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He's just fucking awesome :3
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Gerard Way
|Nationality = American
|image = Gerard Way Big Day Out 2012 2.jpg
|image_size = 240
|caption = Gerard Way in 2012.
|background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Gerard Arthur Way
|alias =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|4|9}}
|birth_place =[[Summit, New Jersey]], [[United States]]
|origin = [[Belleville, New Jersey]]
|genre = [[Alternative rock]], [[post-hardcore]], [[punk rock]], [[pop punk]]
|occupation = [[Musician]], [[Writer|comic book writer]], [[Executive Producer]]
|years_active = 2001&ndash;present
|instrument = [[Singing|Vocals]], [[guitar]]
|associated_acts = [[My Chemical Romance]]
|label = [[Reprise Records|Reprise]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], [[Eyeball Records|Eyeball]]
| notable_instruments =
}}
'''Gerard Arthur Way''' (born April 9, 1977) is an American [[musician]] and [[comic book]] [[writer]] who was [[lead vocalist]] and [[co-founder]] of the band [[My Chemical Romance]] from its formation in September 2001 until its split in March 2013. He is the [[executive producer]] of the band [[LostAlone]]'s second album ''[[I'm a UFO in This City]]'', and the writer of the [[Eisner Award]]-winning [[comic book]] ''[[The Umbrella Academy]]''.

==Early life==
Gerard Way was born April 9, 1977 in [[Summit, New Jersey]]<ref name="BBC interview">{{cite web| publisher= [[BBC Radio 1]]| title= Radio 1 Presents... My Chemical Romance| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/events/mychemicalromance.shtml }} From the radio interview</ref> to Donna Lee (née Rush) and Donald Way. He has Italian ancestry on his mother's side and Scottish ancestry on his father's.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} He was raised in [[Belleville, New Jersey]] and first began singing publicly in the fourth grade, when he played the role of [[Peter Pan]] in a school musical production. His maternal grandmother, Elena Lee Rush, was a great creative influence who taught him to sing, paint, and perform from a young age; he has said that "she has taught me everything I know".<ref name="INO">{{cite web| publisher= ImNotOkay.net| title= Gerard's Biography| url= http://www.imnotokay.net/my-chemical-romance/gerard-way/ | accessdate= April 8, 2007}}</ref> Also, while in elementary school, the [[glam metal]] band [[Bon Jovi]] was instrumental in forming his love of music.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY9qgRy-mXM |title=Gerard Way & Jon Bon Jovi - Interview |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2012-03-14}}</ref>

At the age of 15, Way was held at gunpoint, as he said in an April 2008 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' interview: "I got held up with a [[.357 Magnum]], had a gun pointed to my head and put on the floor, execution-style." He went on to say that "no matter how ugly the world gets or how stupid it shows me it is, I always have faith."<ref>{{cite web| publisher= rollingstone.com| title= Future of Music: Gerard Way| url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/future-of-music-gerard-way-20071115 | accessdate= February 28, 2011}}</ref> At age 16, Way appeared on an episode of ''[[Sally Jesse Raphael]]'' which discussed the controversy surrounding the publicizing of serial killer [[Jeffrey Dahmer]]'s crimes in [[comic book]]s.<ref>http://mikeywayturnthatoff.buzznet.com/user/video/2641181/sally-jesse-raphael-hart-d/</ref>

Way attended [[Belleville High School (New Jersey)|Belleville High School]] until he graduated in 1995. Deciding to pursue a career in the comic-book industry,<ref>[http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006490077,00.html Geeks become No1 emo stars], ''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]'', October 23, 2006. "His is taken from the 1995 yearbook for Belleville High School, New Jersey, when Gerard, then 18, posed for the camera alongside other students in his leaving year."</ref> he attended the [[School of Visual Arts]] in [[New York City]], graduating with a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] in 1999.<ref name="INO"/><ref>Gustines, George Gene. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/books/20comi.html "Superhero Stylings From Stars of Pop"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 20, 2007. Accessed November 27, 2007. "For Mr. Way, “Umbrella Academy” was another way to be productive when he wasn’t recording with the band. It also used skills he developed as a student at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan."</ref>

==Career==

===Music===

[[File:Gerard Way East Scene 2.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Gerard Way in [[Montreal]], [[Canada]], during the tour [[10th Annual Honda Civic Tour|Honda Civic Tour]] in August 2011]]
As teenagers Gerard and his brother Mikey Way, who later became the bassist of [[My Chemical Romance]], were influenced by artists such as [[Iron Maiden]], [[Misfits (band)|The Misfits]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]],<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231/queen-20110426 100 greatest artists of all time - Rolling Stone]</ref> [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]], [[Blur (band)|Blur]] and [[Morrissey]] and [[The Smiths]]. Way originally wanted to be a guitarist. His grandmother bought him his first guitar at the age of eight and he played in short-lived bands such as Ray Gun Jones and Nancy Drew with future bandmate Ray Toro, but when he was not successful (one band kicking him out due to his lack of skill with the guitar), he chose to concentrate on his art career.<ref>https://apps.masscanvas.com/facebook/artist/14</ref>

Way was working as an intern for [[Cartoon Network]] in New York City during the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]. Seeing the effects of the attacks first-hand prompted Way to change his views on life in the following weeks. He told ''Spin'' magazine, "I literally said to myself, 'Fuck art. I’ve gotta get out of the basement. I’ve gotta see the world. I’ve gotta make a difference.'"<ref>[http://www.spin.com/features/magazine/covers/2005/05/05312005_mcr/ SPIN Magazine Cover Stories My Chemical Romance], ''[[Spin magazine|Spin]]'' magazine, May 31, 2005 “I literally said to myself, ‘Fuck art. I’ve gotta get out of the basement. I’ve gotta see the world. I’ve gotta make a difference.’”</ref> To help deal with the emotional effects the attacks had on him, Way wrote the lyrics to the song "Skylines and Turnstiles", which has since been identified as the first song by ''My Chemical Romance''.<ref name="Yahoo">{{cite web| publisher= Yahoo.com| title= My Chemical Romance Biography| url= http://music.yahoo.com/ar-309929-bio--My-Chemical-Romance | accessdate= February 10, 2007}}</ref> Soon after, [[My Chemical Romance]] began to assemble as a band.

Way has contributed vocally to bands such as [[Every Time I Die]]'s 'Kill The Music', [[Head Automatica]]'s 'Graduation Day', [[Say Anything (band)|Say Anything]]'s "In Defense Of The Genre", and [[The Oval Portrait (band)|The Oval Portrait]]'s "From My Cold Dead Hands" and "Barnabus Collins Has More Skeletons In His Closet Than Vincent Price".

In many interviews Way has stated that music turned out to be an effective outlet to deal with his longtime battles against [[clinical depression|depression]], [[alcoholism]] and prescription drug use. The use of music as a way to resolve personal battles has caused Way to create deeply personal songs such as "[[Helena (song)|Helena]],"<ref name="AMG">{{cite web| publisher= Allmusic| title= My Chemical Romance Biography| url= {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p533805/biography|pure_url=yes}} | accessdate= February 10, 2007}}</ref> which was written in memory of his late grandmother.

In 2008, Way and musical project [[Julien-K]] remixed a version of the song [[Sleep When I'm Dead]] by [[The Cure]] for their EP '[[Hypnagogic States]]'. All profits gained from the sales of the EP go to funding the [[International Red Cross]].

In early 2009, Way and [[Japanese people|Japanese]] singer [[Kyosuke Himuro]] co-produced the new theme song for ''[[Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete|Advent Children Complete]]'', the [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] director's cut of the movie sequel to the popular video game franchise, ''[[Compilation of Final Fantasy VII]]''. He is also credited with writing the lyrics, and singing alongside Himuro. The song is entitled "Safe and Sound" and was released on iTunes on April 29, 2009.<ref name="wayfinalfantasy">{{cite web | url=http://www.himuro.com/jpn/safeandsound/ | title=Safe and Sound - Kyosuke Himuro feat. Gerard Way | accessdate=April 18, 2007 }}</ref> "Safe and Sound" is only heard on the Japanese release of the film; the English release uses Himuro's "Calling" (the original ending theme for ''Advent Children'') in place of it. He also contributed vocals for the vocal mix of the [[deadmau5]] song "Professional Griefers".

A longtime supporter of the British rock band [[LostAlone]], Way is the executive producer of their second studio album ''[[I'm a UFO in This City]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzfps7NAYU1qfx13eo1_1280.jpg|publisher=''[[NME]]''|title=Gerard Way Turns Tipster}}</ref>

In early 2013, My Chemical Romance announced their break up for, at this time, reasons unknown. Gerard Way also announced the drop of his new comic "The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys" to be on June 6 of 2013.

===Writing===

Gerard Way's first attempt at writing a comic was at the age of 16, writing a comic book series called ''On Raven's Wings'', published by [[Hart D. Fisher]]'s Bonyard Press, which was cancelled after Issue 2 due to losing the art team; he was credited as Garry Way.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pulpsecret.com/post/5949/exclusive-first-look-at-mcrs-gerard-ways-on-ravens-wings |publisher=pulpsecret.com |title=Exclusiver First Look at MCR's Gerard Way's On Raven's Wings}}</ref>

In 2007, Way began writing the comic-book miniseries ''[[The Umbrella Academy]]''. Way wrote the story and illustrated the original version, but cartoonist Gabriel Ba recreated all of Way's original drawings in the final version. A few of Way's first drawings of the characters can be seen in the last few pages of the first book in the series, ''[[The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite|Apocalypse Suite]]''.

''Apocalypse Suite'' was first released by [[Dark Horse Comics]] in their [[Free Comic Book Day]] issue on May 5, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=14-602 |publisher=darkhorse.com |title=Free Comic Book Day 2007 }}</ref> Since then, an eight-page story has been published on MySpace, entitled "Safe & Sound".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myspace.com/darkhorsepresents |publisher=myspace.com |title=Dark Horse Presents }}</ref> The first official issue was released on September 19, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=14-482 |publisher=darkhorse.com |title=
Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #1}}</ref> The first issue to sell out and consequently there was a second printing released on October 17, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=14-482+a |publisher=darkhorse.com |title=Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #1 2nd printing}}</ref> ''Apocalypse Suite'' also won the 2008 [[Eisner Award]] for Best Limited Series.<ref>[http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_08win.shtml]</ref>
The next installment of the series, ''[[The Umbrella Academy: Dallas|Dallas]]'', was released on November 26, 2008,<ref name="Release Date">{{cite web| title= The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #1 (of 6)| publisher= darkhorse.com| date= 2008-12-04| url= http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/15-604/The-Umbrella-Academy-Dallas-1-of-6| accessdate= 2008-12-04}}</ref> and a third installment entitled ''Hotel Oblivion'' is currently in the works.

Way and fellow artists Shaun Simon and [[Becky Cloonan]] are currently in the process of developing and creating a new comic-book series entitled ''[[The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (comic book)|The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys]]'', which Way announced at 2009 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]. At the 2012 [[New York Comic Con]], the team announced that the first look at the series will be released on 2013's Free Comic Book Day.<ref>{{cite web|title=My Chemical Romance Gerard Way Talk Comic Con 2012 Announcement For Killjoys|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTkwG26YzEw|publisher=Artisan News Service|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref>

In 2011 My Chemical Romance stated that Mikey and Gerard are working on another comic book project which they have kept under wraps as of mid-2011.

===Cartoons===
In 2001 Way co-created a cartoon with Joe Boyle called ''The Breakfast Monkey''. They pitched it to [[Cartoon Network]], but the network declined to pick up the concept on the grounds that it was too similar to the existing property ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]''.<ref name="TV.com">{{cite web| publisher= TV.com| title= Gerard Way Biography| url= http://www.tv.com/gerard-way/person/441539/biography.html | accessdate= September 14, 2007}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Way struggled with [[alcoholism]] and prescription drug addiction for many years and has now been sober since August 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=Im Not Okay | url=http://www.imnotokay.net/my-chemical-romance/gerard-way/}}</ref> In a November 2010 issue of Spin magazine, he said that having become a happier person and feeling more in control, he had been able to enjoy the occasional recreational drink.<ref name=spin-nov-2010>{{cite web|last=Eells|first=Josh|title=My Chemical Romance Bounce Back From The Brink|url=http://www.spin.com/articles/my-chemical-romance-bounce-back-brink|work=Spin, 16 November 2010|accessdate=7 November 2012}}</ref>

On September 3, 2007 after a concert in Colorado, Way married [[Lyn-Z]] of [[Mindless Self Indulgence]] backstage on the final date of the [[Projekt Revolution]] tour. A member of Live Nation's touring staff that was also an ordained minister performed the low-key ceremony.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www2.kerrang.com/2007/09/mcr_gerard_ties_the_knot.html | title=MCR: Gerard ties the knot | accessdate= September 5, 2007}}</ref> He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.<ref>[http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=DOQfcVf8iUQ KROQ interview with ''Kevin & Bean'', July 14, 2008]</ref> His daughter, Bandit Lee Way, was born in California on May 27, 2009.<ref>[https://twitter.com/levarburton/status/1941609356 Twitter.com]</ref>

== Discography ==

=== My Chemical Romance ===
{|class="wikitable" style="width:79.5%"
! rowspan="2" width="30" | Year
! rowspan="2" width="280" | Album details
! colspan="11" | Chart peaks
! rowspan="2" width="140" | Certifications<br><small>([[List of music recording certifications#Albums|sales thresholds]])</small>
|-
! width="30" | <small>[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br><ref name="Australian charts">{{Cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=My+Chemical+Romance&cat=a |title=Australian Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance |publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br><ref name="Austrian charts">{{Cite web |url=http://austriancharts.at/search.asp?search=My+Chemical+Romance&cat=a |title=Austrian Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance |publisher=Hung Medien |language=German |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Billboard charts|CAN]]<br><ref name="US-1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/my-chemical-romance-p533805/charts-awards/billboard-albums |title=My Chemical Romance - Charts & Awards - ''Billboard'' Albums |work=[[Allmusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation|Macrovision]]|accessdate=2010-09-05}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Media Control Charts|GER]]<br><ref name="German charts">{{Cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/My+Chemical+Romance/?type=longplay |title=Chartverfolgung: My Chemical Romance, Longplay |publisher=PhonoNet |language=German |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Irish Albums Chart|IRL]]<br><ref name="Irish charts">{{Cite web |url=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=My+Chemical+Romance |title=Irish Charts Search for My Chemical Romance |publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Oricon|JPN]]<br><ref name="Japanese chart">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/340766/ranking/cd_album/ |title=マイ・ケミカル・ロマンス |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=Japanese |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|MEX]]<br><ref name="Mexican charts">{{Cite web |url=http://mexicancharts.com/search.asp?search=My+Chemical+Romance&cat=a |title=Mexican Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance |publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZL]]<br><ref name="New Zealand charts">{{Cite web |url=http://charts.org.nz/search.asp?search=My+Chemical+Romance&cat=a |title=New Zealand Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance |publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br><ref name="Swedish charts">{{Cite web |url=http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?search=My+Chemical+Romance&cat=a |title=Swedish Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance |publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British charts">{{Cite web |first=Tobias |last=Zywietz |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_M.HTM |title=Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol|publisher=Zobbel |accessdate=2010-09-05}}</ref></small>
! width="30" | <small>[[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="US-1"/></small>
|-
| 2002
| '''''[[I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love]]'''''
* Released: July 23, 2002
* Label: [[Eyeball Records]]
* Format: [[Compact Disc|CD]], [[Compact Cassette|CS]], [[Digital distribution|DD]], [[Enhanced CD]], [[LP record|LP]]
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | 250
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | 129
| align="center" | —
| [[British Phonographic Industry|UK]]: Gold<ref name="BPI">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |title=BPI Certified Awards Search for "My Chemical Romance" |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref>
|-
| 2004
| '''''[[Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge]]'''''
* Released: June 8, 2004
* Label: [[Reprise Records]]
* Format: CD, CD+[[DVD]], CS, DD, LP
| align="center" | 38
| align="center" | 73
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | 57
| align="center" | 36
| align="center" | 73
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | 30
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | 34
| align="center" | 28
| {{Unbulleted list
|<!-- Argentina -->[[Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers|ARG]]: Gold<ref name="CAPIF">{{Cite web |url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=My+Chemical+Romance&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=0&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |title=Discos de Oro y Platino: Buscar de Nombre del Intérprete "My Chemical Romance" |publisher=[[Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers]] |language=Spanish |accessdate=2010-09-20}}</ref>
|<!-- Australia -->[[Australian Recording Industry Association|AUS]]: Gold<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm |title=ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2006 Albums |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |accessdate=2010-09-06}}</ref>
|<!-- Canada -->[[Canadian Recording Industry Association|CAN]]: Platinum<ref name="CRIA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |title=CRIA Gold & Platinum Certification Database Search for "My Chemical Romance" |publisher=[[Canadian Recording Industry Association]] |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>
|<!-- Chile -->CHL: Gold<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Maira |first1=Manuel |year= 2007 |title= My Chemical Romance pone a Chile en su agenda |journal= [[La Tercera]] |location= [[Santiago de Chile]] |accessdate= 2011-06-02 |quote= De las dos mil copias vendidas de su álbum debut, [I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love] (2002) pasaron al status de oro -7.500 discos- con sus dos siguientes entregas: Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge (2004)...}}</ref>
|<!-- Mexico -->[[Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|MEX]]: Gold<ref name="AMPROFON">{{Cite web |url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/certificaciones.php?artista=My+Chemical+Romance&titulo=&disquera=&certificacion=todas&anio=todos&categoria=todas&Submitted=Search&item=menuCert&contenido=buscar |title=Certificaciones encontradas buscar por "My Chemical Romance" |publisher=[[Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas]] |language=Spanish |accessdate=2010-05-06}}</ref>
|<!-- New Zealand -->[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZL]]: Gold<ref name="RIANZ">{{cite web |url=http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp |title=Top 40 Albums |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]] |accessdate=2010-12-11}}</ref>
|<!-- UK -->UK: Platinum<ref name="BPI"/>
|<!-- US -->[[Recording Industry Association of America|US]]: Platinum<ref name="RIAA">{{Cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |title=RIAA Gold & Platinum Certification Database Search for "My Chemical Romance" |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |accessdate=2012-05-01}}</ref>}}
|-
| 2006
| '''''[[The Black Parade]]'''''
* Released: October 23, 2006
* Label: Reprise Records
* Format: CD, CS, DD, Enhanced CD, [[Double album|2×LP]]
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 4
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 11
| align="center" | 5
| align="center" | 10
| align="center" | 35
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 4
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 2
| {{Unbulleted list
|<!-- Argentina -->ARG: Gold<ref name="CAPIF"/><br>AUS: Platinum<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2007Albums.htm |title=ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2007 Albums |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] |accessdate=2010-09-06}}</ref>
|<!-- Canada -->CAN: Platinum<ref name="CRIA"/>
|<!-- Chile -->CHL: Gold<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://diario.elmercurio.cl/detalle/index.asp?id={cc44790b-3306-47cb-b0e4-27128832aee9} |title=My Chemical Romance desata locura en Chile |publisher=[[El Mercurio]] |accessdate=2011-02-05}}</ref>
|<!-- Ireland -->[[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRL]]: Platinum<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/awards/platinum06.htm |title=2006 Certified Awards: Platinum |publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]] |accessdate=2010-09-20}}</ref>
|<!-- Japan -->[[Recording Industry Association of Japan|JPN]]: Platinum<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200706.html |title=『ミリオンシングル／アルバム』認定作品一覧 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] |language=Japanese |accessdate=2012-03-24}}</ref>
|<!-- Mexico -->MEX: Gold<ref name="AMPROFON"/>
|<!-- New Zealand -->NZL: Platinum<ref name="RIANZ"/>
|<!-- UK -->UK: 2× Platinum<ref name="BPI"/>
|<!-- US -->US: Platinum<ref name="RIAA"/>}}
|-
| 2010
| '''''[[Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys]]'''''
* Released: November 19, 2010
* Label: Reprise Records
* Format: CD, DD, LP
| align="center" | 10
| align="center" | 15
| align="center" | 13
| align="center" | 18
| align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 9
| align="center" | 4
| align="center" | 34
| align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 8
|{{Unbulleted list
|IRL: Gold<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/awards/gold10.htm |title=2010 Certified Awards: Gold |publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association]] |accessdate=2012-03-24}}</ref>
|NZL: Gold<ref name="RIANZ"/>
|UK: Gold<ref name="BPI"/>}}
|-
! colspan="14" | <small>"—" denotes a release that did not chart</small>
|}

===Solo===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Track !! Artist !! Album !! Notes
|-
| 2002 || "Jet Black New Year" || '''[[Thursday (band)|Thursday]]''' || ''[[Five Stories Falling]]'' || backing vocals
|-
| rowspan="3"|2003 || "Devil In Mexico" || '''[[Murder by Death (band)|Murder by Death]]''' || ''[[Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?]]'' ||vocals
|-
| "Barnabus Collins Has More Skeletons In His Closet than Vincent Price||rowspan="2"|'''[[The Oval Portrait (band)|The Oval Portrait]]''' || rowspan="2"|''[[Life in Death (album)|Life in Death]]''|| rowspan="2"|backing vocals
|-
|"From My Cold Dead Hands"
|-
| 2005 || "Kill The Music" || '''[[Every Time I Die]]''' || ''[[Gutter Phenomenon]]''||vocals
|-
| 2006 || "Graduation Day" || '''[[Head Automatica]]''' || ''[[Popaganda]]'' || backing vocals
|-
| 2008 || "[[Sleep When I'm Dead]] (Remix 4 By Gerard Way And Julien K)" || '''[[The Cure]]''' ||''[[Hypnagogic States]]'' || remix with [[Julien-K]]
|-
| 2009 || "Safe and Sound" || '''[[Kyosuke Himuro]] feat. Gerard Way || ''[[Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete|Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Soundtrack]] || rowspan="3"|vocals
|-
| 2010 || "My Space" || '''[[Evelyn Evelyn]]''' || ''[[Evelyn Evelyn (album)|Evelyn Evelyn]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|2012 || "[[Professional Griefers]]" || '''[[Deadmau5]] feat. Gerard Way || ''[[Album Title Goes Here]]''
|-
| "Zero Zero" || '''Gerard Way || || rowspan="1"| posted to his Soundcloud profile
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Notes==
#{{note|stone}}[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/7483524/mychemicalromance?pageid=rs.ArtistArticles&pageregion=mainRegion&rnd=1128551100159&has-player=unknown "Teen Titans"] — ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' (2005-07-14)

{{Seealsosection
|portal = Alternative music
|commons = My Chemical Romance
|quote =
}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Gerard Way}}
*[http://www.mychemicalromance.com/ My Chemical Romance Official Website]
*{{iMDb name|2007553}}
* {{Twitter|gerardway}}

{{Gerard Way}}
{{My Chemical Romance}}

{{Authority control|VIAF=71209046}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Way, Gerard
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American musician
| DATE OF BIRTH =April 9, 1977
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Summit, New Jersey|Summit]], [[New Jersey]], [[United States]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Way, Gerard}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American writers]]
[[Category:American comics writers]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:American rock singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American tenors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from New Jersey]]
[[Category:My Chemical Romance members]]
[[Category:People from Belleville, New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from West New York, New Jersey]]
[[Category:School of Visual Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New Jersey]]
[[Category:The Black Parade (rock opera)]]
[[Category:Writers from New Jersey]]

Revision as of 00:43, 15 May 2013

Gerard Way
Gerard Way in 2012.
Gerard Way in 2012.
Background information
Birth nameGerard Arthur Way
Born (1977-04-09) April 9, 1977 (age 47)
Summit, New Jersey, United States
OriginBelleville, New Jersey
GenresAlternative rock, post-hardcore, punk rock, pop punk
Occupation(s)Musician, comic book writer, Executive Producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2001–present
LabelsReprise, Warner Bros., Eyeball

Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is an American musician and comic book writer who was lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance from its formation in September 2001 until its split in March 2013. He is the executive producer of the band LostAlone's second album I'm a UFO in This City, and the writer of the Eisner Award-winning comic book The Umbrella Academy.

Early life

Gerard Way was born April 9, 1977 in Summit, New Jersey[1] to Donna Lee (née Rush) and Donald Way. He has Italian ancestry on his mother's side and Scottish ancestry on his father's.[citation needed] He was raised in Belleville, New Jersey and first began singing publicly in the fourth grade, when he played the role of Peter Pan in a school musical production. His maternal grandmother, Elena Lee Rush, was a great creative influence who taught him to sing, paint, and perform from a young age; he has said that "she has taught me everything I know".[2] Also, while in elementary school, the glam metal band Bon Jovi was instrumental in forming his love of music.[3]

At the age of 15, Way was held at gunpoint, as he said in an April 2008 Rolling Stone interview: "I got held up with a .357 Magnum, had a gun pointed to my head and put on the floor, execution-style." He went on to say that "no matter how ugly the world gets or how stupid it shows me it is, I always have faith."[4] At age 16, Way appeared on an episode of Sally Jesse Raphael which discussed the controversy surrounding the publicizing of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer's crimes in comic books.[5]

Way attended Belleville High School until he graduated in 1995. Deciding to pursue a career in the comic-book industry,[6] he attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999.[2][7]

Career

Music

Gerard Way in Montreal, Canada, during the tour Honda Civic Tour in August 2011

As teenagers Gerard and his brother Mikey Way, who later became the bassist of My Chemical Romance, were influenced by artists such as Iron Maiden, The Misfits, Queen,[8] Pulp, Blur and Morrissey and The Smiths. Way originally wanted to be a guitarist. His grandmother bought him his first guitar at the age of eight and he played in short-lived bands such as Ray Gun Jones and Nancy Drew with future bandmate Ray Toro, but when he was not successful (one band kicking him out due to his lack of skill with the guitar), he chose to concentrate on his art career.[9]

Way was working as an intern for Cartoon Network in New York City during the September 11, 2001 attacks. Seeing the effects of the attacks first-hand prompted Way to change his views on life in the following weeks. He told Spin magazine, "I literally said to myself, 'Fuck art. I’ve gotta get out of the basement. I’ve gotta see the world. I’ve gotta make a difference.'"[10] To help deal with the emotional effects the attacks had on him, Way wrote the lyrics to the song "Skylines and Turnstiles", which has since been identified as the first song by My Chemical Romance.[11] Soon after, My Chemical Romance began to assemble as a band.

Way has contributed vocally to bands such as Every Time I Die's 'Kill The Music', Head Automatica's 'Graduation Day', Say Anything's "In Defense Of The Genre", and The Oval Portrait's "From My Cold Dead Hands" and "Barnabus Collins Has More Skeletons In His Closet Than Vincent Price".

In many interviews Way has stated that music turned out to be an effective outlet to deal with his longtime battles against depression, alcoholism and prescription drug use. The use of music as a way to resolve personal battles has caused Way to create deeply personal songs such as "Helena,"[12] which was written in memory of his late grandmother.

In 2008, Way and musical project Julien-K remixed a version of the song Sleep When I'm Dead by The Cure for their EP 'Hypnagogic States'. All profits gained from the sales of the EP go to funding the International Red Cross.

In early 2009, Way and Japanese singer Kyosuke Himuro co-produced the new theme song for Advent Children Complete, the Blu-ray director's cut of the movie sequel to the popular video game franchise, Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. He is also credited with writing the lyrics, and singing alongside Himuro. The song is entitled "Safe and Sound" and was released on iTunes on April 29, 2009.[13] "Safe and Sound" is only heard on the Japanese release of the film; the English release uses Himuro's "Calling" (the original ending theme for Advent Children) in place of it. He also contributed vocals for the vocal mix of the deadmau5 song "Professional Griefers".

A longtime supporter of the British rock band LostAlone, Way is the executive producer of their second studio album I'm a UFO in This City.[14]

In early 2013, My Chemical Romance announced their break up for, at this time, reasons unknown. Gerard Way also announced the drop of his new comic "The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys" to be on June 6 of 2013.

Writing

Gerard Way's first attempt at writing a comic was at the age of 16, writing a comic book series called On Raven's Wings, published by Hart D. Fisher's Bonyard Press, which was cancelled after Issue 2 due to losing the art team; he was credited as Garry Way.[15]

In 2007, Way began writing the comic-book miniseries The Umbrella Academy. Way wrote the story and illustrated the original version, but cartoonist Gabriel Ba recreated all of Way's original drawings in the final version. A few of Way's first drawings of the characters can be seen in the last few pages of the first book in the series, Apocalypse Suite.

Apocalypse Suite was first released by Dark Horse Comics in their Free Comic Book Day issue on May 5, 2007.[16] Since then, an eight-page story has been published on MySpace, entitled "Safe & Sound".[17] The first official issue was released on September 19, 2007.[18] The first issue to sell out and consequently there was a second printing released on October 17, 2007.[19] Apocalypse Suite also won the 2008 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series.[20] The next installment of the series, Dallas, was released on November 26, 2008,[21] and a third installment entitled Hotel Oblivion is currently in the works.

Way and fellow artists Shaun Simon and Becky Cloonan are currently in the process of developing and creating a new comic-book series entitled The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, which Way announced at 2009 San Diego Comic-Con. At the 2012 New York Comic Con, the team announced that the first look at the series will be released on 2013's Free Comic Book Day.[22]

In 2011 My Chemical Romance stated that Mikey and Gerard are working on another comic book project which they have kept under wraps as of mid-2011.

Cartoons

In 2001 Way co-created a cartoon with Joe Boyle called The Breakfast Monkey. They pitched it to Cartoon Network, but the network declined to pick up the concept on the grounds that it was too similar to the existing property Aqua Teen Hunger Force.[23]

Personal life

Way struggled with alcoholism and prescription drug addiction for many years and has now been sober since August 2004.[24] In a November 2010 issue of Spin magazine, he said that having become a happier person and feeling more in control, he had been able to enjoy the occasional recreational drink.[25]

On September 3, 2007 after a concert in Colorado, Way married Lyn-Z of Mindless Self Indulgence backstage on the final date of the Projekt Revolution tour. A member of Live Nation's touring staff that was also an ordained minister performed the low-key ceremony.[26] He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.[27] His daughter, Bandit Lee Way, was born in California on May 27, 2009.[28]

Discography

My Chemical Romance

Year Album details Chart peaks Certifications
(sales thresholds)
AUS
[29] 		AUT
[30] 		CAN
[31] 		GER
[32] 		IRL
[33] 		JPN
[34] 		MEX
[35] 		NZL
[36] 		SWE
[37] 		UK
[38] 		US
[31]
2002 I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love — — — — — 250 — — — 129 — UK: Gold[39]
2004 Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge 38 73 — 57 36 73 — 30 — 34 28
2006 The Black Parade
  • Released: October 23, 2006
  • Label: Reprise Records
  • Format: CD, CS, DD, Enhanced CD, 2×LP
 3 4 2 11 5 10 35 1 4 2 2
2010 Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
  • Released: November 19, 2010
  • Label: Reprise Records
  • Format: CD, DD, LP
 10 15 13 18 14 8 9 4 34 14 8
"—" denotes a release that did not chart

Solo

Year Track Artist Album Notes
2002 "Jet Black New Year" Thursday Five Stories Falling backing vocals
2003 "Devil In Mexico" Murder by Death Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them? vocals
"Barnabus Collins Has More Skeletons In His Closet than Vincent Price The Oval Portrait Life in Death backing vocals
"From My Cold Dead Hands"
2005 "Kill The Music" Every Time I Die Gutter Phenomenon vocals
2006 "Graduation Day" Head Automatica Popaganda backing vocals
2008 "Sleep When I'm Dead (Remix 4 By Gerard Way And Julien K)" The Cure Hypnagogic States remix with Julien-K
2009 "Safe and Sound" Kyosuke Himuro feat. Gerard Way Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Soundtrack vocals
2010 "My Space" Evelyn Evelyn Evelyn Evelyn
2012 "Professional Griefers" Deadmau5 feat. Gerard Way Album Title Goes Here
"Zero Zero" Gerard Way posted to his Soundcloud profile

References

  1. ^ "Radio 1 Presents... My Chemical Romance". BBC Radio 1. From the radio interview
  2. ^ a b "Gerard's Biography". ImNotOkay.net. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  3. ^ "Gerard Way & Jon Bon Jovi - Interview". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  4. ^ "Future of Music: Gerard Way". rollingstone.com. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  5. ^ http://mikeywayturnthatoff.buzznet.com/user/video/2641181/sally-jesse-raphael-hart-d/
  6. ^ Geeks become No1 emo stars, The Sun, October 23, 2006. "His is taken from the 1995 yearbook for Belleville High School, New Jersey, when Gerard, then 18, posed for the camera alongside other students in his leaving year."
  7. ^ Gustines, George Gene. "Superhero Stylings From Stars of Pop", The New York Times, October 20, 2007. Accessed November 27, 2007. "For Mr. Way, “Umbrella Academy” was another way to be productive when he wasn’t recording with the band. It also used skills he developed as a student at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan."
  8. ^ 100 greatest artists of all time - Rolling Stone
  9. ^ https://apps.masscanvas.com/facebook/artist/14
  10. ^ SPIN Magazine Cover Stories My Chemical Romance, Spin magazine, May 31, 2005 “I literally said to myself, ‘Fuck art. I’ve gotta get out of the basement. I’ve gotta see the world. I’ve gotta make a difference.’”
  11. ^ "My Chemical Romance Biography". Yahoo.com. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  12. ^ "My Chemical Romance Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  13. ^ "Safe and Sound - Kyosuke Himuro feat. Gerard Way". Retrieved April 18, 2007.
  14. ^ "Gerard Way Turns Tipster". NME. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "Exclusiver First Look at MCR's Gerard Way's On Raven's Wings". pulpsecret.com.
  16. ^ "Free Comic Book Day 2007". darkhorse.com.
  17. ^ "Dark Horse Presents". myspace.com.
  18. ^ "Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #1". darkhorse.com.
  19. ^ "Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite #1 2nd printing". darkhorse.com.
  20. ^ [1]
  21. ^ "The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #1 (of 6)". darkhorse.com. 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  22. ^ "My Chemical Romance Gerard Way Talk Comic Con 2012 Announcement For Killjoys". Artisan News Service. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  23. ^ "Gerard Way Biography". TV.com. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  24. ^ "Im Not Okay".
  25. ^ Eells, Josh. "My Chemical Romance Bounce Back From The Brink". Spin, 16 November 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  26. ^ "MCR: Gerard ties the knot". Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  27. ^ KROQ interview with Kevin & Bean, July 14, 2008
  28. ^ Twitter.com
  29. ^ "Australian Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  30. ^ "Austrian Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  31. ^ a b "My Chemical Romance - Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Macrovision. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  32. ^ "Chartverfolgung: My Chemical Romance, Longplay" (in German). PhonoNet. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  33. ^ "Irish Charts Search for My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  34. ^ "マイ・ケミカル・ロマンス" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  35. ^ "Mexican Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  36. ^ "New Zealand Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  37. ^ "Swedish Album Charts Search for My Chemical Romance". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  38. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". Zobbel. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  39. ^ a b c d "BPI Certified Awards Search for "My Chemical Romance"". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  40. ^ a b "Discos de Oro y Platino: Buscar de Nombre del Intérprete "My Chemical Romance"" (in Spanish). Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  41. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2006 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  42. ^ a b "CRIA Gold & Platinum Certification Database Search for "My Chemical Romance"". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  43. ^ Maira, Manuel (2007). "My Chemical Romance pone a Chile en su agenda". La Tercera. Santiago de Chile. De las dos mil copias vendidas de su álbum debut, [I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love] (2002) pasaron al status de oro -7.500 discos- con sus dos siguientes entregas: Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge (2004)... {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  44. ^ a b "Certificaciones encontradas buscar por "My Chemical Romance"" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  45. ^ a b c "Top 40 Albums". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  46. ^ a b "RIAA Gold & Platinum Certification Database Search for "My Chemical Romance"". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2007 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  48. ^ "My Chemical Romance desata locura en Chile". El Mercurio. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  49. ^ "2006 Certified Awards: Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2010-09-20.
  50. ^ "『ミリオンシングル／アルバム』認定作品一覧" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  51. ^ "2010 Certified Awards: Gold". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2012-03-24.

Notes

  1. ^ "Teen Titans" — Rolling Stone (2005-07-14)

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