My Chemical Romance Trade Theatrics for Raw Rock on Next LP

When My Chemical Romance finally stopped touring behind their 2006 concept album The Black Parade, the band was so drained guitarist Frank Iero feared the worst: "I thought the band was going to break up." But instead of splitting, MCR took a break, then hit a Los Angeles studio with Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen producer Brendan O'Brien and spent almost a full year crafting something far from the theatrical pomp of the Parade. As singer Gerard Way tells Rolling Stone in our new issue, he wanted to "harness everything that's great about this band into shorter songs. Almost protopunk, like the Stooges or the MC5."

The New Jersey quintet's as-yet-untitled fourth disc is due in the spring, and RS hung out in the studio while Way cut some vocals for "Trans Am," the track that stoked their new creative direction and pushed them to become "an American rock band instead of a British rock band," as he puts it. The first-pumper begins with "I got a bulletproof heart" and includes a Queen-esque section where Way sings "These pigs are after me, after you" repeatedly.

When RS caught up with Way at Comic-Con earlier this year, he reported the band had written its very own "Born to Run" in "Death Before Disco." "I can't wait for people to hear it. To me, it's the greatest song we've ever written — it's my favorite MCR song," he said.

For the full story on the band's upcoming disc, grab the latest issue of RS, on stands now.

Related Stories:
• Q&A: Gerard Way
• My Chemical Romance: The Six-Pack Q&A

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter