MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

History

Early career (2001 – 2002)

The band was formed by frontman Gerard Way and drummer Matt Pelissier approximately one week after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Witnessing the planes crash into the World Trade Center influenced Way's life to the extent that he decided to start a band. Way wrote the song "Skylines and Turnstiles" to express his feelings about September 11th. Shortly thereafter, Ray Toro was called up and asked to join the band because at the time Way couldn't sing and play the guitar at the same time.^[3] The first recording sessions were done in Pelissier's attic, where the songs "Our Lady of Sorrows" (formerly called "Bring More Knives") and "Cubicles" were recorded. Frank Iero revealed that the band finished the lyrics to "Best Day Ever" moments before they arrived at the studio to begin recording. The band refers to those sessions as The Attic Demos. Mikey Way, the younger brother of Gerard, loved the demo so much that he decided to join the band after dropping out of college. Rumor had it that Mikey learned how to play the bass guitar just to join the band, but Gerard Way set the record straight in the CD/DVD Life on the Murder Scene when he reported that Mikey had been in several bands before joining My Chemical Romance.^[3]

My Chemical Romance signed with Eyeball Records, where Pencey Prep and Thursday recorded. While with Eyeball Records the band met Frank Iero, the lead vocalist and guitarist for Pencey Prep. After Pencey Prep broke up in 2001-02, Frank joined My Chemical Romance, just days before the band's debut album was recorded. ^[3] Three months after the formation of the band they recorded their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, subsequently released in 2002 on Eyeball Records. Despite only joining the band a few days before the album recording sessions began, Iero played guitar on two of the tracks, "Early Sunsets Over Monroeville," and the other being "Demolition Lovers." (He came up with the guitar harmony for "Early Sunsets Over Monroeville" sitting outside the studio, in the back of a van.) During this time, the band was booked at the infamous venue, Big Daddy's, where they began to receive mainstream attention. ^[4][5]

My Chemical Romance offered free downloads through PureVolume^[6] and the social networking site MySpace, where they gained an intital fan base.^[7]

Mainstream breakthrough (2003–2006)

In 2003, the band signed a deal with Reprise Records. Following a tour with Avenged Sevenfold, the band began work on their second album, entitled Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Released in 2004, the album went platinum within a year. The band released three singles from the album: "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", "Helena" and "The Ghost of You". It was during this time that the band replaced Matt Pelissier with Bob Bryar, after they came back from Japan in July 2004. It was a very controversial time for My Chem fans the world over. Matt left in agreement with everyone in the band; there were issues about his ability to keep time with the rest of the band. It is believed that Ray Toro asked him to try playing with a metronome for a little while, which offended the experienced drummer. Fans who were disappointed with Matt's departure wondered why the drummer, who took some artistic liberties in live performances, was relieved instead of the "pill-popping" lead vocalist. It is well-known that Gerard was at one time incredibly depressed; however, he has been clean and sober since August '05. This, perhaps, is the reason the band does not wish to talk about it often. This information was disclosed in the 2006 CD/DVD Life on the Murder Scene.^{[citation needed]}

At the start of 2005, the band toured on the first ever Taste of Chaos tour, and was also the opening act for Green Day on the American Idiot tour. During the summer, they co-headlined the Warped Tour 2005 with Fall Out Boy. Later that year, My Chemical Romance co-headlined and headlined their tour with Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect around the US. That same year, My Chemical Romance collaborated with The Used for a cover of the Queen and David Bowie classic, "Under Pressure" that was released as a benefit single on iTunes and other Internet outlets.

On March 21, 2006, a 2 DVD/1 CD set entitled Life on the Murder Scene was released. It included one DVD chronicling the band's history, and a second DVD with music videos, the making of their videos, and a couple of live performances. An unauthorized biography DVD Things That Make You Go MMM! was also released on June 27, 2006. The DVD does not actually feature any My Chemical Romance music clips or performances, but contains interviews with those who knew the band before much of their fame.^[8]

The band started recording their third studio album on April 10, 2006 with Rob Cavallo, producer of many of Green Day's albums.^[9][10] It was originally thought to be titled The Rise and Fall of My Chemical Romance, but in an interview with Kerrang! magazine, Gerard Way suggested this was just the album's working title, stating "It was never the title of the album, more a spoof, or joke."^[11] On August 3, 2006, the band finished shooting the videos for their first two singles from the album, "Welcome to the Black Parade" and "Famous Last Words", which was released on January 22, 2007.^[12] The video was directed by Sam Bayer, director of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Green Day's American Idiot videos.^[13] During the shoot for "Famous Last Words", band members Gerard Way and Bob Bryar were injured. Way suffered torn ligaments in his ankle, and Bryar a burn to the leg which caused a severe staph infection that needed constant monitoring in hospital. Consequently, the band was forced to cancel a few tour dates. While these injuries were reported by several news agencies to have been the result of a car accident, a statement released by the band on their website and MySpace page confirmed that these injuries occurred on the set of the video.^[14]

The Black Parade (2006–2007)

A biography titled Something Incredible This Way Comes was released, written by Paul Stenning (Published in 2006). It features their beginnings, right through to The Black Parade. On August 22, 2006, the band played a special one-off show at the 1800-capacity London Hammersmith Palais. The show sold out in 15 minutes prompting tickets being sold on eBay well over the tickets' face value. The name of the album they promoted was announced and 20 people dressed in black capes with their faces obscured paraded around Hammersmith, followed by a large group of fans and street team members with signs saying "The Black Parade". Later during the show the album title and the UK release date were confirmed. Prior to the band taking the stage it was announced that My Chemical Romance were unable to play, but they would be replaced by "The Black Parade". After initial crowd hostility it became clear the band were simply performing under a pseudonym in keeping with the theme of the album.

On September 2, 2006, My Chemical Romance posted "Welcome to the Black Parade" on their MySpace page and their PureVolume page.^[14] "Welcome to the Black Parade" had its first radio airing on September 11, 2006. On September 26, 2006, the music video for "Welcome to the Black Parade" was released in the UK, and on September 27 in the US.^[11]

On October 12, 2006, My Chemical Romance made a rare in-store performance to 500 fans at Virgin Megastores on London's Oxford Street. In order to get wristbands for the event, many fans slept outside the shop the previous night. British band Towers of London caused trouble at the event when the Towers guitarist, Dirk Tourette, allegedly flicked a cigarette butt at Bob Bryar while he was performing.^[15] "Welcome to the Black Parade" reached number one on October 15, 2006, on the UK Singles Chart, giving them their first number one. The Black Parade was released on October 23, 2006 in the United Kingdom and on October 24, 2006 in the United States.

The Black Parade World Tour started on February 22, 2007, with Rise Against, Thursday and Muse as support acts.^[16] At the first concert of the tour in Manchester, New Hampshire, My Chemical Romance announced the addition of Reggie and the Full Effect frontman James Dewees, who will play keyboards/synth on the tour. On March 12, 2007, the band appeared on the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as the host. They played their single, "Famous Last Words" at the ending of the show as flames were bursting behind them.

My Chemical Romance received many positive and negative accolades. In Kerrang! magazine, issue 1138, My Chemical Romance won the following categories in the 2006 poll: Best Band, Worst Band, Best Album (The Black Parade), Worst Album (The Black Parade), Best Track ("Welcome to the Black Parade"), Best Video ("Welcome to the Black Parade"), Best Live Show, Best Thing about 2006, Worst Thing about 2006, Hero of 2006 (Gerard Way), Villain of 2006 (Gerard Way), and Sexiest Male (Gerard Way). Also, in issue 1139, Kerrang! rated The Black Parade as the 4th Greatest Album of 2006. In Rolling Stone magazine's ranking of the top 50 albums of 2006, The Black Parade was voted the 20th best album of the year. My Chemical Romance won the award for "Best International Band" at the 2007 NME Awards. Gerard also won the "Hero of the Year" award.^[17]

My Chemical Romance on tour, wearing the clothes of The Black Parade

On April 19, 2007, it was announced that Mikey Way would temporarily leave My Chemical Romance's 2007 tour to spend time with his new wife, Alicia Simmons-Way. Mikey's temporary replacement was Matt Cortez, a friend of the band. On August 29, 2007 during a concert in Holmdel, New Jersey, Mikey returned for the performance of the group's song "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)".^[18]

During the third leg of The Black Parade World Tour as a support act for Muse, members of My Chemical Romance band and crew and members of Muse’s crew suffered food poisoning, and consequently had to cancel six shows.^[19] My Chemical Romance was a part of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour in 2007,^[20] along with, Placebo, Mindless Self Indulgence, Saosin, Taking Back Sunday, HIM, and Linkin Park.

Four original recordings from The Black Parade were featured on the Xbox 360 release of Guitar Hero II. "Dead!" was added to the song list in-game, and as of August 14, 2007 three more tracks were made available via bulk download from the Xbox Live Marketplace: "This is How I Disappear", "Teenagers", and "Famous Last Words". The My Chemical Romance Track Pack is available for 500 Microsoft Points. ^[21]

It was announced that My Chemical Romance will be on a headlining tour in Europe with Mindless Self Indulgence opening, starting in October 2007. ^[22]

In September 2007, My Chemical Romance confirmed they have no plans to record a new album until at least mid-2008.^[23]

On September 24, 2007, the group's lead vocalist Gerard Way has stated the group plans to release two more singles from The Black Parade, both of which will feature music videos directed by Way himself. Way also stated that bassist, and brother, Mikey Way will rejoin the group on tour, following his break from touring after his March 2007 marriage.

Mikey has now returned to the band and is touring with them as normal.

Despite the group saying they would not write songs until 2008, they played a new song recently, although technically untitled it has garnered the unofficial, fan given name "Stay" as it was the only discernible word at the song's first performance.^[24] On November 15th it was reported that Frank Iero and Bob Bryar would be sitting out the UK tour dates, with Bob having wrist problems and Frank having to return home to be with his family due to the death of his grandmother, guitar tec Matt Cortez replaced Frank, and Pete replaced Bob.^[25]

My Chemical Romance was nominated for "Best Alternative Group" at the 2007 American Music Awards, along with Linkin Park and The White Stripes, but Linkin Park won the award. This award was not aired on television.

On December 19, 2007 EP Live and Rare was released in Japan. The EP features tracks from singles from The Black Parade.

In the recent Australian shows, the song "Desert Song" was played as an encore, something that Gerard stated as something "they've really never got to play live". In addition to "Desert song", in South America they played the songs "My Way Home Is Through You" and "Kill All Your Friends".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Chemical_Romance

JENDERAL

Siapakah Djenderal Soedirman ?

Jendral Soedirman Pahlawan Pembela Kemerdekaan
1916 – 1950

Di Bodas Karangjati lah Sudirman dilahirkan, tepatnya di kabupaten Purbalingga tanggal 24 Januari 1916. Pendidikan terakhirnya adalah Sekolah Guru Muhammadiyah di Solo, tapi tidak sampai tamat. Kemudian ia menjadi guru di Muhammadiyah Cilacap. Semasa mudanya Sudirman aktif dalam organisasi pramuka dan terkenal sangat disiplin.
Dimasa pendudukan Jepang, Sudirman sangat memperhatikan masalah sosial. Lalu ia mendirikan koperasi untuk menolong rakyat dari bahaya kelaparan. Dan ia juga menjadi anggota Badan Pengurus Makanan Rakyat dan anggota Dewan Perwakilan Keresidenan Banyumas.
Pada masa itu pula Sudirman mengikuti pendidikan tentara Pembela Tanah Air (Peta) di Bogor. Kemudian ia diangkat menjadi Komandan Batalyon di Kroya. Jasa pertama Sudirman setelah kemerdekaan ialah merebut senjata pasukan Jepang di Banyumas.
Sesudah Tentara Keamanan Rakyat (TKR) terbentuk, ia diangkat menjadi Panglima Divisi V / Banyumas dengan pangkat kolonel. Bulan Desember 1945 ia memimpin pasukan TKR dalam pertempuran melawan Inggris di Ambarawa. Tanggal 12 Desember dilancarkan serangan serentak terhadap semua kedudukan Inggris. Akhirnya pasukan Inggris mengundurkan diri ke Semarang.
Dalam Konferensi TKR tanggal 12 Nopember 1945 Sudirman terpilih menjadi Panglima Besar TKR. Lalu tanggal 18 Desember 1945 ia dilantik oleh Presiden dengan pangkat Jenderal. Sejak itu TKR tumbuh menjadi Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI).
Sewaktu Belanda melancarkan Agresi Militer II, Jendral Sudirman sedang sakit, tetapi ia menolak saran Presiden untuk tetap tinggal didalam kota. Kurang lebih tujuh bulan ia mempimpim perang gerilya di hutan-hutan dan gunung-gunung. Banyak penderitaan yang dialaminya terutama penyakitnya sering kambuh dan tidak tersedianya obat-obatan.
Pulang dari medan gerilya, karena masih sakit, ia tidak dapat memimpin Angkatan Perang secara langsung, tetapi buah pemikirannya selalu dibutuhkan oleh Pemerintah.
Pengalima Besar Jenderal Sudirman meninggal dunia di Magelang pada tanggal 29 Januari 1950 dan dimakamkan di Taman Pahlawan Semaki, Yogyakarta.

Pembelengguan Sebuah Fakta Sejarah

Judul: Tingkah Laku Politik Panglima Besar Soedirman
Penulis:Dr Abdul Haris Nasution, Dr H Roeslan Abdulgani, Prof SI Poeradisastra, Sides Sudyarto DS (editor)
Kompas, 13 Maret 2003. SOEDIRMAN, salah seorang pahlawan nasional dan simbol Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) bukanlah nama yang asing di telinga. Ia mendapat tempat istimewa dalam sejarah perjuangan kemerdekaan Indonesia karena menjabat panglima angkatan bersenjata pada awal berdirinya republik ini. Namun, pengetahuan tentang Soedirman yang diberikan bangku sekolah tidak pernah cukup mendalam. Sementara ketersediaan literatur yang membahas Soedirman secara khusus jumlahnya tidak memadai.

Dalam kurun waktu 25 tahun pertama pascakemerdekaan, tercatat hanya ada satu buku saja yang menempatkan Soedirman sebagai pokok bahasan, yaitu "Djenderal Soedirman Pahlawan Kemerdekaan" (1963) yang ditulis Solichin Salam. Selebihnya pembahasan tentang Soedirman selalu hanya merupakan pelengkap bagi kerangka bahasan lain seperti tentang gerakan Pemuda Muhammadiyah, kepanduan Hizbul Wathan, perang revolusi kemerdekaan, tentara, politik militer, hingga tentang Tan Malaka.

Baru sekitar tahun 1980-an mulai bermunculan buku yang membahas Soedirman secara lebih spesifik, seperti "Perjalanan Bersahaja Jenderal Sudirman" karya SA Soekanto (1981), "Panglima Besar TNI Jenderal Soedirman: Pemimpin Pendobrak Terakhir Penjajahan di Indonesia, Kisah Seorang Pengawal" (1992) yang ditulis Tjokropranolo, mantan Gubernur DKI Tahun 1977-1982, atau "Panglima Besar Jenderal Sudirman Kader Muhammadiyah" (2000) karya Sardiman AM. Meskipun cukup banyak kuantitasnya, namun sebagian besar buku yang hadir tersebut cenderung mengaitkan tokoh ini dengan dunia ketentaraan dan lebih berupa memoar atau biografi Soedirman sebagai seorang tokoh.

Sedikit saja buku seperti "Genesis of Power General Sudirman and the Indonesian Military in Politics 1945-49" (1992) yang ditulis Salim Said, yang mengupas sikap dan pandangan politik Soedirman secara lebih mendalam, baik menyangkut penentangan Soedirman terhadap langkah politik pemerintah yang menjalin kerja sama dengan Belanda, tentang langkah-langkah politis yang diambil Soedirman dalam rangka mengedepankan sikap politiknya, dan keterkaitan Soedirman dengan Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946. Umumnya jika sampai pada pembahasan tentang hal tersebut, penulis-penulis cenderung "melindungi" keterlibatan Soedirman dalam peristiwa yang diyakini sebagai upaya coup d' ètat dan "membersihkan" kecenderungan ideologi kiri Soedirman dengan berbagai alasan.

Fakta sejarah tersebut memang rawan dibicarakan ketika rezim yang berkuasa bersandar pada kekuatan militer yang mengangkat Soedirman sebagai panglima besarnya. Tak ayal lagi, ketika buku yang menganalisis Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946 terbit, pemerintah Orde Baru langsung membelenggu peredarannya lewat daftar cekal Kejaksaan Agung (Kejagung). "Tingkah Laku Politik Panglima Besar Soedirman", buku yang mengangkat Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946 sebagai fokus bahasan, memaparkan pergolakan internal para elite politik Indonesia pada awal kemerdekaan dengan titik berat telaah pada pandangan dan sikap politik yang diambil Soedirman selaku panglima besar dalam menanggapi berbagai situasi politik yang berkembang saat itu.

Panglima Besar Soedirman" merupakan kumpulan beberapa tulisan, di antaranya tulisan dua pelaku sejarah bangsa ini yaitu Abdul Haris Nasution dari kalangan militer dan Roeslan Abdulgani yang mewakili unsur sipil yang turut berjuang dalam perang kemerdekaan. Selain itu, termaktub pula analisis terhadap Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946 dari SI Poeradisastra, sejarawan dan Guru Besar UI, dan rangkuman dari Sides Sudyarto DS, pemenang sayembara puisi Prasasti Ancol tahun 1977 dan mantan wartawan yang pernah bergabung di Kompas tahun 1974-1981.

Buku yang pertama kali dicetak sebanyak 5.000 eksemplar dan diluncurkan sekitar awal tahun 1984, ini tamat riwayat peredarannya di masyarakat kurang lebih enam bulan kemudian, tepatnya tanggal 28 Agustus 1984, setelah diharamkan oleh Kejaksaan Agung (Kejagung) lewat fatwa No 167/JA/8/1984. Menurut Sides, editor buku itu yang sempat diinterogasi Kejagung sebanyak sembilan kali, tidak ada alasan formal yang menjadi landasan pencekalan buku yang bermuatan fakta sejarah tersebut.

Dalam "Tingkah Laku Politik Panglima Besar Soedirman", Nasution menuangkan pengalaman pribadi sebagai prajurit di lapangan yang langsung menerima perintah Soedirman. Sebagai seorang bawahan, ia lebih banyak menyoroti kepemimpinan Soedirman sebagai panglima besar dalam menyikapi berbagai kondisi politik bangsa dan menghindari pembahasan tentang Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946. Meskipun begitu, ia mengakui bahwa dirinya berseberangan pendapat dengan Soedirman dalam persoalan "Reorganisasi-Rasionalisasi" (Re-Ra) tentara yang merupakan imbas dari Perjanjian Renville tahun 1948.

Dalam mengulas Soedirman, Abdulgani menempatkan panglima besar tersebut dalam konteks pertikaian ideologi yang mendominasi kala itu. Meskipun dalam Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946 di Yogyakarta Soedirman dituduh membantu upaya coup d' ètat terhadap duet Soekarno-Hatta, dengan membebaskan orang-orang dari kelompok Marxisme-Leninisme independen (Tan Malaka) yang ditahan di Penjara Wirogunan, namun menurut Abdulgani tekad untuk mempertahankan kemerdekaan dan loyalitas terhadap negara tetap dipegang teguh Soedirman yang secara historis masuk dalam kelompok Islamisme, namun bukan aliran yang fanatik dan intoleran. Walaupun sempat berseberangan pandangan politik dengan pemerintah yang saat itu dikuasai kelompok Marxisme-Liberalisme moderat (Amir Sjarifuddin dan Sjahrir), Soedirman tidak memanfaatkan posisi panglima besar yang strategis untuk menggulingkan pemerintah resmi Soekarno-Hatta.

Poeradisastra sebagai seorang sejarawan berupaya obyektif dalam melihat fakta Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946. Analisis terhadap rangkaian kejadian, proses sidang di Mahkamah Agung, kesaksian Soedirman, serta pernyataan dan pembelaan dari para pelaku yang terlibat dalam peristiwa itu, seperti Iwa Koesoema Soemantri, Ahmad Soebardjo, dan M Yamin dari kubu Persatuan Perjuangan yang berafiliasi pada Tan Malaka, melahirkan satu kesimpulan bahwa telah terjadi tawar-menawar antara Soedirman dengan para anggota Kabinet Sjahrir yang secara coute que coute membentuk pra-anggapan peristiwa tersebut sebagai suatu coup d' ètat.

Meskipun Poeradisastra tidak mengingkari keterlibatan Soedirman dalam Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946, namun ia yakin Soedirman melakukan negosiasi tersebut untuk menyelamatkan keutuhan komando tentara saat itu. Sejarah membuktikan, Soedirman tetap menjaga manunggalnya tentara dengan pemerintah. Ia mengorbankan hati nuraninya yang tidak setuju dengan keputusan pemerintah untuk berkompromi dengan Belanda demi persatuan negara dan membayar beban psikologisnya dengan kesehatan yang kian hari semakin memburuk.

Upaya meminta Soekarno mengubah susunan Kabinet Sjahrir dan menerima minimum program Persatuan Perjuangan 7 pasal yang dikenal dengan Peristiwa 3 Juli 1946, memang tidak dibahas secara mendalam dalam wacana sejarah Indonesia selama ini. Padahal, peristiwa tersebut jelas melibatkan Soedirman yang disinyalir mendukung Persatuan Perjuangan yang berada di bawah komando Tan Malaka. Kedekatan dan kesamaan visi Soedirman dengan Tan Malaka yang oleh Orde Baru dituding sebagai komunis mengindikasikan ideologi yang dianut Soedirman.Hal inilah yang coba ditutupi rezim Orde Baru yang berdiri di atas kekuatan militer. Bagaimana publik akan bereaksi jika menyadari fakta bahwa Panglima Besar TNI adalah seorang sosialis! (Nurul Fatchiati)

http://alumni-unsoed.tripod.com/id17.html