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The Black Parade Is Dead!

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The Black Parade Is Dead!
Live album by
My Chemical Romance
ReleasedJune 27, 2008
RecordedOctober 7 and 24, 2007
Venue
Length56:15 (CD)
124:31 (DVD)
LabelReprise
My Chemical Romance chronology
The Black Parade
(2006) 		The Black Parade Is Dead!
(2008) 		Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
(2010)

The Black Parade Is Dead! is a live album by the American rock band My Chemical Romance, released on June 27, 2008 through Reprise Records. Featuring a CD and a DVD, the release includes live recordings of two performances from the band's Black Parade World Tour, in support of their third studio album The Black Parade (2006).

These performances include their finale as the "Black Parade" alter-ego band at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, and a later performance at Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey. The Mexico City performance portion of the release only features The Black Parade, while the Maxwell's performance features a more varied track list of material from that album and their previous works, including a previously unreleased song which has been retroactively named "Someone Out There Loves You" by lead singer Gerard Way.

The album received positive reviews from critics. Many believed that the album was a good release for fans of the band, and some believed that it represented The Black Parade and the band at its best. However, others were critical about whether the concept of The Black Parade was overdone, and felt that the live performances were unable to retain a similar level of quality as the original album. The album charted in several countries, and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, the British Phonographic Industry, and Recorded Music NZ.

Background and release

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My Chemical Romance released their third studio album, The Black Parade, on October 23, 2006, through Reprise Records.[1] It is a concept album about a man dying from cancer, known as "the Patient", who reflects upon his life as he nears his death,[2] which is presented to him in the form of his fondest childhood memory: seeing a marching band.[3] On The Black Parade World Tour, the band performed the entire album in the persona of an alter ego band, known as the "Black Parade".[4][5][6] They played as the Black Parade alter-ego until October 24, 2007, when the alter-ego was killed off at their performance at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City.[7] Their performances as the Black Parade were noted for their "theatrical"-styled production,[8] featuring elaborate stage designs and elements like pyrotechnics that would go off during certain songs.[9][10]

The band's performance at the Palacio de los Deportes was recorded, and released as The Black Parade Is Dead! live album on June 27, 2008.[11] The release features both a CD and a DVD;[12] the CD features the recordings of their performance in Mexico City, while the DVD features the live footage of that performance as well as one of their later performances at Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey.[7] As part of a fan competition, the band created a limited edition version of the album. It featured three masks themed around imagery based on the Day of the Dead, three downloadable live recordings, and faux death certificates for each member of the band.[12] They released the full footage from the DVD onto YouTube in 2019.[13] That year, the live recording was released on vinyl as part of Record Store Day.[14]

The USB flash drive that ¡Venganza! was released on.

During the Black Parade World Tour, each performance where the band played as The Black Parade would be followed by them returning to the stage to play an assortment of songs from their earlier albums.[15] While this also occurred at the band's performance in Mexico City, the footage was excluded from The Black Parade Is Dead! and instead released as ¡Venganza! on March 31, 2009. The release came in the form of a USB flash drive in the shape of a bullet and was limited to only 5,000 copies.[16] It has since been considered a collector's item.[17]

Content

[edit]
My Chemical Romance performing as The Black Parade in 2007

The Black Parade Is Dead! features two discs: a CD containing the live recordings of the band's Mexico City performance, and a DVD with footage of that performance and their later one at Maxwell's.[12][7] The full track list of the CD is the same as that of The Black Parade, but played live and with one new track added, "The Black Parade Is Dead!", where lead singer Gerard Way announces to the audience that that performance would be the Black Parade's last.[7]

The tracklist of the Maxwell's performance is more varied, with only about half of it being songs from The Black Parade and the rest of it consisting of live performances of their other material.[7] It additionally features a live performance of a song that is referred to as simply "Untitled" on the tracklist, but has retroactively been named "Someone Out There Loves You" by Way. A demo or complete version of the song was never recorded, making the version of the song present on The Black Parade Is Dead! the only surviving version of the song.[18]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[7]
BBC(positive)[11]
IGN8.6/10[19]
Rolling StoneStarStar[20]
Thrash HitsStarStarStarStarStarStar[21]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[22]

Sophie Bruce of BBC Music wrote that the album demonstrated how My Chemical Romance was the "perfect live band", and that the album was "a must-have" for fans who were unable to see them live.[11] Anne Waites of Thrash Hits shared a similar opinion, giving the album a perfect rating and claiming that it demonstrated the "power they wield in the lowliest of circumstances", in reference to the quality of songs from The Black Parade even without the "bells and whistles".[21] IGN's Ed Thompson wrote that The Black Parade Is Dead! was better than the original album, stating that the live performances gave it an "extra dose of the excess that made the studio album so good in the first place".[19]

Some reviews felt that the concept of The Black Parade was overdone with the release of the live album, and ambitious to the point of being detrimental to the original album.[7][22][20] Kyle Anderson of Rolling Stone wrote that The Black Parade's ambitious production and instrumentals did not translate well into live performances, commenting that the recordings lacked the amount of energy present on the original album.[20] Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote that, although the performances and content featured on the album could come off as "overdone", she considered it an appropriate conclusion to The Black Parade—particularly for fans of the album.[7] Similar thoughts were echoed by a reviewer at Sputnikmusic.[22]

A reviewer at Sputnikmusic praised the album's production and recording quality, saying that "everything is clear", and that the "variety of camera angles provided is more than sufficient". He further highlighted the Maxwell's performance footage, which he believed "excellently capture" the atmosphere and energy of the show, and that viewers could feel getting "knocked around by the predictably enthusiastic audience".[22]

Commercial performance

[edit]

In the United States, The Black Parade Is Dead! reached #22 on the Billboard 200 chart.[23] In the United Kingdom, it reached #12,[24] and in New Zealand, the album reached #6.[25] Elsewhere, the album reached #10 in Australia,[26] #19 in Ireland,[27] #21 in Canada,[28] #24 in Austria,[29] #29 in Sweden,[30] and #40 in Portugal.[31] It also reached #51 and #120 in Germany and France, respectively.[32][33] The album has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America,[34] British Phonographic Industry[35] and Recorded Music NZ.[36]

Personnel

[edit]

My Chemical Romance

Additional musicians

Production

  • Atom Rothlein – director
  • Jennifer Destiny Rothlein – producer
  • Devin Sarno – executive producer
  • Kelly Norris Sarno – executive producer

Track listing

[edit]

CD and vinyl

[edit]
From the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico on October 7, 2007
No.TitleLength
1."The End."2:34
2."Dead!"3:17
3."This Is How I Disappear"3:51
4."The Sharpest Lives"3:18
5."Welcome to the Black Parade"5:06
6."I Don't Love You"3:47
7."House of Wolves"3:38
8."Interlude"1:01
9."Cancer"3:17
10."Mama"5:21
11."Sleep"5:31
12."Teenagers"3:04
13."The Black Parade Is Dead!"1:01
14."Disenchanted"4:59
15."Famous Last Words"5:10
16."Blood" (studio recording)1:22
Total length:56:15
Vinyl edition bonus tracks[37]
No.TitleLength
17."Kill All Your Friends" (studio recording)4:28
18."My Way Home Is Through You" (studio recording)2:58
19."Heaven Help Us" (studio recording)2:55
Total length:65:56

DVD

[edit]
From the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico on October 7, 2007
No.TitleLength
1."The End."2:34
2."Dead!"3:17
3."This Is How I Disappear"3:51
4."The Sharpest Lives"3:18
5."Welcome to the Black Parade"5:06
6."I Don't Love You"3:47
7."House of Wolves"3:38
8."Interlude"1:01
9."Cancer"3:17
10."Mama"5:21
11."Sleep"5:31
12."Teenagers"3:04
13."The Black Parade Is Dead!"1:01
14."Disenchanted"4:59
15."Famous Last Words"5:10
16."Blood" (studio recording)1:22
Total length:56:15
From Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey, on October 24, 2007
No.TitleLength
1."Welcome to the Black Parade"5:11
2."Thank You for the Venom"4:23
3."Dead!"5:05
4."The Sharpest Lives"4:40
5."This Is How I Disappear"3:53
6."Teenagers"4:07
7."I'm Not Okay (I Promise)"4:05
8."You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison"4:04
9."Famous Last Words"5:08
10."Give 'Em Hell, Kid"2:45
11."House of Wolves"3:42
12."It's Not a Fashion Statement, It's a Fucking Deathwish"4:38
13."I Don't Love You"4:27
14.Untitled4:19
15."Mama"4:45
16."Helena"4:54
17."Cancer"2:46
Total length:68:16

Charts

[edit]
2008 chart performance for The Black Parade Is Dead! (album)
Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] 10
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[29] 24
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] 21
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[38] 35
European Albums (Billboard)[39] 25
French Albums (SNEP)[32] 120
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[33] 51
Irish Albums (IRMA)[27] 19
Italian Albums (FIMI)[40] 62
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[41] 52
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[42] 9
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25] 6
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[31] 40
Scottish Albums (OCC)[43] 13
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[44] 78
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 29
UK Albums (OCC)[24] 12
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[45] 1
US Billboard 200[23] 22
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[46] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[47] 10
2008 chart performance for The Black Parade Is Dead! (video)
Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian Music DVD (ARIA)[48] 3
2020 chart performance for The Black Parade Is Dead! (album)
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[49] 26

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for The Black Parade Is Dead!
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[36]
album 		Gold 7,500‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[35]
album 		Silver 60,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34]
video 		Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Richardson, Jake (October 23, 2023). "19 Years Ago: My Chemical Romance Release the Definitive Emo Album, 'The Black Parade'". Loudwire. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  2. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Black Parade – My Chemical Romance". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  3. ^ Martin, Dan. "My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade". NME. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2007.
  4. ^ Thompson, Ed (March 21, 2007). "My Chemical Romance Bring Ostentatious Behavior To The Masses". IGN. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
  5. ^ Punknews.org (December 18, 2006). "Tours: My Chemical Romance / Rise Against". www.punknews.org. Archived from the original on March 15, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  6. ^ REVIEWER, Scott McLennan Telegram & Gazette. "My Chemical Romance parades into DCU Center". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on February 16, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Phares, Heather. "The Black Parade Is Dead!". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
  8. ^ Bryant 2014, p. 253.
  9. ^ Bryant 2014, p. 194.
  10. ^ NME (March 22, 2007). "My Chemical Romance: The Forum, LA; Saturday, March 10". NME. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Bruce, Sophie (2008). "Review of My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade is Dead". BBC. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c NME (June 6, 2008). "My Chemical Romance preview DVD online". NME. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  13. ^ Munrolast, Scott (January 22, 2018). "Series of My Chemical Romance outtake videos appear on YouTube". louder. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  14. ^ Trendell, Andrew (April 12, 2019). "Here's the full list of Record Store Day 2019 releases". NME. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  15. ^ Norris, John (February 23, 2007). "My Chemical Romance Bring The Black Parade To Life: John Norris Reports". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  16. ^ Byrne, Fiona (March 17, 2009). "My Chemical Romance to release limited edition live package". NME. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  17. ^ Whitt, Cassie. "From action figures to jumpsuits, these are the 23 rarest My Chemical Romance collectibles". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  18. ^ Whitt, Cassie. "Gerard Way Reddit AMA Recap: My Chemical Romance, gender, art and 'Hesitant Alien'". Alternative Press Magazine. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  19. ^ a b Thompson, Ed (July 18, 2008). "My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade is Dead!". IGN. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  20. ^ a b c Anderson, Kyle (July 1, 2008). "The Black Parade is Dead". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  21. ^ a b Waites, Anne (July 7, 2008). "DVD: My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Archived from the original on July 16, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  22. ^ a b c d "Review: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade Is Dead! - Sputnikmusic". Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  23. ^ a b "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  24. ^ a b "My Chemical Romance | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  25. ^ a b "Charts.nz – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Australiancharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  27. ^ a b "Irish-charts.com – Discography My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  28. ^ a b "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Austriancharts.at – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Swedishcharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Portuguesecharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  32. ^ a b "Lescharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  34. ^ a b "American video certifications – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  35. ^ a b "British album certifications – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  36. ^ a b "New Zealand album certifications – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type The Black Parade Is Dead in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  37. ^ The Black Parade Is Dead! (Vinyl track listing). Reprise Records. 2019. 093624899648.
  38. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  39. ^ "European Albums – Week of July 19, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  40. ^ "Italiancharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  41. ^ "ザ・ブラック・パレード・イズ・デッド! | マイ・ケミカル・ロマンス" [The Black Parade Is Dead! | My Chemical Romance] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  42. ^ "Mexicancharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  43. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  44. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  45. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  46. ^ "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  47. ^ "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  48. ^ "My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Top 40 DVD Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on July 28, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  49. ^ "Lista prodaje (strano) 19. tjedan 2020. (04.05.2020. – 10.05.2020.)". Top lista (in Croatian). May 18, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2025.

Sources

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