LONG LIVE THE BLACK PARADE: MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE TAKES OVER DODGER STADIUM
PHOTOS BY LINDSEY BYRNES
Photo: Lindsey Byrnes
When I was a young girl, my friend’s family took me to the city to watch a baseball game. The most memorable parts of that night weren’t the final score or the stadium seats—it was the Dodger Dog I ate and the fireworks finale set to My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade.”
In the summer of 2025, nearly two decades after its release, My Chemical Romance brought The Black Parade—one of emo rock’s most influential albums—to life at Dodger Stadium. A roaring crowd sang along, reaffirming the record’s lasting cultural and musical legacy.
Experiencing MCR (known to many as “My Chem”) today felt like being teleported back to the early 2000s. The concert featured elaborate set transitions, dramatic outfit changes, and all-out theatrical antics. Notable moments included a dancing clown, bursts of flames, a hot dog-eating bit, a lone cellist, and a commanding grand immortal dictator.
Gerard Way cycled through multiple looks—donning the iconic Black Parade uniform, a suspender-wearing puppeteer, and a camo-clad rebel. Mikey Way paid homage to Los Angeles in a Dodgers bomber jacket, playing a custom Fender bass with the team’s logo.
The crowd was just as committed to the aesthetic. Amidst a sea of black, there were red hair streaks, winged eyeliner, knee-high Converse, and full marching band attire. Fans of every kind—Transylvania vamps, Millennials, Zillennials, Gen Z teens, and even their parents—gathered to form what felt like a living, breathing Black Parade. Even the merch lines moved like a procession.
It’s rare to see a stadium show so thoughtfully curated. Presented by the fictional “Ministry of Complimentary Reconditioning” (a cheeky MCR acronym), the production played like a cabaret fever dream. The spirit echoed Pink Floyd’s The Wall—a noted inspiration for Gerard Way—and pushed the boundaries of what a rock concert could be.
The first act was a full performance of The Black Parade, reimagined as taking place in a dystopian nation called Draag. It opened with “Over Fields,” a newly released, militaristic anthem introduced as Draag’s national song. With its snare-driven intro and symbolic banners, it became clear this wasn’t just a concert—it was a theatrical experience.
A standout moment came during the satirical “Elexecution” skit, where Gerard Way read off fictional “Execution Rules and Warnings” before explaining: “This is the part of the show—of the performance of The Black Parade—where it’s either an execution or an election, but I’ve started to call it an Elexecution.” The audience voted on the fate of four characters using “yea” or “nay” cards distributed upon entry.
In the midst of this absurdity, Gerard reluctantly ate a Dodger Dog handed to him by a character in a business suit. Later, during a fiery performance of “Mama,” the opera singer Marianne filled in for Liza Minnelli’s original vocal lines, adding a live, dramatic edge. The first act closed with Gerard being stabbed by the clown, the band dragged offstage, and the clown dancing through a confetti explosion to the album’s hidden track “Blood.” The absurdity carried thematic weight—corporate satire, mortality, and the ever-growing MCR lore.
The second act began with cellist Clarice Jensen performing her original composition, “From A to B.” This haunting interlude led the crowd’s attention from the main stage to a more intimate setup in the center of the stadium. Fans were given the rare chance to see the full band up close: guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, drummer Jarrod Alexander (filling in with thunderous energy in honor of the late Bob Bryar), and touring keyboardist Jamie Muhoberac.
This set featured a mix of hits and rarities, including “Vampires Will Never Hurt You” (Gerard’s personal favorite), “Destroya,” and “Boy Division.” One of the night’s most emotional moments came with the debut of “War Beneath the Rain,” a previously unreleased track from The Paper Kingdom—a shelved 2013 concept album. Gerard dedicated the song to the family of their late producer and close friend Doug McKean: “It was just us in the studio with our friend Doug McKean. He was there recording it. His family’s here tonight. I want this to go out to them.”
Los Angeles clearly has a hold on My Chemical Romance—and the love flows both ways. Watching them command a stadium, connect with a multi-generational fanbase, and deliver a show this layered and ambitious was a reminder: this band isn’t just reliving a legacy, they’re expanding it.
The Black Parade remains a cornerstone of emo rock, but its power goes beyond genre. It’s a vigil in song form. A defiant scream. A shared memory. A movement that, as it turns out, was never “just a phase.”
