My Chemical Romance calls it quits

My Chemical Romance was, without question, one of the more dramatic alternative, emo rock bands of the past decade. They have legions of fans, who are no doubt crushed with the news that MCR has decided to split up. It's shocking, for sure, because there weren't really any whispers that the break up was coming. It's always rough when a favorite band decides, for whatever reason, to walk away, isn't it?

As for what happened exactly, well, we may never know. My Chemical Romance announced the break up in a brief statement on the band's official website, saying, among other things, that the dozen years they were together was "a true blessing."

It was a blessing for the fans, as well. Over 12 years, My Chemical Romance put out just four studio albums, but each one of them is stellar and memorable. MCR came together shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks, which frontman Gerard Way witnessed first-hand. Way was moved. He set out to get a band together with huge hopes and expectations.

In my opinion, Way and MCR went way beyond anything I could've hoped for. I remember well picking up the band's first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, after hearing a local alt radio station programmer rave about it. I was instantly drawn in.

I spread the word about My Chemical Romance any chance I could, and I'm thankful that in 2002, when this album came out, I was still "tuned in" (so to speak) in my radio career. Not everyone knew about MCR at that point, but those that did were instant fans. By the time Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge was released (in June of 2004), I was a devoted fanatic. This particular album is the one that I think got everyone in the mainstream on board with the band, and to this day, it's my favorite.

I hate that My Chemical Romance is over, but I'm so glad for all the years of excellent, bold, daring music. As the band said in the break up statement, "...like all great things, it has come time for it to end."

For fellow MCR fans: What is your favorite album and/or song?

Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone