Michael James Way (born September 10, 1980), most commonly known as Mikey Way, is the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance and is the younger brother of frontman Gerard Way.
Personal life
Mikey Way was born in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Although born in Newark, Mikey was raised in Belleville. He attended Belleville High School with his older brother, Gerard Way and also My Chemical Romance's future lead guitarist, Ray Toro. After leaving school, he returned to Newark to live with his brother. Mikey and Gerard are maternal second cousins of Joe Rogan, host of the NBC game/stunt show Fear Factor and former cast member of the sitcom News Radio. He is of Scottish and Italian descent. He came up with the band's name, taken from the book Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance, by Irvine Welsh, while working at a Barnes and Noble bookstore in Clifton, New Jersey. Mikey had been working in the music section of the store, and had decided to take out the books to discuss with a coworker. Mikey also got his brother Gerard a job there working in books.Early on in My Chemical Romance's career, it was said that Way learned bass in order to be able to play in the band, which lacked a bassist at the time. But during interviews with Way in their DVD release, Life on the Murder Scene, Mikey claims that he had been an amateur musician since he was young and was in bands as a bassist before MCR. He plays a Highway one Precision Bass and a Fender Standard Precision Bass, among others.
Mikey is well known amongst fellow bass guitarists for pioneering the use of cheese wire as strings.
Mikey Way had been known for his trademark glasses to correct his nearsightedness, but had Lasik eye surgery and no longer wears them.
On March 7, 2007, Mikey married his fiancée Alicia Simmons(now Alicia Way) backstage at the Orleans Arena, Las Vegas after the band's show that evening. The couple were married by James Dewees, who was ordained as a minister in order to perform the ceremony. His brother Gerard was his best man, since there were rules preventing him from having all the other band members as his best men.
Mikey is often distinguished as the "little brother" figure in the band. Many of his outrageous antics have been released to the press including sticking a fork in a toaster and bringing a heater into the shower. While his is often teased by his fellow band mates for his ditziness, he is looked on like a sibling that needs full attention to stay out of trouble. Overall, Mikey is delighted at being a member of his brother's band.
Mental health
While recording The Black Parade, Mikey had been having trouble dealing with personal problems, which caused him to leave the band temporarily, and almost caused them to break-up completely. He said in an interview with Alternative Press, in the December 2006 issue of Blender magazine, Mikey explained his anxiety about his ability to play. He said, "Here I was, I finally had everything I'd struggled for my whole life, and it wasn't fun anymore. I was standing on the stage looking out, and not enjoying it at all."
Mikey left the band to live with My Chemical Romance attorney and "band mom", Stacey Fass. He underwent psychotherapy and saw a therapist four times a week. After several weeks, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After receiving therapy, he returned to the recording studio as a commuter.
Mikey also followed in his older brother's footsteps while dealing with his personal problems by turning to alcohol and drugs. Luckily, the band held an intervention before Mikey got too depressed and he was able to overcome the illness and got married to Alicia Simmons not long after.
Sabbatical
On April 23, 2007, it was announced that Mikey will temporarily leave My Chemical Romance to spend time with Alicia. Mikey's brother Gerard said on My Chemical Romance's website that "The band has decided to give him and his wife a much needed break from the road to start a life and have a proper honeymoon and do all the things a newlywed couple should do. I'm very proud to announce my brother's recent marriage. Watching him grow up into a man and finding love makes me the happiest brother alive. I know this is upsetting news, as it is for us, but we will continue to tour with a temporary replacement until he has situated himself in his new life."Mikey's temporary replacement is Matt Cortez, a guitar technician, and friend of the band. In Amsterdam, the Netherlands before a show at the Heineken Music Hall on June 5th 2007, Gerard revealed to a fan that he expected Mikey to return to the band in time for the Projekt Revolution tour.
Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is the front man, lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance; he is also elder brother to the band's bass player, Mikey Way.
Background
Way was born in Newark, New Jersey to Donald and Donna Lee Way; he is of Scottish and Italian descent. Way was born in Belleville, New Jersey. He first began singing in fourth grade, when he played the part of Peter Pan in a school production of the play. His maternal grandmother, Elena Lee Rush, taught him to sing, paint, and perform.
After graduating from Belleville High School in 1995, he attended School of Visual Arts in New York City, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999. Gerard aspired to be a comic book artist and claimed his favourite comic-book team was the Doom Patrol. In 2001, Way says he tried to sell an animated television series to Cartoon Network called "The Breakfast Monkey". He maintains that Cartoon Network turned down the pitch because it was too similar to Aqua Teen Hunger Force, then already in production.
Music and My Chemical Romance
In 2001, Way was working in the comic industry in New York when the September 11 attacks occurred. This event changed Way dramatically; he told Spin magazine, "I literally said to myself, 'Fuck art. I’ve gotta get out of the basement. I’ve gotta see the world. I’ve gotta make a difference!'" Soon after, he formed the band My Chemical Romance. The band's first song "Skylines and Turnstiles" was inspired by Way's experience on 9/11. The band's name, suggested by Mikey Way, came from a book written by Irvine Welsh, entitled Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance. Gerard brought together Ray Toro, Matt Pelissier (later replaced by Bob Bryar), Frank Iero, and his brother Mikey to play gigs along the East Coast. He cited his musical influences as The Cure, Queen, Iron Maiden, The Misfits, and The Smiths, while Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.
Music turned out to be an effective means for Way to deal with his long-time battle against depression, alcoholism, and prescription drug abuse, leading to the creation of deeply personal songs such as "Helena", written after the death of his grandmother. The band also collaborated with The Used lead singer Bert McCracken to release a cover of the Queen and David Bowie single "Under Pressure" on iTunes for Tsunami Relief charity. Gerard has been clean and sober since August 11, 2004, although he still smokes cigarettes.
Art
In a recent interview with Kerrang! magazine, Gerard Way revealed he would be working on a comic book series called The Umbrella Academy. Gerard Way writes the storyline and Gabriel Ba does the artwork on the upcoming comic book. Artist James Jean does the cover artwork on the "Umbrella Academy". In the interview, he stated he had a love for comic books and superheroes. The release date is September 19, 2007.
Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is the front man, lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance; he is also elder brother to the band's bass player, Mikey Way.
Background
Way was born in Newark, New Jersey to Donald and Donna Lee Way; he is of Scottish and Italian descent. Way was born in Belleville, New Jersey. He first began singing in fourth grade, when he played the part of Peter Pan in a school production of the play. His maternal grandmother, Elena Lee Rush, taught him to sing, paint, and perform.
After graduating from Belleville High School in 1995, he attended School of Visual Arts in New York City, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999. Gerard aspired to be a comic book artist and claimed his favourite comic-book team was the Doom Patrol. In 2001, Way says he tried to sell an animated television series to Cartoon Network called "The Breakfast Monkey". He maintains that Cartoon Network turned down the pitch because it was too similar to Aqua Teen Hunger Force, then already in production.
Music and My Chemical Romance
In 2001, Way was working in the comic industry in New York when the September 11 attacks occurred. This event changed Way dramatically; he told Spin magazine, "I literally said to myself, 'Fuck art. I’ve gotta get out of the basement. I’ve gotta see the world. I’ve gotta make a difference!'" Soon after, he formed the band My Chemical Romance. The band's first song "Skylines and Turnstiles" was inspired by Way's experience on 9/11. The band's name, suggested by Mikey Way, came from a book written by Irvine Welsh, entitled Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance. Gerard brought together Ray Toro, Matt Pelissier (later replaced by Bob Bryar), Frank Iero, and his brother Mikey to play gigs along the East Coast. He cited his musical influences as The Cure, Queen, Iron Maiden, The Misfits, and The Smiths, while Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.
Music turned out to be an effective means for Way to deal with his long-time battle against depression, alcoholism, and prescription drug abuse, leading to the creation of deeply personal songs such as "Helena", written after the death of his grandmother. The band also collaborated with The Used lead singer Bert McCracken to release a cover of the Queen and David Bowie single "Under Pressure" on iTunes for Tsunami Relief charity. Gerard has been clean and sober since August 11, 2004, although he still smokes cigarettes.
Art
In a recent interview with Kerrang! magazine, Gerard Way revealed he would be working on a comic book series called The Umbrella Academy. Gerard Way writes the storyline and Gabriel Ba does the artwork on the upcoming comic book. Artist James Jean does the cover artwork on the "Umbrella Academy". In the interview, he stated he had a love for comic books and superheroes. The release date is September 19, 2007.
Frank Anthony Iero (born October 31, 1981) is the rhythm guitarist and back up vocalist for the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance. Iero also has his own clothing line/music label/publishing company called Skeleton Crew.
Before My Chemical Romance
Frank Iero was born on October 31, 1981 and grew up in Belleville, New Jersey, close to the other members of his current band, My Chemical Romance. He is also the lead singer for his band Leathermouth which is produced by Skeleton Crew. He was bullied throughout high school at Queen Of Peace in North Arlington and went to Rutgers University on a scholarship, but eventually dropped out because he felt that My Chemical Romance, which he had only recently joined, was going somewhere (though he still believes he should have a backup plan, as he stated in the band's Life on the Murder Scene DVD).
He has played in various bands since the age of eleven, much like fellow bandmate Gerard Way. His mother allowed him to play in their basement to the point where she couldn't sleep. In addition to his band Pencey Prep, Frank also played with the bands Hybrid, Sector 12, I Am a Graveyard, and briefly with Give Up the Ghost.
My Chemical Romance
Frank was recruited after his band Pencey Prep, for which he was the lead singer, broke up. He was invited to join after the band decided they needed another guitarist (in addition to Ray Toro) to fill out the sound. On My Chemical Romance's first album, he played on "Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough for the Two of Us" and "Early Sunsets Over Monroeville". Shortly after joining the band, while on tour, he had a scorpion tattooed on his neck. In Life on the Murder Scene he states that he got the tattoo as high on his neck as possible so no one else would employ him, because he knew that this band was something important that would last.
He currently is the rhythm guitarist, and youngest member of the band.
Iero recently fell ill and had to leave My Chemical Romance's Japanese and Australian Tour and was sent home to the US to recover, while the guitarist from the band Drive By filled in for him.
More recently, Frank Iero became ill and only played half a show in London, England on March 30, 2007. His guitar technician Matt Cortez had to fill in for him. It was reported by Geoff Rickly of support band Thursday after the show that he had food poisoning, and he had recovered in time to play in Dublin, Ireland.
Side projects
Frank has his own clothing line, record label, and publishing company called Skeleton Crew. It is not a T-shirt company, as stated by himself. Frank is in the band Leathermouth, which is produced by Skeleton Crew.
Raymond (Ray) Manuel Toro-Ortiz, born on July 15, 1977 in Kearny, New Jersey, is the lead guitarist and one of two backup vocalists for My Chemical Romance. He plays Gibson Les Paul guitars with Seymour Duncan pickups through Marshall amplifiers.
When he was younger he enjoyed the music of Queen and Metallica and he cites Brian May and Randy Rhoads as large influences on his playing.
Matt (Otter) Pelissier is the former drummer of the band My Chemical Romance. He helped form the band with Gerard Way, the front man of the band, in 2001, after the 9/11 attacks which inspired Gerard Way to start the band.
With My Chemical Romance
Pelissier met up with the band's front man, Gerard Way at a local club, where Way asked Pelissier to add some drum tracks behind his rough version of 'Skylines And Turnstiles'. The two became the first members of the new band.
After My Chemical Romance
According to a November 2004, Alternative Press coverage of My Chemical Romance, Pelissier worked as a mechanic back in their home state of New Jersey after being let go from the band.
In the Summer of 2006, Matt Pelissier and George Collazo began Strong Arm Studios, a fully functional recording studio located in Harrison, New Jersey.
Discography
Matt has recorded two albums with My Chemical Romance: I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, and Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. Contrary to popular belief, Matt is the drummer heard on their second album, and appears in the original version of the video for "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)". He had gotten a tattoo of a bat on his hand while he was still in the band, which can be seen in the video. The second video of "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", recognized as the standard video of the song, featured Bob Bryar, who had just been asked to be in the band a few days prior to the filming of the video, when the band returned from a trip to Japan.
Where’d you go?
So never think I’d make you try to stay,
And maybe when we get there,
I’ll think enough,
To find another way,
When after all this time,
Is you still around,
You’re still the god falling nothing I have found,
So take your glass again,
And get out,
While you can,
Where’d you go?
And would you even turn to say,
I don’t love you,
Like I did yesterday,
Sometimes I cry so hard for pleading,
So sick and tired all the mean less meaning,
But baby when they knock you down and out,
It’s where you’ll wanna stay,
And after all the blood that you still have,
Another time I was chancing it all around,
So fix your eyes and get up,
Baby, get up,
While you can,
Where’d you go?
And would you even turn to say,
I don’t love you,
Like I did yesterday,
Where’d you go?
Would you have the guts to say,
I don’t love you,
Like I loved you,
Yesterday,
I couldn’t love you,
Like I loved you,
Yesterday,
I don’t love you,
Like I loved you yesterday
Robert Cory Bryar, born December 31, 1979 in Chicago, Illinois, is the drummer for My Chemical Romance. He has blonde hair, light blue eyes and a pierced lip.
Before My Chemical Romance
Bob Bryar attended school at Eisenhower Junior High in Darien, Illinois where he played drums and symphonic in a jazz band.
After Junior High, he went on to go to Downers Grove South High School. There he joined the marching band and was the section leader of their drumline.
Bryar is the only member of My Chemical Romance who was not an original member and he is also the only one who is not from New Jersey. He replaced Matt Pelissier in 2004 after being a sound mixer for The Used. Contrary to popular belief, he did not play the drums for the band on their second album. The video for "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" was filmed with Bob drumming before he became an "official" member of the band.
My Chemical Romance
Since then, he has become a valuable member of My Chemical Romance and has been made their permanent drummer. Frank Iero has said about him "Bob and Toro are the two hardest working people I've ever met, and if there is a God, I thank him everyday for bringing us Bob."He has been seen with a girl who has been on FoodNetwork, Jade Tunstall. It is unknown if they are dating. Bob uses C&C Drums and Sabian cymbals. He is also known to react badly to being filmed without his permission.
Injuries
During the making of "Famous Last Words", Bob's leg was ignited by one of the torches and he was severely burned. He was not injured until the very last scene in the uncut version of the video, in which Bryar says "I can't take this fuckin' heat anymore" to guitarist Frank Iero and they run off of the set, whilst Bryar lifts his pant leg to examine the burn. The video clip of Bryar talking to Iero begins at 4:20minutes, and lasts the remainder of the video. This is only shown in the UK version of the video. He was later treated in at the hotel by a doctor. After which time, he developed a staph infection and was rushed to the hospital. If he had waited two more days, he would have died. Twice Bob was caught trying to escape the emergency room since he hated the fact that they had to cancel some of their concerts. Due to the staph infection Bob has unusual stiffness on the left part of his face. He had to have an ice-pack in his mouth to prevent loss of brain function, and it can be seen in photographs of their rooftop performance at the MTV VMA's.
