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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 bands Black Parade World Tour, in support of their third studio album The Black Parade. These performances include their final 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 every song from The Black Parade performed live, 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.

The album received positive reviews from critics. Many believed that the album was a good release to fans of the band, and others believed that it represented The Black Parade and the band at it's best. However, others were critical about whether the concept of The Black Parade was overdone, and believed 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 performing as The Black Parade in 2007

My Chemical Romance released their third studio album, The Black Parade, on October 23, 2006, through Reprise Records.[1] A concept album, it centers around 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] This also led to the creation of an alter-ego band named after the album, simply titled "The Black Parade".[4] The album was supported by The Black Parade World Tour,[5] where the band would play the album in its entirety as The Black Parade.[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] A limited edition release of the album was also released as part of a competition fans had to compete for; the release 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] The full footage from the DVD was later released officially onto YouTube in 2019.[13]

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.[14] While this also occurred at the bands performance in Mexico City, the footage was excluded from The Black Parade Is Dead! and instead released as a limited-edition release on a USB flash drive in the shape of a bullet, ¡Venganza!. This release was limited to only 5,000 copies and is considered a collectors item.[15]

Content

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The Black Parade Is Dead! features two discs: a CD containing the live recordings of the band's Mexico City performance, as well as 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 exact same as that of The Black Parade, but played live and with one new track added, "The Black Parade Is Dead!", where frontman Gerard Way announces to the audience that that performance would be the Black Parade's last.[7] The same applies to the DVD tracklist, but with footage of the performance and their later one at Maxwell's added.[7][11] 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.[16]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
BBC(positive)[11]
IGN8.6/10[17]
Rolling Stone[18]
Thrash Hits[19]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[20]

Sophie Bruce of BBC Music believed 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 similar beliefs, 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".[19] Heather Phares of AllMusic believed that the performances and content featured on the album could come off as "being overdone", he felt that it was an appropriate release—particularly for fans of the album.[7] Similar thoughts were echoed by a reviewer of Sputnikmusic.[20]

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 alabum.[7][20][18] Kyle Anderson of Rolling Stone felt that The Black Parade's ambitious production and instrumentals did not translate well into live performances, and believed that the recordings lacked the amount of energy present on the original album.[18] Meanwhile, IGN's Ed Thompson believed that The Black Parade Is Dead! was better than the original album, believing that the live performances gave it an "extra dose of the excess that made the studio album so good in the first place".[17]

A reviewer of 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".[20]

Commercial performance

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

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 bonus tracks
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

Chart positions

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Chart (2008) Peak
positions
Australian Albums (ARIA)[24] 10
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[27] 24
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[26] 21
French Albums (SNEP)[30] 120
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31] 51
Irish Albums (IRMA)[25] 19
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] 6
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[29] 40
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 29
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 12
US Billboard 200[21] 22

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34]
album 		Gold 7,500‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[33]
album 		Silver 60,000‡
United States (RIAA)[32]
video 		Gold 50,000^

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

References

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  1. ^ "The Black Parade — Album by My Chemical Romance — Apple Music". Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  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 i Phares, Heather. "The Black Parade Is Dead!". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
  8. ^ Bryant 2014, p. 279.
  9. ^ Bryant 2014, p. 207.
  10. ^ NME (March 22, 2007). "My Chemical Romance: The Forum, LA; Saturday, March 10". NME. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Whitt, Cassie. "From action figures to jumpsuits, these are the 23 rarest My Chemical Romance collectibles". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ a b c "The Black Parade is Dead". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ a b c d "Review: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade Is Dead! - Sputnikmusic". Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  21. ^ a b "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  22. ^ a b "My Chemical Romance | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  23. ^ a b "Charts.nz – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Australiancharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  25. ^ a b "Irish-charts.com – Discography My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Austriancharts.at – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Swedishcharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Portuguesecharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  30. ^ a b "Lescharts.com – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  32. ^ a b "American video certifications – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead!". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  33. ^ a b "British album certifications – My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  34. ^ 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.

Sources

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