my chemical romance 2010

My Chemical Romance return—here’s our dream setlist for their reunion show

After six years of pining for the return of My Chemical Romance after their 2013 disbandment, fans would be more than happy to hear them play anything at their return show at Shrine Expo in Los Angeles next month. That said, there are a few songs fans old and new absolutely must hear again or for the first time since their final show in 2012. 

We’ve channeled the energy of the past and our renewed hope for the future to build our very own dream setlist. Here are some suggestions. We’ll let you fill in the gaps!

Read more: 27 best reactions to the My Chemical Romance return

1. THE OPENERS

If history is to repeat itself with MCR’s rebirth, the opening of the set could play host to a few new tracks. For instance, when MCR returned as alter-ego the Black Parade in 2006, they started their show with “The End.” Obviously, we don’t know if MCR are planning to release new material at all at this juncture, but we’re reserving a couple of spots for that new-new.

2. THE ASS-KICKERS

Some of MCR’s greatest songs are the heaviest and fastest, and with our collective adrenaline building a fortress of excitement around us, we’ll absolutely need a couple of rippers to release that. Any of the following would be fucking perfect: 

“Our Lady Of Sorrows”

“Thank You For The Venom”

“DESTROYA”

Read more: Gerard Way is related to Joe Rogan and they “don’t know each other”

“Mama”

“Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back”

Read more: Gerard Way talks “safety” of playing a character during the My Chemical Romance ‘The Black Parade’ era

3. THE STAPLES

There’s a reason these songs consistently made it in the setlist. Members of the band have claimed they go feral during “You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison,” and “Give ’Em Hell, Kid” always blew the goddamn roof off. 

“You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison”


“Give ’Em Hell, Kid”

Read more: Gerard Way is related to Joe Rogan and they “don’t know each other”

4. THE REPRIEVES

At live shows, vocalist Gerard Way is notoriously conscious of the energy levels of the crowd and has been known to stop midsong if he sees people getting hurt or potential danger out there. These are the songs that may need to interject themselves between the ass-kickers to keep us all alive.

“The Kids From Yesterday”

“Demolition Lovers”

 (Hey, we can dream, right?)

“Cemetery Drive”

“Cancer”

5. THE OVERLOOKED

There are many songs we never had a chance to see live, from the wildly underrated Conventional Weapons to The Mad Gear And Missile Kid EP. Can you even imagine the chaos these would induce?

“Black Dragon Fighting Society”

“Boy Division”

6. THE COVER

A cover certainly isn’t needed to fill out MCR’s return set. In fact, it could even be unwelcome to crowd members who have been starving to hear the band play originals their entire life. If they must do it, though, their cover of “Neat Neat Neat” by the Damned or “Astro Zombies” by the Misfits top the list. As for a potential new cover, and another reprieve, we’d love to hear the band give their longtime psych-up song, the melancholic but ultimately hopeful “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed, the MCR treatment, because holy shit. It’s going to be a perfect day.

Read more: Can you pass this ridiculous My Chemical Romance test?

7. THE CLASSIC

Singles need not be mentioned, because they’re a given, but there is one song—the song—that started it all that would bring this moment in history full circle: “Skylines And Turnstiles,” the first My Chemical Romance song.

8. THE ENCORE

Starting in the Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge era, it was customary for MCR to close their sets with “Helena.” Later, the show closer would become “Cancer.” For this momentous occasion, we hope they close the show with the former, a cathartic classic that will end the show explosively, with the band and the fans giving their very last drops of energy to the song—so long and goodnight.

You can read every My Chemical Romance cover story, interviews, and more in the Alternative Press My Chemical Romance Collector’s Edition available below.