Live Photos: My Chemical Romance, May 9, 2008

My Chemical Romance
May 9, 2008
Madison Square Garden. New York, N.Y.

Imagine standing on the floor of Madison Square Garden in the photo pit at the foot of the stage, waiting for the show to start. The venue is buzzing with high-school age females, hair dyed matte black and sporting eyeliner as thick as Cleopatra. The volume bumps a notch whenever a popular song comes over the PA, and in a moment straight out of a romantic comedy, twenty-something-thousand kids are lustily singing along to the immortal chorus of the Turtles’ Happy Together. It couldn’t have been scripted any better unless My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way had been onstage conducting the scene with a baton. The band was still rolling out the Black Parade show 18 months after the album’s release, sparing no expense on bold lighting, plenty of smoke and a deafening decibel level. Its also hadn’t relinquished bulletproof vests as a fashion statement.—Christa Titus

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Despite wearing a black flak vest, Frank Iero’s taste goes the subtle route. Not so for Mikey Fuckin Way.
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Ray Toro, accompanied by two bottles of Heineken. We didn’t see his face once in the 15 minutes we had to shoot.
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Gerard Way, foreground, and Bob Bryar listen up.
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Gerard Way, commanding the masses.
(Behind are Mikey Way, left, and Bob Bryar.)

Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Mikey Way’s head blurs with the velocity of his playing.
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Mikey Way
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Mikey Way, left, and Ray Toro.
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Gerard Way
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Gerard Way unwittingly presents a target for testing the durability of his bulletproof vest. Drummer Bob Bryar wisely stays low.
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus

Staking his spot on the stage.
(Gerard Way)
Photo © 2008/Christa Titus