MyChemicalRomance-MCRmy

20 ways to celebrate My Chemical Romance's legacy

July 23 is the fan-proclaimed International My Chemical Romance Day (better known as IMCRD), and though MCR announced their breakup in late March, the MCRmy is still holding strong to this holiday celebrated on the release anniversary of MCR’s first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love.

“The most common question I've been getting since the break up was whether IMCRD would go on at all,” says Devan Mickell, a long-time fan who is manning the @IMCRD Twitter account which helps direct fans on the big day, this year.

“I was actually really surprised by how many people thought that MCR's break up would jeopardize IMCRD. Yes, it's about celebrating our love and appreciation for a band, but it's also  about the experiences we've shared, the friends we've made the family we've gained, and how we've all grown and changed over the years with one another. To me, IMCRD is far more about the MCRmy than anything else”

For many of fans of the band, it was tough finding ways to connect with other members of the fanbase, especially in the early days when beyond spotting other kids in MCR shirts, going to shows and lurking the now defunct WBR Street Network message boards, there was no way to really connect.

The advances in technology since then opened very simple ways to find other fans and to stay in touch, both online and in real life. IMCRD celebrates the beauty of that, of fan unity and of a strong community built around mutual passion for the band.

Throughout the years, this grassroots holiday has spawned large-scale fan meetups, charity fund-raisers, effortless Twitter trending and many creative endeavors from the fan community.

1. Attend A Meetup
Head to the “Gangs” section of the MCRmy (which will continue to remain active) or to your local fan page to see if local fans are planning to meet.

2. Create Something (Anything!)

Any Killjoy worth his or her weight in spraypaint and Zone dust knows that “art is the weapon.” Likewise, anyone who follows Gerard Way on Twitter knows that “#ArtIsSmart.” So pick up your weapon of choice today and make something.

 

#SingItForJapan | Alternative Press3. Donate to charity
My Chem were always great proponents of giving back. From their work with the Make-A-Wish foundation and Shirts For A Cure, to Frank Iero’s custom Macbeth “Fuck Cancer” shoes and the #SingItForJapan fund for tsunami relief spearheaded by Ray Toro, the band always gave back and would surely love to see fans honoring their message by doing the same.

4. Listen to MCR in a new light
A couple months ago, Gerard Way took to Twitter to have listening parties for each of the band’s album’s offering his perspective and behind-the-scenes facts. Listening to the albums while perusing his Twitter commentary is one way to enrich your listening experience.

5. Get an MCR tattoo
This is something that has been on my personal to-do list since I was 14. Why wait? Tomorrow doesn’t exist.

6. Spam your Twitter followers

This year’s official IMCRD hashtag is #MCRmyForLife. Use it to celebrate the band’s career and tell others why you’re in it for life.

 

Death Spells | Alternative Press7. Celebrate the new work of the MCR members
UPDATE: Since our original post, Gerard, Frank and Mikey have released albums! Go check 'em out!
All four MCR members have announced that they are embarking on new endeavors, some of which you can already hear online. Check out Ray Toro’s solo song “Isn’t That Something?,” “Where Are My Fucking Pills?” by Death Spells (Frank Iero and James Dewees) and Gerard Way’s “Zero Zero.”

8. Bask in nostalgia
If you’re like me, you have overflowing archives of endless MCR information. Here’s a quick directory of AP issues on which MCR have been on the cover or have been featured prominently:

May 2003 (AP 178)
February 2004 (AP 187)
August 2004 (AP 193)
December 2004 (AP 197) – COVER
January 2006 (AP 210) – COVER
December 2006 (AP 221) – COVER
July 2008 (AP 240)
January 2010 (AP 258) – COVER
March 2011 (AP 272) – COVER
November 2012 (AP 292) – Gerard Way and deadmau5
June 2013 (AP 299) – Death Spells
July 2013 (AP 300) – Gerard Way’s reimagining of their first COVER

9. Pick up an instrument

Both Mikey Way and Frank Iero have signature instruments—the Mikey Way Fender Squier Mustang bass and the Epiphone Wilshire Phant-o-matic, respectively. Pick up a guitar today and start practicing and saving up for one.

10. Write a letter to Gerard Way
Shortly after MCR broke up, Gerard Way published an address and asked fans to write to him or send him anything that could fit in an envelope. When we spoke to the singer a month later, he told us it was tough, and he was surprised by the response, but he’s still going to try to get through all the letters he receives. Send yours to:

Warner Bros Records
c/o Gerard Way
3300 Warner Blvd
Burbank, CA 91505

Just don’t send any packages. And “don’t make it weird.”

11. Go on a scavenger hunt to find a new copy of Bullets on CD for a reasonable price

Seriously. We’re not sure what it is—Eyeball Records going out of business, opportunists scalping because of the breakup, or what—but for whatever reason, finding a copy of I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love on CD online is quite the task these days.

 

Killjoys issue one | Alternative Press12. Catch up on The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys
The comic series (which began as another comic series that informed the album, then became informed by the album) follows the life of “The Girl” depicted in the band’s Danger Days videos several years later. For bonus fun: Go on a hunt with some fellow MCR fans for the issues’ alternate covers! (Current issues and preorders available.)

13. Watch Life On The Murder Scene
You’ve probably seen it a million times, and you’re probably going to cry, but it never hurts. Plus sitting on your couch watching a DVD is “easy-peasy pumpkin-peasy. Pumpkin pie, motherfucker!” While you’re at it, you might as well whip out The Black Parade Is Dead! and ¡Venganza!

14. Dress up

Be fearless. Go to work in full Killjoys garb! Well, depending on your job or school, that is. If you can’t go to that extreme, or if you don’t want to go with the full on unholy living dead look, wearing a T-shirt, badge or subtle writing on your arm to show your support works just fine.

 

15. Listen to this two-hour 2005 Loveline interview
Yes, the sex advice show. NSFW.

16. Help out a fellow fan
Whether you’re an older fan who wants to welcome a younger one to the MCRmy or if you simply notice someone who wants or needs help, extend a helping hand and feel better for having done something nice.

17. Read Frank Iero’s writing
You can find the former MCR guitarist’s fiction-writing, poetry, rants, reviews, meme-generation and photography at frank-iero.com.

18. Celebrate with cupcakes

19. Revisit the “Helena” and “Sweet Revenge” flash games from the old website.

20. Heed this advice from Frank Iero:
“Your Imagination is the Ammunition.
Stay Dirty, and Stay Dangerous.
Create and Destroy as you see fit.
Embrace your Originality.
The Aftermath is Secondary.
You can and should do Anything.”

 

Now, GET UP AND GO!

How will you celebrate today? Reply with your plans and share on Twitter using the #MCRmyForLife tag. You might see your photo here later!
 

Our fearless leader acknowledges our efforts: