felt like I had a little shard of hope to hold onto. I had my friend burn me "Three Cheers," the lyrics intoxicating me in such a wonderful way. I was so self-conscious and full of self-hate that I hadn`t realized there were other guys who could feel the same pain.

In 2002 my grandpop passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. "Three Cheers" also helped lighten the grief of that album, knowing that it was written for the grandmom that Mikey and Gerard had lost. There was a passion that stirred in me to keep going, and I stopped cutting; My eating disorder also came to a stop. I was starting to feel better about who I was, even though I was different.

The time from then to 2005 was a time that I don`t really remember. I wasn`t depressed as I had used to be. Then life caught up to me again. I was dealing with the struggles of what had happened to me when I was younger, my eating disorder was returning, and I was becoming the target to verbal abuse at school. [Girls are still mean to me because I won`t dress like them.] I was cutting again. The music had stopped working; I lost all hope in My Chemical Romance. They were just five guys who [I thought] probably didn`t really care.

It was like that until October of 2006. Over that summer my aunt had been diagnosed with Lung Cancer; I was still spiraling downward. My emotions were taking a hold of me, and I didn`t want to stop. When my aunt passed away on October 14th, I felt guilty. Instead of going to see her in the hospital, I had spent time with my boyfriend. She was my favorite aunt, and I was told she was going to make it. I didn`t like being lied to; being broken far worse than the arguing and teasing. On October 21st, I called up the local music store asking if "The Black Parade" had come in yet. He said it had, and I bought it.

Ironically, the first track that I put on was "Cancer." I cried. My grandmom cried. But I also felt like a hole had been restored in me. After losing all hope in MCR, it was as if they were telling me to hold on. I couldn`t give up now, because I had something to live for. I had to keep on going, and it wouldn`t be that hard. It made me realize more than ever that every time MCR had saved my life from the pits, my faith in them had grown stronger. I had become a stronger person. I finally started to do things I was always afraid to go. I became more involved with art, and started to take guitar lessons.

But what I have to thank MCR for more than saving my life, is saving who I was. Instead of giving in to others, and changing who I was, I learned not to take anyone`s shit. If people couldn`t accept me for who I was, there were five guys who society didn`t except either. I had five friends that I knew I could depend on when life went insane. I had five people I could hold onto when I was on the edge of everything. And although this story is long, it will never hold the power and emotion [that words cannot describe] that I feel for this band. They are not just five men. They are heroes, angels. And even when they are gone, they will hold a special place in my heart. No one can destroy this. No one can destroy me. Their lyrics are more than words ... And in finding myself with My Chemical Romance, I realized ... I am part of The Black Parade. I am a patient. And I`m going to be okay.

-Ashley

SARAH'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-09-08T04:32:00.000-07:00

My name is Sarah, I’m only 13. I have 2 different lives, one is my school life the other my home life. School is like heaven to me, I have my group of friends that always love me for but when there’s a heaven there’s a hell, I like to call that hell home.

My dad is never around, my brother is the biggest pervert and my mum’s a drunk, every night I cry myself to sleep, each day just before I leave school I pray that mum didn’t take her anger out on me. Every night there are tears, screams, physical and mental abuse. Every night I wanted to end this thing I call my life. I would cut myself just to see if I was alive, just to know this pain was real but when I put my headphones on and My Chemical Romance plays everything stops.

The tears, the screams and the bleeding just stop and I smile. My Chemical Romance saved my life not just physically but mental, they made me feel better about myself and I owe them big time. I just want to thank them and I’m sure they saved other people’s lives that are worse of then me. They should be so proud of what they’ve done and achieved.

Thank you MCR.

-Sarah

SARAH'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-08-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

An open letter to MCR,

Why you ask? Because I’m hoping one of them’s as dorky as me, and actually reads the crap we My Chem people post on the internet. Honestly, as a fellow bipolar person, I’m uberly-proud of Mikey for coming out about being mentally ill. It takes a strong person to do that. The man’s got guts. Secondly, MCR’s pretty much saved my life. I know it sounds trite, but it’s the truth. Back in ’03, I went through a particularly dark period. I wasn’t on any meds except Effexor (which really f**k me up chemically speaking); I stopped going to my classes because I literally could not get out of bed. I’d get up long enough to eat something, put on Bullets and go back to bed.I failed my courses at University. I’m not saying where, because it’s no one’s business, except for mine. I really identified with “Headfirst for Halos” and “Early Sunsets Over Monroeville” during that period. I ended up flunking out of school, as well. (A friend of mine who goes to Mizzou got me into MCR back in ‘02. She made me download “Vampires Will Never Hurt You” and I instantly fell in love with Gerard Way’s voice and lyrics. ) Oh yes, and when I needed help after a particularly bad/abusive relationship, you can guess who I turned to; my friends who are my family, and blood-relatives of course. But most of all I turned to Bullets and Three Cheers which had just been released.

Now, I’m a high-functioning bipolar person. I’m still in school, only this time it’s Tech. I went from the field of Animal Medicine to Human Medicine. I’m in Nursing; working on an Associate’s Degree. I still adore MCR, and probably always will. I’m thankful for Gerard, who had the vision, and who is my hero because he kicked drugs and alcohol, which inspired me to do the same. We share the same vices though, both smoking and coffee; Ray who has the chops to bring the music together. Mikey, who learned how to play bass, just to be in his brother’s fantastic band. Frankie, who always brings the rhythm and a punky cadence to the music. And last but not least the f**k gun, Bob. A day without Bob is like a day without sunshine. Without you guys I’d probably have offed myself long ago, so thank you for all you do!

Last but not least, I feel The Black Parade is MCR’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (as a SP elitist, I feel I’m the only one who can judge and deem TBP MCIS worthy); although it should have been a two-disc set. Next time, you guys. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!!

XXOO,

Sarah.

CHELSEA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-08-08T04:31:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Chelsea and My Chemical Romance helped me stop from hurting myself one night a few weeks ago. At the time I was really stressed out because I was in the middle of exams. I was starting to study for my French test (my least favourite subject) when I heard my parents yelling from the kitchen. I was already upset from having exmas all week and I didn't think I could take anything else. I was going to cut even though I was (and still am) trying to stop, when I decided I would try and listen to some music before I did anything else.

I saw The Black Parade and put it in my CD player, turned the volume on max, and went back to studying. Although I didn't get a lot of studying done, by the time the CD was over I felt so much better, like the music had taken away some of my problems. I didn't do too good on my French exam, but I did good enough to bring my mark up from a 60 to a 64.

-Chelsea, 15, Canada

ROSANNA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-08-08T04:28:00.000-07:00

In the winter of 2007 I started to have many problems, Like I had to deal with my mums alcohol problem and the fact that she might have cancer.

Then I heard My Chemical Romance and that gave me much needed comfort in those hard times and for a few months, everything good happened to me: Trough a finnish kind of bebo like thing, IRC-galleria I met my most important friend; Tiia. And that was through a My Chemical Romance channel. And trough her, another really important friend to me; Janita. I already had one good friend ; Elina.

We decided to meet cause we're all My Chemical Romance fans and already talking trough the messenger I felt a nice friendship between us instantly.

But thats not really the point how MCR saved my life. A few months after our meeting I started to feel very depressed. To easy things up, I started cutting my self, first small cuts and then when I started to feel more depressed I noticed that my cuts we're deeper and bigger. I also started taking lots of pills, and for the first time in my life I was really thinking about suicide.

My friends became really worried about me and wanted me to get help,but I always refused, believing that nobody can help me. Only thing that would stop me from commiting suicide was MCR. Also my internet friend, Aada helped me trough it but the most help I got was from my best friends. Just a few weeks ago, I was still suicidal and cutted my self but then I had this dream that changed everything.

In the dream I was at a My Chemical Romance gig and there was no-one else there. I was in front of the stage and I was wearing my My Chemical Romance t-shirt. After a while of singing Gerard just stopped it and sat on the stage next to me. He looked at my cuts in my arm and said that : " You shouldn't cut yourself or do anything else to yourself, everything's going to change to a better direction." In the dream I just started to run away from the place, tears in my eyes. I didn't know where I was running but still kept on running. Soon Gerard pulled up next to me on the street and said "I was really worried that you would do something to yourself. Promise me that you'll never do anything to yourself." I looked at him and I promised that I'll never hurt myself."

When I woke up,something just clikked in my head saying "He really is right. Everythings going to be fine, aventually,"

I know you're probably thinking I'm crazy to think a dream saved my life but it's true. So Thank you MCR for saving my fucking life.

-Rosanna, Finland

TAYLOR'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-08-08T04:27:00.000-07:00

In 9th grade my friends from middle school changed. They started drinking and inviting new people to sit with us.

I walked away from that.

My new friends seemed perfect. But honestly thye weren't. They would choose who was thier "BFF" for the week.

I suddenly became depressed. I felt like I had nothing. No friends. No support. I started cutting. It took away most of the pain. That's when I thoguht about suicide. I seriously considered it.

Then I saw I'm Not Okay on fuse. They were playing an MCR loaded. It made me feel good. I wasn't alone. I quickly bought Life on the Murder Scene. These men amazed me. They understood. I just want to thank them for what they did. I will never stop loving them!

-Taylor

EMILY'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-08-08T04:26:00.000-07:00

Thinking back, My Chemical Romance has never- in a direct way saved my life. However, they did change my life, in how I think and deal with situations at school, at home and with friends. I look up to them and consider them my heroes; for what they do for other kids and how they change the way music is looked at.

It all started one summer, when I was in 6th grade. I had never really been into music, and only listened to a few bands. The one that dominated my iPod and CD player at the time was Green Day. I had gone over to my best friend's house one day to hear music blaring in the back round.

I'm not okay!

I readily admit, I hated the music as soon as it hit my ears. I asked my friend what the hell he was playing. His response confused me. MCR! He said. They're friggin amazing. Every time I went over there afterwards, MCR was being playing the entire time. And it started to grow on me. I even watched their videos every time they were played on MTV hits. The first one I saw took me back to my friend's house. It was called, I'm Not Ok.

By the next summer, I had Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, though it was soon pushed the dusty, cobwebbed corner of my iPod. I didn't revisit the songs until the VMAs that August. That's when I heard that familiar voice again.

Sometimes I get the feeling, she's watching over me.

I suddenly remembered that band I had fleetingly liked. I dug out the My Chem songs from their dusty grave and listened to them more. I bought WTTBP on iTunes and counted down to the release of MCR's The Black Parade. I couldn't wait.

The day it came out, my mom handed me the CD. I quickly downloaded it to my iPod, along with Bullets, MCR's first album. I loved every song, something that was rare for me. It was now 2007. I had just found out that my Grandma was dieing of cancer, and she had two weeks to live. I found it ironic; that the band I loved had written the two horrid lines my mom said to me that day. My grandma lived for another three months.

I still can't say that My Chemical Romance has ever saved my life. They did, however, comfort me when my Grandmother passed away. They've kept me sane this pass school year, and brought me closer to my friends.

Especially when we all went to their concert on the 27 of April, one week after my Grandma passed. Everyone in that band is my hero; they all save lives and they all want to help you, even though they might not ever know you personally. And to me, that's what a true hero is. Someone who can say, I am not afraid to keep on living, and be able to stand up to what the media says.

So, thank you, My Chemical Romance, for everything that you ve done for my life, and other peoples lives.

-Emily, 13, Virginia

JESSICA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-08-08T04:25:00.000-07:00

I started to listen to My Chemical Romance when I felt bad. I was sad, depressed and I cut myself. I was everything they are against, and thats why they helped me. With their music and everything they did. By being against everything I was, I realised that I was wrong, and that my life didn't have to end. Their music gave me some light in my life, and they made me carry on. They gave me hope and faith, and made me see that life wasn't always easy, but sometimes it was hard. But then it's just to carry on, 'cause it will change. Life will be better sometime. And thanks to them, I've learned one thing about my life: Even if it felt like shit, I always have a friend, and someone I can trust, no matter what. My Chemical Romance.

-Jessica

CHARLOTTE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-08-08T04:24:00.000-07:00

Just after I turned 12 I was raped for the first time. It turned my world upside down. It changed the way I saw people, particularly men and I just started sinking. It was around this time I started getting into music and poetry and over the next couple of years I discovered bands like Linkin Park who gave me something to grip onto when there was all this uncertainty around me. I was just descending. There were times I'd wake up disappointed I was still breathing. I wanted to die, more than anything. I couldn't cope with the thoughts in my head. I just wanted it to stop.

Then I found My Chemical Romance. At that point I was 13 and feeling the worst I'd ever felt. My self harm was on a steep decline, getting worse by the day, I was planning my suicide. Everything was just wrong. I just wanted to disappear more than anything. One of my friends lent me the album 'Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge' and I clicked with the record more than I'd clicked with any other. All the anger and the pain I felt seemed reflected in 13 tracks. Every single song, every single guitar riff, every single lyric, every aspect was a reflection of how hard things were for me. It made me feel less alone, less isolated. Every time I listened to the album I felt like there were thousands of people walking beside me feeling the same. A song in particular is: 'It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Deathwish'. The opening lyrics: 'For what you did to me. And what I'll do to you. You get what everyone else gets, you get a lifetime' and then 'I'm taking back the life you stole'. They really struck a chord with me from the word go. The whole song fits in so well with what I felt and still do feel sometimes. 'I'm Not Okay' was one of the songs that really reflected me. Just being able to scream the lyrics I could've wrote myself felt so good. It was an alternative outlet to self destruction and it felt better than that.

That's when I realised I couldn't let what happened to me defeat me. I couldn't let the scum who did what he did ruin my life, couldn't let him have dominion over me. The guys in My Chem restored my faith in people again. Showed me that there were people who genuinely cared and not everyone was as bad as I thought they were. They gave me something to believe in when I couldn't believe in myself.

I saw them live for the first time when I was 15. I was at a bit of a low when I saw them and once again they showed me I wasn't alone but this time in the flesh. It was something I could almost touch. I didn't feel like a spare part, I felt like I belonged there. I belonged screaming along to every lyric and meaning every syllable. It showed me that there was more to this life than pain and hurting. I made a vow to myself then that I would start re-building my life.

They've continued to do this since. Every time I've hit a rough patch they have lent me their strength through the music and helped me move through it. Through sexual abuse, through my mum's alcoholism, through the self harm. Every time I wished I'd stop breathing I listened to their songs and it's spurred me on.

Nearly 4 years later I'm pretty much self harm free. I don't have my finger on the self destruction button anymore and it feels ten times better. I don't know where I would have been if I never started to listen to them. I know I wouldn't be half the person I am now. I know I'm a better person for the things I've encountered and I'm glad I'm still breathing. Finding courage can be hard, but there are extraordinary people out there. I know that MCR lent me strength to find my own strength. A strength that we all posses just don't realise until someone out there highlights it for us. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart because without them I don't know what I would have done.

-Airlyeth, Wolverhampton

JASMIN'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-08-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

I found out about the amazing music of My Chemical Romance during the summer of 2004, I was 15 then. That was when I first heard the song "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", I had never heard a song quite like that one and it intrigued me greatly. I absolutely loved the music and the lyrics, and I felt like I could really relate to what they were saying. I went on to find the rest of their songs, and I downloaded them (shame, I know), and I did love them all, but I didn't really listen to the album all the time, because at that time I also listened to other types of music, such as rap, r&b, etc.

Then In 2005, I was on vacation in Puerto Rico, for 2 months, listening to the same crap reggaeton over and over again. I was getting fed up and bored, and I discovered the FUSE channel, that's when I saw the video for Helena. I recognized the song immediately, but the faces were new to me. I didn't know what any member in MCR looked like until that moment, and it seemed so real. I can see the hurt in Gerard's face in the video, singing a song that was dedicated to his grandmother. I was in love with that video and the concept, and in my two months on vacation, I would wake up in the morning hoping that the Helena Video was on tv. I had their album with me and I was so happy. For the first time, I not only just heard the songs, but really LISTENED to what they were saying. I was changed when I came back to chicago. I was a different person, with different views on things. I hated rap and r&b, and My Chemical Romance was (and is) my favorite band.

I used to be depressed, I would cut, and I hated myself (for the short part of the story). Now, I don't cut, I'm not depressed, and I don't hate myself anymore, part of that is because of this band (the other part of this is because of my boyfriend of 5 years).

I put my shit together, thanks to their music, and although I'm not perfect, and I never will be, I believe that I've changed for the best. I love this band and their music, and what they all stand for, and that's why I own MCR OWNS YOU and TO:MCR . This is why I spend lots of time, trying to add messages, photos, art, etc, to my websites, and search the web for updated news, so that I know what's happening with them. This is why I worry when something bad happens to one of them, or am happy when something good happens to them.

I believe that this band has the best fanbase out there, their music brings us fans together, and I am positive that no other fanbase is the same. I hate it when the media gets it all wrong, and tries to make this band and their music seem like it's causing kids to commit suicide, or to cut, or that it's making us depressed. If anything, it's making us better people. They have this presence onstage that gives you hope, and makes you feel like that's one place you can fit it and be yourself, even if it is for just one night. They give their fans the most inspirational and great messages that they can. With quotes such as "Think Happy Thoughts", "Hey girls, you're beautiful. Don't look at those stupid magazines with sticklike models. Eat healthy and exercise", and " You should never want to hurt yourself. You should love yourself."

If your child, friend, sister, brother, etc wants to commit suicide, is cutting, is severly depressed, it is not the fault of the music or people in a band. Maybe it's time for you to properly communicate with that person instead of judging them, or blaming the problem on a certain band or music genre.

Thanks for reading.

- Jasmin, 18, Chicago

IMCRD

2008-07-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

CAROL'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-07-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

In april of 2007 I was at my lowest point. I felt nobody loved me and no one would give a shit if I died. So thats what I tried to do. I took about 50 wellbutrin and 40 zoloft hoping to end my life. I took the pills at around 10;30 at night. At about 2 in the mornig I started to throw up. My mom heard me and took me to the hostpital.

I was so out of it from the meds I couldn't tell her what I did. They tried to pump my stomach but the drugs had already set in. It was the most terrible thing that ever happened to me. I felt like I was already dead but I knew I wasnt so I tried to finish what I had strted by just giving up. I gave up and fell into unconsiossness.

While I was in the coma I kept thinking about my life and how I had lived it. I'm only 13 so I didnt get to do much in my life short life span.

Then I had a dream about the MCR concert I had gone to just 5 days earlier. I dreamt that they were playing and then the whole crowd fell silent and Gerard turned to me in the pit and said "Dont piss your life away on suicide. You have so much to do. Just wake up and I promise everything will get better. Be yourself, don't take anyones shit and never let them take you alive..."

When I woke up I told my mom what happened and she was devastated that I would do something like that. There was nothing to do for the two weeks I was in the hospital so I listened to music. When I put on MCR only then did I realize that they had truly saved my life.

-Carol

GRACE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-07-08T04:20:00.000-07:00

In the spring of 2004, my seventh grade year, I was becoming increasingly depressed and even suicidal. I was in a very abusive friendship and I was dealing with a lot of things at home as well as in school. My brother was getting ready to go to Iraq and I was still coping with the death of my grandfather and the divorce of my parents. One particularly bad day, I had gotten myself into a fight with my abusive (ex) friend. She accused me about lying about my being depressed and said that I only cut because I wanted attention. She told me that I wasn't worth anything and that I'd be doing the world a favor if I killed myself. I didn't have any other friends to turn to because she had made me so scared when she told me that nobody else would want to be friends with me.

The sad thing is that she had said these things so much that she had actually convonced me that they were true. So that night I was going to kill myself. I was sitting in the bathroom cutting and just going deeper and closer to my veins when my sister's radio turned on. It was on an alternative station and they were playing Skylines and Turnstyles. I heard that song and honestly felt like someone cared about the people like me. That night MCR saved my life. It wasn't until later I found out who that song was by and really got into MCR, but I thank God or whoever's out there every day that their song found me. It saved me. If it weren't for MCR, I'd be six feet under today.

-Grace, 16

THE BLACK PARADE IS DEAD!

2008-07-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

I just updated section for pictures, you can now find new pictures of the protest against The Daily Mail, the Black Parad Is Dead! -previews, international MCR-Day 2007, the Frank Parade (Finland), our forum's 1st birthday -celebration and fansigns! I'm sure you'll love them, if you have pictures of your own, please send them to mylivingromance@netti.fi! We always appriciate it!

As the a very obvious update I'd like to state out that The Black Parade Is Dead! -live DVD is finally in stores today! It features My Chemical Romance's final performance as "The Black Parade" from the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico on October 7, 2007 and as "My Chemical Romance" from Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey, on October 24, 2007. As a personal note, I may say, that I haven't bought the DVD yet, but attended to the premiere on Monday with MCRmy, and it totally blew me away. It's the closest you can get to an MCR-concert without actually being in one. It gives you the same feeling. So definitely, get yours asap!!!

I'd also like to apologize that I've been a little 'off tune' again lately. I always want to be straight up with you guys so here's what's happening:

We live in an appartment house and we've been having some problems with our neighbours. Somewhere around last December a certain family moved into this building. The father came out to be a drug dealer and -a user and after their appearance we've had a lot of problems in this building. It all became critical last week, when I was at home alone and the neighbour woke my up by hitting our door with a golf bat, yelling very angry messages in which he stated out that he wanted to kill me. The police didn't come over, but thankfully my mom did come home. The police has stopped by a couple of times after that, the neighbour has been seen with a shotgun and such, so things have reelly been crazy around here. When I used to spent time home alone, I used the time with this organization, now I've been too busy being scared to focus on this and I'm sorry for that. Luckily everything's starting to get better (I think) and I got an amazing staff crew on my side. :)

This is, I think, my life on the murder scene.

Joanna

TBPID! -PREMIERE

2008-07-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

WHATISEMO

2008-06-08T05:32:00.000-07:00

Whatisemo.bravehost.com

The parents. They have gone bloody freaking insane. They have an entire freaking website devoted to MCR. Out of six songs on their "Lyrics" page, half of them are My Chem songs and a picture of our boys is the first thing you see when you open the page.

I went through every single page on this site [which wasn't fun, because I don't want to give them traffic], and here are the highlights!

Main Page:

The CBS Investigators video on it. You know, the one where they played "Famous Last Words", but skipped over the "I am not afraid to keep on living" part?

"Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the emo subculture. As mentioned earlier, my point is that the emo fad is different than the others that proceeded it because kids in this subculture are scarring themselves, and in some cases, dying."

Am I the only one who hears how ridiculous that sounds?

"A new section is the Tragic Examples Page. This lists the names and stories of kids that were involved in "emo," and suicided. "

How dare you. How dare you mangle and confrom and twist these peoples deaths in a way that will suit you.

Self Injury: Cutting

SCARY PICTURES! LET'S REEL IN PEOPLE WITH PHOTOSHOPPED SCARS!

"Some adolescents may self-mutilate to take risks, rebel, reject their parents' values, state their individuality or merely be accepted."

Show me one kid - one kid!- who cuts to "rebel" and I will show you an attention whore.

"Children who have been abused or abandoned may self-mutilate."

Abused and abandoned... hm. Sounds to me like that would be the parent's fault.

"Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about respecting and valuing their bodies. Parents should also serve as role models for their teenagers by not engaging in acts of self-harm. Some helpful ways for adolescents to avoid hurting themselves include learning to:

· accept reality and find ways to make the present moment more tolerable.

· identify feelings and talk them out rather than acting on them.

· distract themselves from feelings of self-harm (for example, counting to ten, waiting 15 minutes, saying "NO!" or "STOP!," practicing breathing exercises, journaling, drawing, thinking about positive images, using ice and rubber bands, etc.)

· stop, think, and evaluate the pros and cons of self-injury.

· soothe themselves in a positive, non-injurious, way.

· practice positive stress management."

Is it just me, or are none of those steps shouting OMG YOU EMO!!!!

Suicide

"Many Emo's that I've worked with have an almost cavalier attitude towards suicide."

Ho shizzle, now we're a proper noun?!

"Suicide (i.e., taking one's own life) is a serious public health problem affecting many young people. In 2004, suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States."

WOW, that info's only four years outdated!

Why don't you guys drop by their forum and tell them what's up?

By: Pinkblacktiara

ISABELLE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-06-08T04:19:00.000-07:00

When my grandmother died I was a total mess, I wanted to die. My grandmother died a month after Gerard and Mikey's grandmother Elena died. When I heared the song Helena on TV I felt like I could relate to it so much I din't know what it was about untill I researched it. When I got the second album I couldn't put it down because I could relate to every song. It made me want to live again and made feel like I had a purpose in life.

The stuff the tabloids say about them telling people to kill themselves is a a bunch of bullshit. They're telling us to wake up and enjoy life to the fullest be happy and be yourself, don't listen to what anyone else says, listen to your heart and follow it. So don't listen to the tabloids, listen to what My Chemical Romance has to say because what they say is the truth, not those damn magazines, they're just jealous of how big the band has become. I support My Chemical Romance all they way and you should too.

- Isabelle, 15, New York

ESTELLE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-06-08T04:18:00.000-07:00

My life isnt a normal life. My family doesnt have a house, my sister had cancer when she was two, I constantly get sick with Phenomia and I am completely ignored at school. I would always cry to myself alone and helpless. I would run into the woods to be alone because I couldnt even talk to my parents about my depression.

When I first heard MCR I was 14 and my family was living with my grandmother. I had given up trying to fit in and just became a kind of loner. When I bought "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" I hadn't heard alot of them. Just Helena and Ghost of you. I listened to the whole CD and I felt amazing. It made me feel good to be me! And I have never felt better.

This Tabloid junk about how My chemical Romance is causeing "emo" acts and depression, is just unbelieveable. If they were in our shoes and felt the way we felt, they would know MCR is like a heaven. They gave all of us a reason to be proud and be ourselves. I couldnt thank them enough.

Now I am almost 17 and I care so much about these five beautiful souls. I am not afraid to tell my story because there is nothing the papers can say to make me change my mind. Because MCR helped make me not afraid, and now im not afraid to keep on living.

-Estelle

STEFANIE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-06-08T04:17:00.000-07:00

So this is my story about how I'm not okay for the moment, but I'm getting there.

I lost my mom to cancer 12/3 this year, today it's a week ago. And I can't understand it, I can't understand how a living person can just die like that. It's so hard.. not only because I'm almost 17 and I lost my mom, no I'm also thinking of my niece. She won't ever get to know her own grandmother.

I lost my mom a week ago, and now I'm lost.. I don't know what to do. But I know this. I am going to be okay, I am going to be fine. And My Chemical Romance will help me. They'll help me through their music, the lyrics, the concerts.. and for just being who they are.

I am serious when I say that I wouldn't be able to face another day without their music. I am not okay yet, there will be times when it's just dark.. But eventually I'll get there. I will be okay, I am going to be okay.. all because of My Chemical Romance and those around me.

- Stefanie, 17, Sweden

ANONYMOUS SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-06-08T04:16:00.000-07:00

A while back I was at a 'friends' house. We were having a sleep-over, and let me tell you it was the worst one I had ever been to. She said stuff to me about how I had no life, and that she was better then me. She also told me I was ugly, fat, and that my new boyfriend was a fat bastard. It was then that I started thinking about how awful she was for telling me those things. I acted like it didn't bother me, though. Well, later that night, she asked me if I had ever thought of commiting suicide. I told her maybe once or twice, and she said "Well you might as well, because no one cares enough about you to miss you or even want to stop you". I was at a time in my life when I was really missing my deceased aunt, so when I went home that night, I was seriously going to try to hang myself off my canopy bed. I decided to listen to some music before I did it, and it happened to be My Chemical Romance's 'The Black Parade' CD. I started listening to the songs, and really thinking about my life and how I wanted to live it. I didn't want to put my family in pain by killing myself, and I knew that there had to be a purpose for my life. I really thought about it, and how I did not want to kill myself.

It's true. Whenever kids (or people in general) are going through a hard time in their lives, they don't want to hear from someone that everything's going to be okay. The first thing that comes to mind when you hear that is, "How would they know? They haven't gone through what I'm going through". You want to hear that someone else has gone through the same thing you are going through. Then you know everything's going to be okay, because they made it out alright. And My Chemical Romance has the best lyrics in the world, and really wants to show people that they can live better lives. They're definately not telling kids to commit suicide. If they promote suicide so much, then why aren't they out there commiting it? Ever since that day I came to realize all that stuff about killing myself, I haven't wanted to ever since. I really do owe my life to My Chemical Romance.

-Anonymous

TESLA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-06-08T04:15:00.000-07:00

It's quiet in my living room, the whole apartment silent as I stare blankly into space, mom upstairs on her computer and my little bother doing god knows what…

I don't care anymore…at least I didn't; my eyes red and puffy from the days of crying and the last little remnants of eyeliner clinging to my face, not wanting to let go, like I'm about to. The pill bottle is setting in front of me, open on the coffee table, right next to the glass of water, as the MTV news reporter drones on about some worthless rapper 'singing' words that mean nothing to me; speaking of things that I guess I just never learned to appreciate and I guess I never will. Phat rides and fine bitches has never really been my thing.

For every three depressing months in that year I tried at least once to put an end to it. The endless fighting with my mom; the rumors around the town, the threats, the stalking, the fear caused by those who can't accept my differences, the fear of being hated…loathed…unwanted. At least once every three months I tried to stop it, to get rid of it forever and go to a place where fear was not an issue and I could finally be myself. I could stop hating family…stop hating my relationships…stop hating myself.

All I needed to do was take that smooth plastic bottle and dump it in my mouth, swallowing those little dry round pills with water, and then it would be over, and I could just stop crying. Maybe this time it would work. This time it wouldn't be a rushed mouthful of aspirin or a box of rat poisoning, and I wouldn't end up choking on my own vomit. But things like that take time, and I took mine, making sure I was damn well and ready to down those little white pills…

Minutes past, the tv still going; mindless, brainwashing bullcrap. For every second that ticks by I'm closer and closer to taking every god damned little pill inside that bottle and they start looking better and better. Then the tv starts playing a different tune…something I've never heard before; violent and beautiful. Intrigued I look up to see five oddities such as myself, singing that song like they don't have a f**k care in the world…like the fact that they're 'freaks' doesn't bother them. In fact they're proud of it. So proud that they're screaming it.

For the first time in days I remember what it's like to smile and I sit and listen, tapping my foot to the quickened beat of the chorus as a girlish little boy with shoulder length hair and the biggest cover girl lined eyes I've ever seen is singing the exact same words I needed to hear. For the whole three minutes and four seconds that that song is playing I hear everything I need to hear, and suddenly…I don't feel alone…I don't feel afraid…I don't feel ugly. I feel just as pretty as the boy on tv, and I realize that all those times I tried…all those times I failed…it wasn't cause I was doing something wrong…it was 'cause I was meant to get through and find something to hold on to.

Before that I had always thought that guardian angels were meant for the pretty girls with money…the ones who actually mattered and needed protecting; a standard I far from hold up too.

But that day I had an angel to watch over me;

To tell me I'd be fine

To hand my life back to me

And tell me it was mine

I had and angel to make me smile

And tell me it'd be okay

And angel to hold me for a while

Without a word to say

That angel saved my life that day…and he's continued to save it time and time again ever since then. His name is Gerard. And I thank him every f**k day for giving me back my life; for making me appreciate what I'd always taken for granted. I owe due respect to the whole entire band…but he is the main reason I continue living today. And I'd do anything to repay that debt."

-Tesla, 19, Maine

THE PROTEST AGAINST THE DAILY MAIL

2008-05-31T15:36:00.000-07:00

THE INDEPENDENT

2008-05-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

I sincerily thank The Independent for finally writing an article that doesn't pick a side of the band's nor the media's! I found this article very intresting and informative, unlike so many other articles around the same subject, one of them being the on in Daily Mail....

"Diane, a 44-year-old Daily Mail-reading housewife has even taken her daughter to an MCR concert. "My husband and I are big fans but we are not emos. We went to the concert and from our view it was wonderful. People were hugging – it was lovely. In my day we were told not to listen to Judas Priest because of the devil but it never did us any harm.""

Read the whole article here.

XOXO

Joanna

PROTEST OF PEACE

2008-05-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

The Daily Mail has repeatedly attacked My Chemical Romance, going back years. They recently posted an article accusing the band of being a 'suicide cult'. Enough is enough, this band has worked so hard to keep us out of harm and away from suicide, it's time we bounced back. We need to stand up and let the world know that MCR is a positive band with a positive message.

This is where you guys come in. We are organizing a peaceful protest outside the Daily Mail's London HQ. We want to show them that we aren't a cult but an army. Obviously, we need people for a protest so, if you can get there, please come and join us. Show the world and our boys what we're made of and that we won't take any garbage.

The peaceful protest starts at Hyde Park at 9:30am. We'll meet there and then at 10am, make our way to the Daily Mail's HQ nearby in Derry Street. The protest will take place on Saturday, May 31st 2008. For more information, take a look around the site and sign up to the mailing list. There are the fundamental details on the march here.

We ask you to please take a look at information on peaceful protesting, which can be found on the site, and consider printing it off and bringing it with you. There is a chance that we will attract some attention from the law, in which case we want our actions to be completely legal and educated.

If you have any questions about the protest, please email us at whatthefrank@projektinterlude.com. For regular updates, please sign up to the mailing list and check back at this site frequently. If you will be attending the march, please add your name to this list so that we know how many people we can expect.

More info at http://www.whatthefrank.co.uk

VERSUS THE MEDIA

2008-05-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

I wrote my english term paper on MCR-- entitled My Chemical Romance vs. The Media. It's about five pages long in word, so some of it is under a cut.

My Chemical Romance vs. The Media

One only has to visit the website of My Chemical Romance to see how they glorify and promote killing people.” (Mothers Against Hard Rock) “You can wear any color you like so long as it's black.” (Sands) “Stop this abhorrent emo cult.” (Whitehouse) “The music is about pain, agony, and dying.” (CBS Emo Investigation) "It's like ventriloquists' music. It's weird and dark. They don't have anything positive to say …These emo kids should get out more and try and have a good time instead." (Meighan)

Dangerous. Cult. Dark. These are words used to describe the New Jersey based band, My Chemical Romance [sometimes known as MCR or My Chem (Hadyn, 4)]. Reporters in need of stories claim ‘Warning every parent should know, later at eleven!’ The media claims My Chemical Romance is a cult, a band fixated on death, a place to flaunt old wounds and make new ones.

“I am serious when I say that I wouldn't be able to face another day without their music.” (Stefanie) “This tabloid junk about how My Chemical Romance is causing "emo" acts and depression is just unbelievable.” (Estell) “The band's five members make unlikely candidates for leadership of a Dangerous Teen Cult.” (Petridis) “Only thing that would stop me from committing suicide was MCR.” (Rosanna) “Whatever happens I am not going to be alone. I will always find My Chemical Romance next to me.” (Tzortzis) "My Chemical Romance saves lives and if someone pays so much attention to jobs and 'important people' that they don't see what's really going on in their kids/friends/anyone’s life, they don't deserve to even have a proper opinion." (Anon.)

Yet there are those who stand up for the quintet, declaring that My Chemical Romance is a hopeful band, one whose lyrics and message has helped them “keep on living”. (Famous Last Words). It is those people who are wondering, is something as simple as music tastes going to be a battle they have to fight?

With all this buzz about this ‘dangerous’ band, one has to ask themselves, are these fears actually founded? Is My Chemical Romance a scary band?

They may sing things like, “They gave us two shots to the back of the head/And we're all dead now.” (I Never Told You What I Do For A Living) or "Because they sleep with a gun/And keep an eye on you, son/So they can watch all the things you do.” (Teenagers) But if you look deeper into the songs, and listen to more than just that so-called scary verse, you’ll hear the real life stories poured into every song, not just a verse or two that might seem controversial. I Never Told You What I Do For A Living is a song about two lovers being reunited after death. Teenagers is an over-the-top song about “kids being viewed as meat; by the government and by society.” (Gerard Way, qtd. in Kerrang!)

In spite of how one can misconstrue a few lyrics here and there, there is no misconstruing the mass of what My Chemical Romance stands for. “Everyone should love themselves. Like I love you all.” (Way) “Just think happy thoughts/And we’ll fly home.” (Headfirst for Halos) “Be Yourself, don't take anyone's shit and never let them take you alive.” (Way)

Despite any swear words or death references, the songs actually give out a message. My Chemical Romance has always been a band devoted to helping the

teenagers of today, the people they call the “post 9-11 generation.” (Way, Life on the Murder Scene) My Chemical Romance gives this generation someone to look up to, someone to look at and say, “Whatever happens, I am not going to be alone.” (Tzortzis)

Worried parents and overzealous journalist see in My Chemical Romance a danger. They assume the worst when hearing a line referencing suicide or drugs, and refuse to note the rest of the song or the message behind it, instead declaring that they are the martyrs who must save the children from themselves. “Before anyone gets upset, MAHR [Mothers Against Hard Rock] is not opposed to all music; they only want to stop music that has a negative affect on kids.”(MAHR) Instead of opening their mind to the fact that the real message of My Chemical Romances is that life happens, and to learn and grow from it, they spread around their misinformation. The media is raising a generation that can play video games with killing and violence, teaching them that everything can be solved by picking up a weapon, but that same generation that’s watching the carnage has to be rescued from a band that has the audacity to say “cheap whiskey” (Vampires Will Never Hurt You) in a song.

The purpose of My Chemical Romance has always been to be a “band that saves lives,” to say “it’s okay to be messed up,” and that “you should never want to hurt yourself; you should love yourself.” (Life on the Murder Scene) So when the UK based online newspaper, The Daily Mail, published an article entitled Emo Cult Warning For Parents, and claimed that My Chemical Romance was causing kids to self-harm, front man Gerard Way was less than pleased.

“That [Emo Cult Warning For Parents] was a very negative article written about the band and the band's fans and it was completely ignorant. It was unfounded; there was no factual information at all. We do not promote self harm but we encourage kids to find other ways to get out their frustrations... My objective that day was to get that across, pretty much to the whole country, that that's not what we represent. We represent the exact opposite.” (Way qtd. in NME Magazine)

Without skirting around the issue, Way bluntly said, “We represent the exact opposite.” Anyone who allegedly boasted in their lyrics about wanting teenagers to harm themselves would never flatly say how their band is opposed to that behavior. Way even rebutted the idea that they are promoting self harm in their lyrics.

"If you've been a fan of the band for a long time, you know we've always talked about suicide, depression, things of that nature. And we've always told you that if things feel so desperate, and you're so hurt you're so depressed, you find some person that you trust to talk to. That's something we've always said. But what we're going to say to you today is, that if you find yourself depressed, hurt, like an outcast, like the only kind of place you could ever fit in is in a show like this, that's not the case. 'Cause even though we're all outcasts in our own way we all belong to this world and we all fit in to this world. Do you understand me? We all have something to say, but you never ever say it with violence."

Even outside of interviews, when only addressing the fans, My Chemical Romance is ardently anti-harm.

"I don't give a shit what happened to you. I don't care if your girlfriend left you, your boyfriend dumped you, you lost your job, you can't get to the stupid f**king show! There’s always going to be other shows, man, there’s always other shows. There is nothing worth taking your life over! Nothing at all. Call your mom, call your best friend or dial 1800SUICIDE." (Concert in Baltimore, 7/02/07)

If My Chemical Romance really was encouraging violence and suicide in their lyrics, wouldn’t those words, shouted out to their fans one night in Baltimore, seem contradictory? Even when there is no interviewer around, they still keep up the same message of hope and recovery, which proves My Chemical Romance is not a cult band, dedicated to making your children kill others and themselves.

My Chemical Romance may seem controversial, but they sing about things that matter, and they always have encouraged their fans to “keep on living”. (Famous Last Words) My Chemical Romance is not here to harm your children, to encourage suicide, or to brainwash the masses. Their message has always been simple and the same for years: "This is definitely a band that wants to save your life.” (Iero)

***

Works Cited

"Support the Mothers Against Hard Rock Foundation (MAHR)." Veggieboards. 5 Sept. 2006.

13 Apr. 2008

Sands, Sarah. "EMO Cult Warning for Parents." Daily Mail 16 Aug. 2006.

13 Apr. 2008 .

Way, Gerard A. Interview with Mike Diver. Drowned in Sound. 13 Apr. 2008

Whitehouse, Mary. "Stop This Abhorrent EMO Cult." Music Towers. 18 Sept. 2006. 13 Apr.

2008

Way, Gerard A. Interview with Alexis Petridis. Guardian. 27 Oct. 2006. 13 Apr. 2008

"Investigators." Investigators: Emo Music. CBS. KGPE. 6 Aug. 2007. 13 Apr. 2008

Meighan, Tom. Interview. Pedigree Music. 15 Oct. 2006. 13 Apr. 2008

"Stefanie's Side of the Story." My Living Romance (2007). 13 Apr. 2008

Rosanna. "Rosanna's Side of the Story." 3 Nov. 2007. My Living Romance. 2007.

Haydn, Reinhardt. My Chemical Romance: This Band Will Save Your Life. Plexus, 2008. 4.

"I Never Told You What I Do for a Living." Song Facts. 13 Apr. 2008

"Teenagers." Song Facts. 13 Apr. 2008

"I Never Told You What I Do for a Living." Song Facts. 13 Apr. 2008

< http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4676>

"My Chemical Romance." Las Vegas Sun. 31 Mar. 2008. 13 Apr. 2008

< http://www.lasvegassun.com/events/2008/mar/31/733/>

Estell. "Estell's Side of the Story." 3 Nov. 2007. My Living Romance, 2007.

Tzortzis, Joanna. “Joanna’s Side of the Story.” 6 June 2007. My Living Romance, 2007.

Way, Gerard A. NME 16 Sept. 2006.

“MCRmy.” MCRmy. 13 Apr. 2008

“Vampires Will Never Hurt You.” P Lyrics. 13 Apr. 2008

"Famous Last Words." P Lyrics. 13 Apr. 2008

"Headfirst for Halos." P Lyrics. 13 Apr. 2008

Life on the Murder Scene. Perf. My Chemical Romance. DVD. Reprise, 2006.

HANNAH BOND

2008-05-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

My Chemical Romance being blamed for the suicide of the late Hannah Bond is beyond uncool.

"The inquest heard that Bond had discussed with friends the "glamour" of suicide, and was obsessed with American band My Chemical Romance (pictured)."

I would be a lot more concerned about the fact that people knew Hannah viewed suicide as glamourous and didn't think to say, "Hey, you know, it really isn't all that great."

"However as he gave the verdict of suicide, coroner Sykes criticised the genre saying: "The emo overtones concerning death and associating it with glamour I find very disturbing." "

I would be a lot more concerned about the fact she sucessfully hanged herself than the music she listened to.

"She had a picture of an emo girl with bloody wrists on her Bebo page."

I'd be a lot more concerned about the fact she had this picture up and her parents never mossied on over to the internet history.

"[mother]"There are [emo] websites that show pink teddies hanging themselves. She called emo a fashion and I thought it was normal. Hannah was a normal girl. She had loads of friends. She could be a bit moody but I thought it was just because she was a teenager."

I would be a lot more concerned about the fact a suicidal girl's own mother didn't see a bit of the pain she was going through.

By: Pinkblacktiara

OUR 1st BIRTHDAY!

2008-05-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

P-P-P-PPARTYY!

2008-05-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

629

2008-05-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Hey loves! I just visited at our petitionspot to see our petition after a long, long time, and I just wanted to let you know that I'm totally amazed! Thanks for each and every one of the 629 people that have signed the petition. It really means a lot! To me at least.

I know there's more of us though so please sign the petition if you haven't yet!

A petition-comment by Kat: "My Chemical Romance has helped me in so many ways possible that there's too many to write all at once. Everyone I know at school says My Chemical Romance are horrible, but secretly I've seen them all listening to MCR by theirselves. My Chemical Romance was not started by these amazing men to make people hurt themselves, their songs were/are there to let their fans know that it's okay to be upset, sad, or different, because they're okay now. And so am I."

MISSY'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-05-08T16:30:00.001-07:00

In the 6th grade I started cutting. It made my day go by much faster knowing that when I got home I could cut, as lame as that sounds.

So I went 3 years cutting and not telling anyone. Over the years it got worse and I slipped deeper into depression.

I had listened to MCR before but when Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge came out I was MCR crazy, like a lot of people. They made me feel like there's some hope in the world for me.

I went on feeling a little better about my life. Until one day when the entire world felt like it would collapse on me.

That night I sat down and planned to kill myself.

The next day, I guess you could say I prepared myself. I sat in my room, writing the letters that I would leave on my bed. Looking at old pictures of everyone, Going through things that I wanted to leave to people. I went into the bathroom and cut the tub water on, I turned the radio on and let the water get warm. I got in with my two razor blades.

I had the radio on a local station. They never played My Chem that much but when they did it was only like "I'm Not okay" or something like that. "Cemetery Drive" started playing and to this day I still swear its not a coincidence. I sat there in the blood soaked water and listened to that song like I had never listened before. I had the razor in my hand and I was squeezing on it so hard it was cutting into my hand.

Gerard sang "Back home, off the run. Singing songs that make you slit your wrists it isn't that much fun. Staring down a loaded gun, So I wont dying, wont stop lying, if you want ill keep on crying did you get what you deserve is this what you always want me for?"

At that moment, that song, that one line, meant so much to me. I felt like MCR had made that song for me, almost like they knew there would one girl in her bathtub waiting to die that needed to hear that one line, of that one song. To this day I get chills when I listen to it. After that I got out of the tub and went and called one of my friends, I told her everything and she helped me tell my mom and I got help, I haven't cut since then.

I know they saved a lot of peoples lives, and that I don't have a special story, but to me they mean the world to me. My Chemical Romance has eternal thanks from me.

They saved my life, and keep on saving it, everyday, every hour, every minute. They keep me going and keep my head up throughout everyday.

If My Chemical Romance ever got ahold of this I would want them to know that they are heroes. My heroes, and a thousand other kids heroes. They need to be recognized for this. It needs to be noticed. They deserve it, and kids around the world need to know that they're here for one reason, and one reason only. To save lives, and I am living proof that they do.

I'll go to my grave loving them.

-Missy Bryant, South Carolina

TORI'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-05-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

Back in 2005, my uncle, whom I was very close to, passed away from drugs. He was very young when he died. I, as you could imagine, was a reck.

The first time I had ever heared of My Chemical Romance was the day after his funeral. I was sitting on my couch watching TV. Then the video for "Helena" came on. At the time I didnt know, but I kinda feel like that was a sign from my uncle that he was okay and that MCR would help me later on in my life.

And of course it did.

One year later, my father cheated on my mom and abandoned us. I dont see him much. (I dont even want to see him at all) After I got the news, I was debistated. There were times when I honestly wanted to take my own life. I even began to plan how I would do it. I never tried anything, but I constantly thaught about it.

One day, my best friend Tiffany, was over. She started telling me about a band that she really liked. My Chemical Romance. I knew the name sounded familiar. Once I heared one of their songs, I imediatly remembered that day on the couch. After that I started listening to their music. I liked them. They werent my favorite (at the time atleast) but I did like them.

A few weeks later, I was at my worst. Tiffany had baught tickets to see MCR and asked if I wanted to come. I agreed only because I thaught they were a good band and thaught it could take my mind off of things. If only for a few hours. Lets just say that Gerard said alot of things that I will carry for the rest of my life.

Something happened at that concert. I was healed. I no longer wanted to end my own life.

That's when Id realized that MCR had truely saved my life. I have been in and out of therapy. But nothing has ever helped me as much as My Chemical Romance. I like to think of them as my own personal theropist (is that how you spell it?)

Once I started to really listen to their lyrics, everyone, including myself, realized a difference in my behavior. I started to laugh again. I was happy. If I was ever angry, or sad, I would just blast one of their CD's and by the second song I have forgotten what I was upset about. My Chemical Romance means so much to me. Words couldnt describe how grateful, I am for them and their music. They have givin me my life back. They have givin me my happiness back. They have saved my life many times. I thank God, and my Uncle, everyday for sending me My Chemical Romance.

xoxo

Tori J.

KAT'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-05-08T04:14:00.000-07:00

When I first found My Chemical Romance, my life was about to take a turn for the worse. My brother had left the house about a year ago. He was my hero, my only person to talk to. And just like that, he was gone. He left without saying good-bye and only shows up every couple months. My mother had suffered a brain hemorrhage five years before, and contracted MS. She was, therefore, almost unable to move around for long periods of time. My father was (and still is) a lawyer who was never home. When he was home, he was stressed and tired. My sister... well, she's two years younger than me. Take a wild guess at how well we got along.

My grades were not at their best either. Most of my classes were slowly getting the best of me, and I was upset and frustrated all the time. My friends were the only ones I could fall back on. With the pressure surrounding teenage life, even my support system began to crack. Many of my friends became severely depressed and suicidal. It seemed I was constantly getting confessions of 'I'm cutting' or 'I want to die'. It was just too much.

It was like trying to tread water in the ocean during a hurricane. I gave in. Almost every day, I would lock myself in my bathroom with a razor and hack at my legs and arms. I'd feel so numb. It was like I was slowly suffocating. Every time I would cut, I wouldn't even feel the pain. I'd just lean back and let it bleed. That was, until I turned to My Chemical Romance.

My Chem helped me so much during that time. Sometimes, when I was depressed, I would simply turn on Bullets or Revenge and scream and cry until all my frustrations were gone, and all that was left was the music.

I went to a MCR concert in April. Being able to stare directly at the people who were bringing me to life and sing along with all of the others made me realize I wasn't alone. I cried a lot. I screamed until I couldn't anymore. Finally, I hit a turning point in my life. My head cleared. I was finally able to feel happy. My scars healed, and I could wear short sleeves. I felt alive. It was nice, but I knew it wouldn't last.

Despite my hopes that the worst was over, it wasn't. I hadn't seen my brother in half a year. My dad was never home. My mom was getting worse. Unfinished projects piled up. Relatives were dying. I felt isolated for the first time in weeks. I couldn't stay happy anymore. All my hard work was flushed down the toilet, and I gave in to the knife once more. The more I cut, the worse I felt. Before I knew it, I was suicidal. I hated it.

I hit my ultimate low when my parents decided we needed an elevator. My mom couldn't get up the stairs as well, and needed an easier way. The shaft was being built right outside of my window. If I wanted, I could walk onto our back porch and stare down the gaping hole to the ground two floors below. It seemed perfect. I would tell myself, 'Whenever I want, I can just jump, and everything will be okay.'

One day, I decided I'd had enough. I'd had my heart broken, and the despair clouded my judgment. I was about to step over the edge of the shaft, when something called me back. I pulled away slowly. As my mind cleared, I heard the dark melodies of The Black Parade from the kitchen below. My sister was playing Famous Last Words. Without knowing it, she had just saved my life. I sat at the edge of the shaft for a long time, singing along to the song and crying. The lyrics just reminded me that I wasn't alone. I could keep on living. I had to be strong. When the song ended, I ran into my room and played the three CDs over and over until I fell asleep.

Not a day has gone by since that I done look out my window and silently thank those five guys for saving my life. I'm proud to say that I am seeing a therapist and have not cut myself in a long time. My brother finally came to visit, and we have been catching up. I know my story is a tad over-dramatic, but I swear it's true. Gerard, Mikey, Frank, Ray, Bob, thank you so much for giving me my life back. I love you guys so much.

Kat

ALE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-05-08T04:13:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to MCR in the 6th grade by a friend of mine who moved away. She got me 3 Cheers For Sweet Revenge. Now back then everything was fine. My parents were divorced. My mom in Wisconsin, my dad in Arizona. I lived with my dad until the end of 6th grade. That summer due to some odd string of events i moved in with my mom, step-dad, and my four brothers. Now two of my brother were in high school at the time. the other two in elementary. I was the only one in middle school. Anyways, thats not the point.

About 2 months into school everything seemed to be going fine at school at least. My mom and my older brother who was a freshman at the time would constantly say things to me about eating too much being a whore and things that i never was. At that time i was still a "prep" but My Chemical Romance would help me through every night. Once it became a daily thing to hear those sort of things from my family. My grades started to slip. Thats when things got worse and my mom would tell me I would never amount to anything.

Of course being told your a worthless bitch doesnt help the self esteem issues that i already had. I began cutting. Never in places people could find but i did. I started talking to my friends less and less and people in general, at least to those who knew me. I am a very outspoken person and i stand by it to this day. But with everything going on somehow my mom found out about me cutting and almost took me to a psych ward on many occasions.

After putting up with that for a little over a year i moved back in with my dad and things seemed to be going great. I saw my old friends again and got to really know myself finding comfort in things like music well real music anyways. Not that shit people call music. But it allowed me to escape and it worked until high school started. Again too much pressure to be perfect, getting yelled at for the way i dress and of course not having straight A's.

I am not okey yet, but im almost there and thanks to MCR and their music i still live to tell my story. I owe them my life. Thank You guys.

-Ale

AMBER'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-05-08T04:12:00.000-07:00

I have absolutely adored My Chemical Romance since I first saw The Ghost Of You video on MTV. When I first heard Gerard's soothing voice I was in love from then on. I listened to every song they had and fell in love with all of them. Then my life just started taking a complete nosedive. I didn't care about my life anymore. My Chemical Romance had become a thing of the past all of the songs had because neglected. Sadly I forgot all about them. Then one day I was pushed past the limit a razor was calling my name. I had become really depressed and became a cutter I don't know what my arm looks like without the scars anymore. Then one day I just couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to die nothing seemed worth it anymore. I was just thinking about it and was getting ready to end everything when my phone rang. Knowing my friend if I didn't answer the phone she would come over and stop me so I answered it. My friend wanted me to hear a song that she knew I would like. She started playing Famous Last Words. Without her even knowing she saved my life just by playing a bit of one song.

When I listen to My Chem I feel like I'm not alone anymore. I can tell there are other people like me and that someone does care. Since then I try to talk to my friends more when I'm feeling bad and when I feel like going back to my razor I listen to My Chemical Romance and I turn away from it.

Finding this website has just confirmed my feeling that I'm not alone and I love that feeling. Although I know none of you I love you all. Just because seeing all of these stories shows me that I'm not alone that someone is just like me. And seeing this shows me that things will get better. That one day I will be ok. That may sound just plain stupid to some but that is how I feel.

-Amber

CHELSEA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-05-08T04:10:00.000-07:00

First off I if you are reading this then I would like to thank you for taking the time to do so. There are an infinite number of things you could be doing insted of this so it means a lot to me that you are actually reading it.

This isn't a story with a happy ending, one where I found MCR and everything was suddenly fine, but then again my story isn't over yet.

I don't remember a time when I was actually happy with my life. I have always been fake, always been forced to cover up the pain. For the sake of the people I love I have and still do pretend to be in love with life and like there is never anything wrong. I tried once to turn to a friend, someone who I though would understand, someone who I trusted not to judge me because of this emotions. At first she tried to understand, she was sympathetic, but the further down I sank into depression the more she seperated herself from me. I realize that she just wanted to fit in and that she could never do that if she hung out with someone like me.

I used to have "normal" hair and wear "normal" clothes and I forced myself to be a conformist clone because I thought that was my only option. The more fake I made myself the more I hated myself for being to much of a coward to be who I am. And the more I hated myself the worse the pain got and the harder it was for me to pretend to be okay. This is where MCR comes in.

My dad had download Teenagers and one day I decided to check out more of their songs. The more songs I listend to the more I wanted to here. It wan't an instant reaction, nothing like "Oh wow these guys really get me.", but I knew that there was something special about them so that very same day I bought every single one of their songs that was sold on iTunes. I listened to the music for a while just like it was from any other band. I was detached and only listened because I liked the way it sounded. At can't say exactly when, but at some point I started to actually hear the songs. For the first time I heard the words and from that moment on something changed.

This man, who I had learned was named Gerard Way, was telling me to be myself and to be unashamed of who I was. He was telling me not to give a crap what other people thought and he was showing me that I was not alone, other people felt my pain and there was nothing abnormal about me. But he wasn't just singing these words, he meant it.

This was the first time in my life that I had ever felt like someone understood me and empathized with me. And not a day has passed when I don't think of what a wonderful thing these men have done for me and done for the world.

Since discovering MCR I have cut my hair how I wanted to cut it, I wear the clothes that I want to wear, and I listen to the music that I want to listen to. Yes people have called me "emo", yes I have been called a "freak", I've lost some of my friends (but then again I suppose they were never really my friends to begin with), and yes people have even accused me of cutting, but none of that matters to me anymore. I have begun to realize, with help from MCR of course, that these things that people say don't mean anything. They only try to hurt me because they don't understand why I would want to be different.

As I said this story doesn't have a happy ending. It is happier than the begining but still not happy. I still am forced to hide my feelings, and I still am full of pain and sorrow, but when I get my lowest I know that I will always have someone to look to, someone who understands, and someone who won't judge me for being me.

That is my story and if you have gotten this far I would once again like to that you for reading and I hope that you are not afraid to go out there and show the world the real you because no matter how much people tease you the only thing you have to remember is that the most important thing is that you are happy with yourself.

Chelsea, 15, New York

NATALIE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-05-08T04:08:00.000-07:00

I am 42 so I am in the range of people who think that My Chemical Romance is trying to promote self harm. I am here to say that it's not at all true.

My story is that I am 42 and have been working at a corporate job for half of my life. I am an artist who has always been afraid to break free from the suburban mold that my parents said was the American dream. Well there is an American dream and that should all be individual dream not a cookie cutter mold of who and what society says you should be.

I have a 14 year old son and an 11 year old daughter and they know My Chemical Romance. I think their message is undeniable that you need to realize what you want to do with your life to make yourself happy because ultimately we all are going to die not matter what. I guess that is where the whole issue begins. I want my kids to aspire to what they WANT to be not what others say is the RIGHT thing to be.

I only wish I had had a band like My Chemical Romance around when I was younger to give me that message and the guts to follow my dreams not my parents. Now at 42 it is harder to change lanes, but I am starting to put my blinker on and it is all because of My Chemical Romance's message. Even in the middle of their concert they say to all the kids that they have never told anyone to hurt themselves and it is true. They sing about real life issues that you can't avoid, you might not want to deal with them but they are there and it is nice to actually know their are others out there who have problems in school, work, and life in general. Their lyrics really tell teens that you are not the only person in the world dealing with problems and its ok and you will be fine so they don't feel all alone and do something stupid.

The only thing I can really say to the nay sayers is that they have never really sat down and listened to the actually lyrics to the songs, maybe if they did they would change their views.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to say my peace with those people.

-Natalie, 42 ,Atlanta, Georgia

BRONNIE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2008-05-08T04:07:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, I was really into pop (yes, this does include Britney Spears *shudders*) and other similar people (I'm sorry that I can't remember any more of them). Music has always been my refuge.

I was content in my old school (St. Joseph's), where I had no real friends, but there were people there that I knew there. Even if they weren't my friend every day, at least they were sometimes. But then things changed when the pastor of my church/school was found imbezzeling funds in order to build the rectory a new roof. The school closed and everyone had to find another place to go to school.

I was afraid, and I was just in fourth grade. No amount of listening to Britney Spears or any other high - pitched pop singer helped, and for months on end, I didn't know what to do. Music has always been where I've hidden when I've had a horrible day, and having this yanked out from under me hurt.

It got worse in my next school (St. Patrick's), which was full of very pretty girls, all of them skinny and without the least hint of a fro. And so everyone made fun of me because of my hair and weight, even my 'friend' Jenn, who talked about how stupid and ugly I was so she could hang out with the popular crowd.

It got to the point that in my 7th grade yearbook, there are about 15 comments detailing how ugly, fat and stupid I am. Someone wrote that I ought to kill myself because no one liked me and no one ever would, but I wasn't that desperate yet.

But it got to that point when my best friend from 2nd grade told me I needed to lose some weight at our last dance in 8th grade, before 8th grade prom. Specifically, she said I 'looked like a friggin' whale in that dress'. Someone else overheard (or something), because after I came back into the dance, everyone was sort of staring at me. Someone screamed "YEAH, TOLD YOU GUYS!!" and everyone started to laugh. I ran all the way home, and grabbed a mix CD, hoping it would help.

All it did was make me more and more frustrated, and when I came back to school on Monday, Victoria wouldn't talk to me and everyone was laughing.

I went home, grabbed the sharpest thing I could find and slashed my arm.

For weeks it went on without anyone knowing, and by the time 8th grade prom rolled around, I was pretty well scarred up.

My best friend Catherine (who is still my nearest and dearest friend) told me to 'take an old CD off her hands'. It turned out to be Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. The first song I played was "To the End" and I suddenly felt all the pain that I had been hiding. The lyrics just slammed me, psychologically, and I took a step back and reviewed what I had done with myself up until this point.

It took a long time, but I have managed to stop cutting myself and my love of MCR has ever, ever grown.

Then I saw the WE'RE OKAY NOW and I felt like "this is something I seriously need to be a part of."

THANKS TO: GERARD, MIKEY, RAY, FRANK, BOB AND EVERYONE ON WE'RE OK NOW.

-Bronnie

HANNAH BOND

2008-05-06T05:40:00.000-07:00

My Chem speaks about the late Hannah Bond:

"We have recently learned of the suicide and tragic loss of Hannah Bond. We'd like to send our condolences to her family during this time of mourning. Our hearts and thoughts are with them.

My Chemical Romance are and always have been vocally anti-violence and anti-suicide. As a band, we have always made it one of our missions through our actions to provide comfort, support, and solace to our fans. The message and theme of our album "The Black Parade" is hope and courage. Our lyrics are about finding the strength to keep living through pain and hard times. The last song on our album states: "I am not afraid to keep on living" - a sentiment that embodies the band's position on hardships we all face as human beings. If you or anyone that you know have feelings of depression or suicide, we urge you to find your way and your voice to deal with these feelings positively."

MUSIC SAVES

2008-04-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

Music saves lives. It creates an outlet for teens, a way for us to vent our emotions without hurting ourselves or others. It can even convince some not to commit suicide.

When someone gets depressed they want to be able to relate, they want to know that they aren't the only person who feels the way they do. That's what this music does, it lets those who are depressed know that there are people out there who understand them and know how they feel. So they listen to songs they relate to; if a person just had a bad breakup, he may be angry or sad or both, so chances are he'll listen to music that reflects those feelings.

That can sometimes help to prevent suicides. If a person knows that they aren't alone in the world that why leave it? Depressed kids can lean on music; the music is their support pole, their pillar of strength.

And yet, many parents and the media ignore this and blame the music (even going so far as to target the bands themselves) for their kid's problems. Many times it seems that they won't even look for the real root of the problem before jumping to conclusions. Instead they make bold claims on how the music is what drives their children to depression and suicide and self-mutilation.

But the accusations still fly from adults who don't know or ignore this. They cry that today's media is ruining the next generation but it is these same adults who are controlling said media. Some adults have no faith in tomorrow's generation but this music and these bands do so that's who we turn to.

Most of the time these accusations and placed upon the genre of alternative rock (also called emo-screamo), punk, and metal along with any sub-genres. The stigma that is thus attached to these genres is then transferred to the bands. It's easy to see:

"Oh well they must be emo because they listen to My Chemical Romance."

"Simple Plan fans are just a bunch of whiney preteens."

"They listen to Marylin Manson? Must be some anarchist or something."

Seeing a pattern? I am.

We're teens, we're not stupid. Yes we make mistakes, the same mistakes that adults made when they were our age. We know when we have to fight back and defend what we believe in, and some of us have. There is a site called My Living Romance (www.mylivingromance.net) dedicated to those who say their lives have been saved by My Chemical Romance.

Teens today need to stand up and start defending what we believe in, we need to start proving the media wring when it says our music is bad. Parents, adults, the media, and the wider world needs to realize that we just need their faith. The same faith that this music puts in us.

By: Vampirina_08

THE ANTI-EMO VIOLENCE IN MEXICO

2008-04-07T06:01:00.000-07:00

In light of the recent violence agaisnt emos in Mexico, Gerard says:

"I want to say something today before we continue. Recently we’ve been hearing a lot of stuff about some violence here in your country having to do with kids who want to wear black t-shirts…or some kind of bullsshit stuff like that."

Read about it at GIGWISE.

YOUR "NOTHING" IS EVERYTHING TO ME

2007-12-28T14:23:00.000-08:00

Browsing through websites, I see profiles of thousands of kids who think they're worth nothing. They think they're ugly, stupid, wrong and are just simply going to fail at life. That's what they see when they look in the mirror and that's what they sincerily believe in.

What I see in them, is a smothered little flame that just can't come out to the stained, evil world. I see so much potential and talent. Today I heard a boy sing like an angel, a boy who himself thinks he can't really sing. I also met a girl who's one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen, but she's wasting her teenage years hating herself for not fitting to the basic stereotypes of beauty.

There are so many kids that think they're total failures and all alone. And even though I'm trying really hard, I don't know how to convince them otherwise. I keep on asking why but I just can't get an answer. And today... it makes me really, really sad.

Because your nothing is everything to me,

Joanna

WASH YOUR CLOTHES IN EMO!

2007-12-14T06:03:00.000-08:00

At first, I thought this was pretty funny. I mean, come on, we need a sense of humor, and the whole 'depressing your clothes' was funny. I was a little miffed at the cutting, considering that's a serious problem, but whatever. It wasn't until the end when they go-- "Emo! End stains, end your life."

Whoa. Rewind.

I was cool with them portraying Gerard as a emotard. It was funny. The cutting, once again, not really cool with, but I can deal. The tears instead of water. Also funny.

"Emo. End stains, end your life."

Not so cool with. Let me say this once. Hell, you all probably know what I'm going to say. Let's say it together, shall we? MCR is a band that wants to save your life. Not end it because your clothes shrunk. WTF.

It's the little things like this that they add into satrical pieces. Everything else is funny, and then something little like that sneaks in. But it's okay, right? Because everything else was silly! It can't be serious!

Wrong, baby, wrong. And that's how this entire thing starts, that's how these entire steryotypes begin, and how the emo cult warnings start and the scared parents and the concerned guidence counselers and the annoyed kids and the shism between the adults and us. This is why. Little things like that. Because you know there's a housewife, somewhere, calling up all her friends frantically, going, "Does your child listen to that Chemical Romance band? Guess what I just heard..."

By: Pinkblacktiara

15 MEDIOCRE YEARS

2007-11-18T06:07:00.000-08:00

This article completly made my afternoon. And it has the words "emo" and "My Chemical Romance" in the same sentance! Who would of thought.

"IF IT'S SWEEPS, it must be time for the local TV news to try to scare up ratings by scaring parents.

-- Emo has been around for years. And, like Ch.5 and Ch. 4's reports, it's easy to take the worst elements out of anything and try to scare parents.

-- To be absolutely clear about this, warning parents about signs to look out for if their teens are cutting themselves or are potentially suicidal is a great public service. But the way to do that isn't by using exaggerated scare tactics, which undermine your message. And there were several problems with the KTVX report, including:

-- Using part of the My Chemical Romance song "Famous Last Words" as background music -- complete with scary images -- but stopping the song just before the chorus, which begins, "I am not afraid to keep on living."

-- And what better way to alarm parents than asserting that suicide is "linked to Emo culture?" Again, these are very serious issues that deserve serious treatment. Not a "report" so clearly intended to scare parents into watching."

This entire thing is very true. I agree a lot with the "so clearly intended to scare parents into watching." A good amount of parents know what emo is, but they don't see it as dangerous; at least, the parents I know. Then they see some fake "report" saying it's a death-emo-cult and they freak out because this is a part of the "culture" they didn't know.

Have any of you guys ever seen articles like this one? I've only seen articles dealing with emo that say something to the effect of "OMG CULT LYKE OH NOES TEH P00R CH1DRENSSS!"

And, of course, if you see any articles that say something to the effect emo-is-evil and MCR is mentioned, say something! Make a post ripping it to shreds. Or at least link to it in a comment.

By: Pinkblacktiara

LET'S UNITE THIS ARMY

2007-11-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

This is a statement regarding some MCR-fans. I remember the times when all the fans were so nice to each other; helping out other fans, cheering them on, being there for each other. I remember walking down the street with an MCR t-shirt and other fans walking by saying "hey, nice shirt!"

Now, why has that turned into "fuck, you're wearing a shirt like this too?!" Here's something someone wrote for IMCRD.

"So we claim to be an army. To be part of any army, you need co-operation, trust and bravery. But why are some of our MCR soldiers turning their backs on us? To fall in line with a conformist society? Is that what they want from us? For us to falter and fall onto our knees? We will never be afraid. We will never back down. We will never be alone. So it's time to celebrate. Not for My Chemical Romance, for the fans. For the kids who are not okay. For the kids who stuck by My Chemical Romance to the very end. For the kids who aren't afraid to walk this fucking world alone. On July 23rd, lower your guns soldiers. Do something special for an MCR fan. It's finally time to celebrate the Fans; Who put up with everyone's shit, who defend My Chemical Romance, who are told to cut their wrists because they listen to My Chemical Romance. Let's unite this motherfucking army..."

XOXO

Joanna

STELLA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-11-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

My Chemical Romance is a one of a kind band. They have helped me through so much. My grandmother passed away, then my father a year later. My Chemical Romance was there for me musically through the whole thing.

Through their music, I'm capable of venting all of my anger, saddness, or worry. Through their music I am able to find life. I am able to relax so well with their music. They do not promote self-harm. They prevent it. I believe that through their music they use reverse phsycology. I believe that if someone who is suicidal or who self harms listens to My Chemical Romance's songs about it, they are able to understand how bad it is and they stop.

My Chemical Romance does NOT do any harm to these teenagers who listen to them. My Chemical Romance does NOT promote self harm. My Chemical Romance is here to save lives. And that is what they are doing. Every moment of every day they keep someone from hurting themself. They keep someone from killing themself. Every moment of every day Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Bob Bryar, Ray Toro, and Frank Iero save millions of lives. Every moment of every day, those five guys become heros. Today, they're even bigger heros than they were yesterday. Those guys have more people on Earth that have their life devoted to MCR because they saved their life than God in the Christian religion has people who owe him.

MY CHEMICAL SAVES LIVES - NOT DISTROYS THEM!

-Stella, 14, Pennsylvania

TRISH'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-11-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

It was almost three years ago that I found My Chemical Romance. I'm pretty much an insomniac and I was up really late watching the music videos they play on MTV. I'm Not Okay came on and I didn't know what it was so I watched it. I didn't really have an opinion about it when it was over, but what I did know was that there was something about My Chem.

I think it was a couple of weeks after that when I bought Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. It had only been out for a month and I don't think anyone really knew a lot about MCR at that time, but I wanted to. I searched all over the Internet, went on their official site, and other stuff, but couldn't seem to find a whole lot on them. At first I only liked I'm Not Okay and Helena, I guess I was a typical teenie, but then something happened in my life.

It's a very long story, but pretty much everyday I went to school I was threatened and made fun of and tortured. The things they said and did made me horribly suicidal and I hated myself. Well one day I decided I was going to seriously kill myself. I planned everything and got everything in order. The only thing I hadn't done was write a suicide note.

So I started listening to My Chem. I listened to the whole album before, and I liked them, but I hadn't gotten really big into them. I listened to Cemetery Drive and that song just spoke to me. I was getting ready to take my own life and then I didn't want to anymore.

It's still so amazing to me how MCR can do that. How they did that for me. They kept me from taking my own life, they give me hope to live, they made me feel like I'm not the only one. They are such a wonderful band and they are such wonderful people. I just don't understand how anyone could call them 'emo' and say that they made their fans was to kill themselves.

My Chemical Romances makes kids want to LIVE not die. Three words. Five guys. Saved my life. I really am okay now because of them.

-Trish, 16, Tennessee.

ANONYMOUS SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-11-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's my story. I'm not good with the words, so I'll keep it simple.

About two to three years ago, I started cutting. There was no reason why. I don't know what came over me, but I did it. After that first time, I started using it as an escape method. Instead of dealing with emotional pain, I dealt with is in an easier, physical way. I started to get depressed and I felt angry and sad all the time. No one knew except for a few close friends. I wouldn't tell anyone because I knew no one could possibly understand.

Then, I discovered My Chemical Romace. There was something about their song "I'm Not Okay" that interested me. At that time, I didn't know what. I looked them up online and started listening to their music. Immediately, I knew. These were the guys that were going to save me. The words Gerard spoke on stage, the message they send out gave me hope, something I had never known.

I can't even begin to explain how much these guys mean to me. I still have scars, and I do hide them, but I hope one day I won't be ashamed. I hope one day I can walk around with short sleeves and not care what others are saying. My Chemical Romance will help me get there. They keep me going everyday and they keep me from putting the blad against my skin. This is proof that MCR does NOT encourage self harm or suicide.

They stop it.

SARAH'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-11-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

I know it's been said so many times. "MCR saved my life." But in my case it's basically true. It all started when I was very young, my dad was an alcoholic and made life for me and my brothers hell. My mum found the courage to take us and run. It was a scary time but thankfully he never found us.

My eldest brother was highly into drugs at the time and tried commiting suicide which was the start of my downwards spiral. At seconary school I got bullied pretty bad and ended up changing schools twice. But it kept happening so I blamed myself, thinking it must be my fault that there was something wrong with me.

I ran away when I was 14. I was missing for about a week and it was the scariest time of my life. I just jumped on random trains, hiding from the men coming around collecting the tickets. I ran out of money and decided I had to go home.

Then I started drinking. I used to drink just to black everything out and when I had hangovers I felt I deserved to feel like that.

Then I started seeing this guy. We were together about a year and things started looking up for me. But then I found out he cheated on me and my life just came crashing down. I felt I had no reason to live. I had no friends, no nothing.

That's when I tried killing myself. I took a lot of pills and layed on my bed. My mum found me and took me to hospital. When I got home after four days I started planning a way I could do it with no-one finding me and ruining it.

That's when I heard MCR.

I'm ok (i promise) came blasting out of my brothers room and I sat and listened to it. The words in it just fitted everything I was feeling but it was the first thing that made me smile in a long time. I went and got their albums and everytime I felt low I would put them on full blast and sing along. Their songs always made me feel like i'm not alone and cheered me up when nothing else could and they still do.

If there was one thing I could say to the guys, it would be thanks.

-Sarah

A BEAUTIFUL QUOTE FROM ONE OF OUR STORIES

2007-11-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

"They were raw displays of universal pain, the voices of a generation growing up in a fucked up world, they were real feelings from real people still trying to find their place in the world and in the world of music, best of all and offered a flamboyant light at the end of the tunnel without being the prissy optimists so many bands became when they offered that angle. They were just like me."

ONE OF MANY PARADES

2007-11-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

A thing I'd like to point out; Lately I've gotten a lot of personal compliments due this project. About my looks and my personality, about everything really.

E.g. I was on a club one night, and at girls bathroom, an unknown girl turned to me and gasped. "Are you Joanna!" I smiled and said I am. She suddenly hugged me; "You are such an amazing person!" she said, made a few bows (yes, she actually did) and left the bathroom without saying another word.

A week later, a friend of mine met some German au pairs here in Finland. They started to talk about music and suddenly they were talking about My Living Romance. The guys knew me by first name.

To the point (and I do have one); It's not that that I wouldn't appreciate all the compliments. It's not like that at all. But I am not everything you think I am. I may do great things and may try to change the world, but me... myself... am not that great. I am not someone you should idolize (Yes, I've got a lot of "Your my idol" -comments too). There are days I make huge mistakes, huge. There are days I don't believe in myself, or anyone else. There are days when I suck real bad at everything. There are days that I'm just not a good person at all. There are a lot of other people worth looking up for. I'm just not one of them.

Moving on.

Happy late birthday to Mr. Frank Anthony Thomas Iero Jr! I hope he had a great birthday, I know us fans did, right?

I myself was celebrating Halloween and Mr. Iero's birthday with a bunch of fans. How? In my area a friend of mine had arranged this get together -thing called The Frank Parade. It was an awesome mix of Frank's birthday and Halloween. It was an actual parade that ended up on the church stairs, the fans singing to some MCR tunes. It was cold and everyone was freezing with their Halloween make-up and costumes, but it didn't stop anyone from smiling. It was priceless; a dark city with the only lights coming from little, weak flames of our parade's red candles.

Note to everyone: This is what all of this is about. It's about feeling connected with something or someone. It's about hearing that certain note from that certain song and knowing no matter where you are, that note is going to stick by your side. It's about going to concerts, and after hearing "your band-shirt sucks!" for so long, hearing someone say "wow, nice shirt, where did you get that?" It's about being able to love a song so much, that it makes you want to cry not for joy, not for sorrow, but for pure honesty. It's about wanting to be who you are. It's about connecting with other fans all the time. It's about going to MCR-forum and being welcomed more friendly than anywhere else. It's about being able to set up a parade with people who you have never met before. It's about being able to laugh, sing and talk with those people in a cold Halloween-night. It's about knowing that even though you have never met that person before, even though the color of that person's hair is different than yours, even though that person is different size than you and is in all ways different than you, that person loves that same note from the same song that you do. That's what this is about.

You make me proud!

Joanna

ANONYMOUS SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-11-03T04:04:00.000-07:00

Well what can I say, I have never tried to hurt myself or kill myself, but I have gone through rough times.

For as long as I can remember my parents would argue, they would yell sometimes scream at each other. I can remember when I was 10 years old it got so bad that we had to leave the house for two days I used to go in my room and cry and wait for it stop, once it did I would fear for the next time. Well that was five years ago, they still argue, but in 2005 I heard "Helena" for the first time I was in my sister's room. I was not very good with bands then so I thought the song was called, 'So Long And Good Night".

So when I asked my sister what the song was called I looked it up so fast. I don't know what got me so interested, but I watched it at least 100 times and ever since then I was hooked. I got there CD as fast as I could. My favorite song is "Thank You For The Venom" it kind of reminded me of my past of arguing, sadness, but to look forward to the future. I gotta admit I was the loner kid growing up I went through my own stage of depression. I didn't have any True friends whatsoever, but I got through it. Then I finally did something.... I went to theater that helped me so much I made TRUE friends.

My depression is gone and I know it will never come back. And whenever I go through hard times I know My Chemical Romance will be there for me No Matter What! I now have TCFSR and TBP but I am still saving up my money for IBYMBYBMYL and LOTMS. If I ever Get the chance to met any of them all I wanna say is THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME. It's amazing how Five guys can change the world for so many people, it just proves if you got a dream, go for it!

FAITH BRACELET

2007-09-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

This organization is very much based on faith. I wanted to create something easy that every supporter of this project can carry around with pride; something simple that you'd keep just because you believe in something. Just for yourself, not to brag with.

Cut a piece of red and black ribbon, put them together however you like and tie it around your wrist to make it a faith bracelet. When you get kicked around at school, get looked badly because you wear a My Chem t-shirt, get angry because someone says My Chemical Romance is an gay-ass-emo-band, look at this bracelet at your wrist and remember that you are not alone. There are so many other people who feel the same way. (And maybe, just maybe when you go to a MCR-concert, you can spot someone else with a faith-bracelet too.)

So... Let's unite this army, huh?

Send a picture of yours to admin@mylivingromance.net!

GIVE THEM HELL, KID

2007-08-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'm so, so sorry that I haven't been around in a while. There's a few reasons for that but the truth is that I still could've been around more.

As some of you know, my computer is broken so I can't do all the things I'd want to. I should've gotten a new computer weeks ago but I still haven't got one. I'm supposed to get it this week but I can't promise anything. I've also had a hard time trying to approve friend requests in MySpace but I did it now (I'm on school's computer).

I've always been straight with you so I'm going to do that now as well and tell you that I've been really down lately. I don't really know why but I'm just not satisfied with my life right now.

I drifted far away from MCR and that has made me even more sad. I've tried to listen to them and do all other things to get back closer to them and it's hard. It makes me afraid because this band has been keeping me away from hurting myself.

Also, I heard a silly rumour about Gerard being back on drugs and MCR splitting up, and as far as I know, it's not true. But it was a true reality-check for me and I realized how much this band really means to me. Now I'm starting feeling better and more in love with MCR than ever before (or almost). I'm still feeling little sad but I'm not giving up.

I feel kind of guilty because of keeping you in the dark for such a long time but I hope you can all forgive me. And I know you well enough to know you can. I sure as hell ain't quitting on this project and stopping to fight the bad press. I'm still against all these things I was against months ago and I'm not fucking giving up. I'm getting back to you as soon as I'm able to.

Let's fucking give 'em hell, still.

Joanna

CBS

2007-07-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is for CBS's "Emo-investigators".

I'm talking for not only myself, but for thousands of kids behind me. You need to open your eyes. There have been kids and adults for a long time that are cutters. Only now it's being attached to the term "emo". This is a sad world, there are war, violence, drugs and all the other bad things, and still media claims kids cut because of music. You really need to open your eyes. Kids have problems at home, they're being bullied at school, their parent's don't have faith in them - that is what's depressing them.

Stereotyping bands like My Chemical Romance (and the other bands you mentioned) as a band that promotes self-harm/suicide, is incredibly offensive to us and them. It's lazy on the part of adults and critics who, instead of admitting that maybe they haven't been there for their kids, choose a scapegoat instead. Kids don't self-harm because some band tells them to, they don't self-harm because they are emo and think that's the right thing to do. That's something parents, adults and the wider world need to know and respect.

It's not the bands that make kids suicidal, it's the depressed kids that lean on music and find only comfort in their life in it. Depressed kids usually don't want to listen to Britney Spears, they want to listen to something that they can relate to. Something "less pretty."

Sometimes music is the only thing that kids can trust in this world. Music makes life meaningful for others, it makes kids feel like they have a purpose and like they have a reason to live. And they do. Every one of us has every right to be in this world. We have the right to stand up for the things that mean a lot to us. We have the right to stand up for our rights. We have the right to dye our hair black without hearing from others that we're emo. We have the right to listen to My Chemical Romance without everyone thinking we slit our wrists. We have the right to let a band effect our lives without other people considering it a cliche. These are our rights. Rights that every people should have without having to fight for them.

Kids are being labeled as emos by media and that's one of the things depressing them. Emo wasn't anything until media really started to "fight against it."

Instead of fighting against emo and the bands you think are related to it, how about having a little faith with the new generation? "Emo" is something media has ruined, and the media is killing the new generation. There will be a time when when only the generation now labeled as "emos" will be here. Have faith in those kids, because right now the bands that you try to destroy, are the only thing that do have faith that generation.

(You should also do a better research. It doesn't even take much to know that My Chemical Romance is everything but emo. They are a band that got in to this to save lives.)

We will rule the world.

Joanna

DAISY'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-07-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

I have never been suicidial in my life and I've never got as far as to self harming because of one reason: My Chemical Romance. Most people, kids our age who have never even heard a My Chemical Romance song will call us cliche, the truth is, they're too ignorant to understand what we've been through, where we're going or what lies ahead. Four years ago I first heard a My Chemical Romance song. The song was called Our Lady Of Sorrows. The song was directly telling the listener to get up and fight for what they believe in and fight for their own life. "Take my hand and never be afraid again" has probably been the most influential lyric in any song I've ever heard.

Four years on, fourteen shows later and actually being able to say 'Thank you' to those very five people has lead me to experiencing so many amazing things, making friends for life and actually being happy with myself.

I don't care about what people think of me, whether I don't 'fit in' or any of the stupid drama most kids take stride in. If there's one thing I've learnt over the past four years, it's that not only do My Chemical Romance save lives; They make them.

I can finally say I'm actually living the life I want to lead, because of them. And no tabloid in some sell-out newspaper, warning parents over our dark hair, pale make-up can ever change that. I'm in it till the end. And thanks to them, I'll see it to the end.

- Daisy, 17, England

LAUREN'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-07-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

I don't have an amazingly inspiring story about how MCR stopped me from committing suicide, but I do have a story to tell.

I was playing around on iTunes when I heard MCR for the first time. I heard "Welcome To The Black Parade" and I liked it. I wanted to learn more about MCR. I found out more about them and I had instant respect for them. Learning about them made me want to hear more of their songs. I saw their music video for "Famous Last Words" and I was blown away. The song made me fall in love with the band. I bought their cd's and have learned even more about them. They have been a major part of my life ever since.

Last year, my mom was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. She had emergency surgery, they took out both of her ovaries. The cancer was gone but they still made her go through chemo therapy. Over the summer my mom lost all her hair. Her hair finally came back in November. I was so stunned by everything that was happening when all of this was going on that I never expressed any emotions about it, but I still had those emotions inside just waiting to come out. About two months after my mom's hair started coming back, I discovered MCR. After falling in love with the band, I heard their song "Cancer". The song was so breath taking, and I related to it so well. It was my release for all the feelings I had about my mom's cancer. I felt so much better after getting all of those feelings out because I had had them stuffed inside me for so long.

About 4 months after everything with "Cancer", I hit a bad time in my life. I fell way too hard for a guy who was just leading me on. I had some issues with an ex boyfriend, who I still don't forgive. And my uncle died. I became stressed out and anti social, I would snap at the people I love and would cry all the time. The only thing that got me through that time was My Chemical Romance. Their music saved me. Especially "Famous Last Words". The song gave me a sense of hope, it told me that I was going to get through this. The song was my hero, my savior. The band was (and still is) my hero too, I don't know what I would have done without them.

I thank My Chemical Romance every day for the music they give us and the good that they do. They tell people that its ok that they aren't ok, that they will get through this, and that no matter what, never give up and never back down. I wouldn't be the person I am today without MCR, and for that I have endless love and respect for them.

- Lauren, 13, Illinois

I SAW THEM LIVE!

2007-07-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

3 nights. 4 days. 1 band. 6000 fans. 1st row. The best day ever and I just can't get over it. The people in the line were so great it was really nice to hang out with them for 4 days. It was like a real family.

We had a few MCRmy meetings as well. Warner had suggested that if MCRmy Finland would make a gift for MCR an Warner agent could deliver it. The gift was a great one, there were 6 t-shirts saying SUOMI (=Finland), a letter, a picture of MCRmy (the soldiers that were present) and a finish game called Molkky. We decorated the game and it turned out so cute!

Finally at 7 on the concert night we were let in. I got excatly where I wanted to; first row, in the middle, in the fucking middle. And I didn't lose my place at once (except maybe mentally). I had worked so hard to get a good place and to make my first MCR-concert perfect and now it was all happening. I was so happy I just hugged everyone around me. There were some security-guards standing in front of us and we were bored so we chatted with them, they were really nice.

The first warm up act was a finnish and I thought it was really lame. I didn't care much though, I was so happy about the main act I didn't care what was happening before them. The nice security-guard mentioned that the other warm up would begin in a sec. There had been no talk about another warm up act so we asked what it was. A FREAKING SUPRISE; "It's a suprise, Billy Talent is here." Billy Talent came on stage and they were so good it made me even happier.

When My Chemical Romance got on stage it was unbeliveable, the noise was so loud! They started with This Is How I Disappear and everyone went crazy around me, yelling and crying and screaming. I was in a complete shock, mouth wide open with tears in my eyes - they were there right in front of me. Fuck, they were there!

Then I got crazy too, I was so happy. I know I'm repeating it again and again but it's true. It's was just like... in the first row, without any water, sweaty, being squeezed by everyone, I felt like it was the only place I could ever feel like I can get along all by myself. This concert was so what I needed, it gave me so much faith in not needing other people to get through life and to be what I want to be. It's my business, my mission, my life and it depends on nobody else but me. I don't need other people for me to succeed in life.

And I'm not saying I want to get rid of all my friends to be stronger on my own, not at all. I'm just saying that if someone couldn't care less to be my friend, I don't give a shit. I'm not going to make anyone be anything. Live goes on how it does, I'm no-one to change that and I'm not accountable for anyone.

The meaning of this band and my love for this band is so huge right now.

XOXO

Joanna

DONATION

2007-06-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

The site got so popular that freewebs froze it. However, for some odd reason, it's working again for now. We can't have a website that can be viewed only when freewebs wants it to, so now we need more help and support than ever, the money kind. We are having a little break now so that when we get back on track, we will be stronger than ever. We are going to make money-donation possible, so we can buy a domain and get it hosted. All the money given to the project is going to be used by this project only.

I really am truly sorry that the website is so messed up. When we get this back on track - it's going to be huge.

XOXO

Joanna

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO LIVE NO WHAT THEY'RE UP AGAINST

2007-06-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

"My Chemical Romance, one of todays most succesful bands of the bands in the emo scene, hailing from New Jersey, has got a lots of dirt from international press and some famous names from music-industry. The Daily Mail has has claimed the band to be "a potential leader-figure of suicide-cult", Brandon Flowers from The Killers has described My Chemical Romance as "dangerous", and Kasabian thinks it's "dark and weird." It's been told by many directions, that with their lyrics and music My Chemical Romance is encouraging teenagers to hurt themselves or even commit suicide.

16 years old Joanna has had enough of this and the outcome is an international project titled WE'RE OKAY NOW. The idea of the project is to prove media wrong by collecting stories from the fans about how the band has helped them in life.

"The entity of the project has been somewhere in my mind for a long time so building the site and collecting supportesrs didn't take that much time after all. Finally it started off really fast and I was really suprised about how much support I got from the other fans."

A good sign on a growing popularity is that theres almost a hundred stories published at the moment and there's a couple pages more waiting in Joanna's e-mail.

Lead-singer Gerard Way has suffered from depression and intoxicantissues himself, and Joanna thinks it's very frustrating that the positive intentions are turned around as a total opposite when the band is in fact trying to get people to get help.

"My Chem isn't depressing people, the people that are depressed find comfort in the band . That's how it goes. Especially with a band with a strong message like this. And I do think it's kind of weird that a band that particularly gives hope and is inciting their fans to live, is labeled as a 'suicidal cult'."

"Personally I see some lyrics as some sort of irony screaming 'hello, these are straight thoughts from your head and they don't make any sence'. That's the good and bad thing about My Chemical Romance's lyrics, they can be construed as so many ways."

Joanna has spread the word to many foreign publications too, though the response has been pretty bad so far. Joanna hasn't seen a reason to contact finnish media but will do so if she thinks she has to.

Joanna has also tried to get an exclusive interview from the band by their finnish label Warner Music. "So far all the interview-slots are full, but if more time will be available, the sitution might change" Joanna says with full of hope. "I'd really like their blessing to this project. At this moment I feel like speaking for them behind their back."

When asking plans for the future, Joanna mentions I Brought You My Misery, You saved My Life -booklet and Three Cheers For Saving Lives -documentary."

By: Hanna Viitaniemi @ FINCULTURE

IMCRD

2007-06-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

July 23rd will be from here on be known as International My Chemical Romance -day! On that day do whatever you can to show your love for My Chemical Romance. It doesn't matter what it is, whatever you feel like doing, DO IT!

There's only one thing we all must do; If you have any My Chemical Romance -merch that can be worn, WEAR IT! Post what you did on the day to anyone of the MCR forums and groups. Show the world how much you love My Chemical Romance and just how important they are to the world!

HOW DOES THIS CONCERN WE'RE OKAY NOW -PROJECT?

Well obviously the international My Chemical Romance -day is the perfect occasion to go crazy with this project. Print out flyers, get together with other fans and SPREAD THE WORD! This is a perfect chance to do it on the same day and be heard all over the world!

CAROLINA''S SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-06-07T07:45:00.000-07:00

I have never actually been suicidal so MCR hasn't saved my life. I would still be alive if I haven't start listening to them almost 2 years ago, or at least I think so. I don't know how my life would have been, I'm just glad I did start listening to them. They changed my live, into the better. I've always thought low off myself (and still does) but it actually gets better when I listen to MCR. I don't know why, sometimes I don't even have to listen to them, it's enough to see a picture. They just mean everything to me.

In the end of 2005 I almost didn't eat anything and when I did I got panic and ran into the toilet and put my fingers down my throat. That was mostly because I almost didn't have any friends in school, there were 3 people that I hung out with just so I wouldn't be alone all the time. But they did always say things just to make me upset or sad, like call me fat, ugly and always say bad things about MCR (if that happens now, I don't care but I did then). I started to skip school a lot and were almost never there. And when I was I just listened to MCR in my headphones, it felt better in some way then. In March of 2006 my parents found out somethings through reading my diary (NEVER write a diary and leave it on your desk!) and fixed so I could change school in the middle of the year. That helped a lot, and the first day I wore my MCR shirt. After a year in that school I now have twice as many friends that I had under 4 years in my last school.

Last year in September when I was in a period when I just felt like I didn't care about anything anymore, I didn't have anything to look forward to. Everyday were just the same. And then I found out that MCR were gonna come here for the first time. I know this is gonna sound all teenie, but I started crying when I found out. I was just so happy, I was actually gonna see my favorite band live for the first time. And then in November I saw them, it was actually the best day in 2006. Just being at the front row exactly in the middle and singing along to every word. That's probably one of the best feelings that I've had. And this probably doesn't makes any sense and my English isn't that good but I just wanted to write anyway.

And another thing, I got some of my best friends now from Internet, when we met on Swedish communities and then started talking about MCR. And some of them have really helped me, it was easier for me to talk to them about serious things than talking to someone that knew me in real life. And I would never had known them if it wasn't for MCR.

-Carolina, 15, Sweden

ANONYMOUS SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-06-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't been a fan of MCR for very long, but that doesn't matter. Last year, right before summer vacation started, I went to the store and bought MCR's CDs. I had a friend who never shut up about them and a little extra birthday money so I figured, why not. I had no clue how much I would need those albums in the months to come. That summer I sunk into a deep depression. It was worse that it had ever been before. I felt completely hopeless. I wasn't sleeping (when I did, I slept until 7:00 PM and the only reason I woke up then was to watch "Friends" reruns), I wasn't eating, and I hardly left my room. I knew I had finally reached the bottom when I started planning my suicide. But you know why I never killed myself that summer? My Chemical Romance. I listened to their music and they saved me. They let me know that someone cared and that I wasn't alone. Their music is was so beautiful and so full of hope and that was what I needed.

But later, once school started, things got bad again. I couldn't handle it all. Everything that was happening was too much for depressed, weak little me. I had even started slitting my wrists. One night, I finally decided to end it. I couldn't take it anymore. I was so alone and no one cared. So that night, I sat there, ready to die. If I had moved, it would've been over. But luckily, earlier, I had put on MCR's "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge." Which I had been listening to a lot but not really "listening" too, you know what I mean? I wasn't listening to the message anymore. But at that moment I did. I again heard what they were saying. They wanted to save me. They wanted me to live. Again, I was filled with hope, the knowledge that someone cared, and the feeling that I had a purpose. So I figured, "They're just as messed up as me, and they made it! So why can't I?" I now have not harmed myself in quite some time. Though there are still moments when the urge to cut is great, that is then overpowered by the message of My Chemical Romance.

MCR are my saviors, and I feel, my best friends for they are the people who best understand me and probably the ones who care the most about me. Thank you MCR, you fucking saved me.

NATALIE'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-06-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

You know that one age that your at? The one where you can choose to either follow the crowed or to be yourself? Well, you see, that's the point in time that mcr came to me. I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with my life. Granted im only 14 (meaning i found mcr when i was 9 or 10) but thats a big age for people. It's when you really start to grow up.

And thats what they did for me. Mcr helped me to grow up and learn everything I thought I needed to know about life. Essentialy, being that i was only a kid, I thought the best way to grow up was to be exactly like them. So I started dressing like people I knew who where friends with them. I started listening to bands they said they liked. Most of all however, I started to listen in general.

If you gave me a song by them the first two things I could give you are the colors i see and the lessons ive learned. They have taught me more about life then I have ever learned in school and probably ever will.

Long story short, my parents did not raise me. My Chemical Romance raised me. And I think I turned out pretty damn good.

-Natalie Broda, Michigan

MONICA'S SIDE OF THE STORY

2007-06-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Hi, My name is Monika and this is my story why My Chemical Romance saved not only my life, but other peoples lives too.

Last Year, I was really depressed, I thought about suicide a lot and I cut myself endlessly, I would cry myself to sleep everynight and then I was really tired and restless at school. I though that no-one would ever understand the way I feel. As I am very sensative, weak and get attached to people I got worse when my grandmother died and my boyfriend left me and my parents wouldn't really talk to me.

Three months after severe depression I clicked on my iTunes and I started listening to My Chemical Romance, It made me feel much more better, their songs were amazing, and they really knew what teenagers were going trough.It made me much more stronger and I wasn't afraid anymore to stand up for myself and what I believe in and I also stopped cutting myself and the suicide thoughts were all gone and I'd be more optimistic about life rather than hate life.To this day I listen to My Chemical Romance everyday or whenever I can and I am much happier with life and myself. Whenever I am down, I listen to them. I thank them very much for this, I own them my life for this. I'm OK now.

-Monika, 13, London

RACHEL'S SIDE OF HE STORY

2007-06-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say I had an extravagant tale about how I was on the brink of death and when I heard My Chemical Romance I just couldn't pull the trigger; well I don't. All I have is a keyboard, an e-mail address, and some things I would like to say.

The thought of My Chemical Romance promoting self harm and suicide is not only ignorant, it's out of this world. The last thing that is on this band's mind is to hurt their fans, infact they just want to help. The music saved their lives, and all they want to do is spread the feeling it gives them. Their lyrics do not promote suicide. Sit down and listen to it instead of automatically assuming your child is depressed because of their music choice. This is a band that simply reassures us that it's okay to be diferent. They make sure we know it's okay to have problems. They are what gets us through the week. They are what told us to finally stand up for ourselves they are everything we stand for. My Chemical Romance has saved more lives then they have ever harmed.

I've talked to people, and I've heard their stories. I've been there for strangers, even when the only thing we had in common was this band. My Chemical Romance has opened my eyes to music and miracles. Listen to what your kids have to say, because I can guarantee you this, My Chemical Romance is not just a band, they are not just five guys, they are not death on legs. My Chemical Romance is in face a real live fucking miracle, and that's all I have to say.

-Rachel, 14, Finland