Some My Chemical Romance fans are reportedly threatening to sell their tickets after a theatrical ‘execution’ and political stunt opened the band’s new tour in Seattle.
My Chemical Romance kicked off their Long Live The Black Parade North American tour in Seattle with a heavy dose of theatricality and political commentary, and not everyone in the crowd was ready for it.
During the July 11 show in Seattle, Gerard Way introduced a staged “experiment” he described as a practice of democracy. Audience members were handed signs marked with “yea” and “nay”, which they were later asked to raise as part of a mock election held on stage.
“What we are going to do here is have an election,” Way told the crowd, directing their attention to four figures with sacks over their heads in a spotlight. After voting concluded, the ‘candidates’ were theatrically executed on stage.
“Thank you so very much for participating in democracy,” Way said to close out the act.
The dramatic moment quickly divided fans online. One person on Facebook called it “weird demonic sh*t,” while others expressed frustration that the band had gone “woke,” with some reportedly threatening to sell their tickets in response according to The Mirror. A handful of concertgoers said they had no idea My Chemical Romance leaned political and were caught off guard by the display.
One TikTok user posted a video of themselves side-eyeing the camera as they watched the show, captioned: “My discernment actively trying to make sense of all this ‘theatrical propaganda.” It’s worth noting most of the comments did involve others bullying the user, including one user who replied, “I’m so glad you had a bad time.”
Despite the supposed backlash, longtime fans weren’t having it – and their voices have arguably been much louder than those unimpressed with My Chemical Romance’s on-stage theatrics (something they have always leaned into).
Many pointed out that the band has always had a political edge, and that this moment was on-brand – and those who were blindsided likely only listened casually if they had never noticed this.
“The amount of people who went to the first stop for My Chemical Romance complaining that they’ve become woke and the show was propaganda. Hi, you new here?” one fan posted. “If you’re shocked by My Chemical Romance doing political stuff, have you ever listened to Danger Days?” another added, referring to the band’s 2010 concept album about rebellion in a dystopian, corporate-run future.
A Reddit thread discussing the show also saw comments like: “People suddenly realising that MCR is political is almost as bonkers as people complaining about Green Day being political, when American Idiot literally exists.”
Formed in the aftermath of 9/11, My Chemical Romance have always pulled from themes of grief, resistance, and survival. Their most iconic record, The Black Parade, which explores mortality through the lens of a rock opera, was performed in full at the Seattle show, with the whole ‘concept’ of the tour focusing around the “grand immortal dictator” bringing the marching band back.
While the band hasn’t publicly addressed the backlash, their fans have made it clear: this is exactly who My Chemical Romance has always been. Here’s hoping us Aussies might get to see the band tour Down Under soon.
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