Yesterday, July 20, 2016 a video was released on the official My Chemical Romance (MCR) YouTube page. The same video is posted on the official My Chemical Romance website by user MCR under the simple title of "Watch This."
Within 24 hours, the video already has 500,000+ views on YouTube. The video is only 34 seconds long. It features a flag with a stylized X billowing in a breeze while the iconic introductory bars of MCR's most recognizable song, "Welcome To The Black Parade", plays in the background. As the music ends, the screen changes, fading from the flag to the simple date 9/23/16. It's unclear right now if that date is the date for an album release or something else, but either way it's exciting news for fans.
The other exciting thing is that MCR seems to have re-branded itself into MRCX, as evidenced by their Youtube, official website, Facebook, and Twitter page.
This re-branding indicates, to me, that the band is making a comeback and not having a reunion tour. This is huge news, as no one thought that the band would come back after their breakup announcement posted on their official website on March 22, 2013. Most people thought that Gerard Way, the lead singer of MCR would continue his solo career after releasing his first solo album "Hesitant Alien" and the band would remain a fond memory of the early and mid 2000's.
This entire situation reminds me of a few of years ago, when the band Fall Out Boy came off of hiatus. No one expected them to do it, most of the members had split off and were trying out solo careers with varying degrees of failure. Then, suddenly, there was an announcement for a new album posted -- an album that had been kept secret from the music industry, critics, and fans.
Many fans of Fall Out Boy were just as excited then as fans of MCR are now to have news of their favorite band coming back. But, if history does repeat itself with MCR, it's very likely that the re-imagined band, MCRX, will be coming back with a different sound, as Fall Out Boy did. Older fans may not like the new sound, while newer fans may love it. This may cause infighting among the fanbase, and a sense of elitism may grow in the older members. This is what happened with fans of Fall Out Boy. A new generation was introduced to this music that was very much focused on sounding more pop-like than the band had before, and the older generation was disgruntled (to say the least).
That's the future though. Right now, every fan of MCR, new and old, should simply rejoice in the light of this announcement. Right now, every fan should show their support and excitement to the band via social media. Right now, every fan should eagerly await new news. I know I will be.
