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Emo fans defend their music against suicide claims

Fans say their music not to blame for Hannah Bond death

Emo fans have contacted NME.COM to defend their music against claims it inspired 13 year-old Hannah Bond to commit suicide.

Roger Sykes, the coroner who gave the verdict of suicide yesterday (May 7), suggested that the fact that Bond was an obsessive fan of such music (My Chemical Romance being mentioned in particular) was linked to her death.

The inquest heard that Bond had discussed with friends the "glamour" of suicide, and was obsessed with My Chemical Romance.

However while most fans accepted that Bond's death was a tragedy, they rejected the coroner's conclusion that "the emo overtones concerning death and associating it with glamour I find very disturbing".

NME.COM user Time For Something Bibical said: "My heart goes out to her family, but you don't get 'sucidial' just solely by listening to 'emo' music, there are always deeper reasons and connections.

"My Chemical Romance aren't very emo to be honest, their last album had quite a lot about hope - eg 'Welcome To The Black Parade' and 'Famous Last Words'. I listen to emo music, it doesn't make me sad or anything."

Neamychem added: "MCR is a band that wants to save people's lives, NOT destroy them."

luvmark also questioned the coroner's verdict. He said: "I find it disgusting that small-minded people would assume that music has that much of an influence, that someone would kill themselves because of it.

"The idea of suicide has always been glamourised, even in films, but apparently it's easier to blame someone who has been slated in the past. I listen to My Chem, as do many of my friends, and we are happy people with happy lives."

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Comments (21)

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mnd5x7

May 8, 2008

i don't think that MCR was the reason for her death, but do you really think that a 13 year old girl can fully understand some of the lyrics? I'm saying she obviously had deeper causes for it, but maybe misiterpreting some lyrics didn't help.

Tafferel

May 9, 2008

this is a pathetic backlash, remember marilyn manson was blaimed for the columbine disaster! its an easy target and scapegoat. that coroner is an idiot.

Saii.

May 9, 2008

It's not fair to blame them, It was completely her own choice and I don't believe lyrics can make her want to take her own life.

TheBooshIsLoose

May 9, 2008

I think it is ridiculous to blame MCR for this girls death. If you listen to the lyrics you will see there is nothing in there that promotes suicide and even if there was, no right minded person would listen to it a think "i'm going to kill myself now." I don't think anyone can say that there is any link between emo and suicide, it's just a myth and emo has become an easy target for ridicule like this just because emo is supposed to be 'emotional.' But the bottom line is emotional does not mean suicide, emo does not mean suicide and MCR is NOT emo. I looooove MCR more than anyone i know and i am the happiest and least suicidal person i know.

MCR_addict

May 9, 2008

thans bs they save not destroy

SneezingLoud

May 14, 2008

This is redicules!!this whole thing stems from the fact that ppl (mainly adults) dont understand what the hell they're talking about. and from the fact that they suck.this is just another reason why the whole 'emo' thing, is just so effin stupid. its dramatic, and apathedic. and it makes me ashamed to even call myself a teenager b/c of this stupid sh!t that that Hannah chic did. emo is an insult. and yea, her rents and all who the hell ever just want to point the finger at something.like music. with lyrics that refrence to death and what not that this country has made such a taboo thing to even think of now.screw this and screw them.emo= stupid.i'm not sayin suicide is either, but jezus christ dont blame ppl, things music for it. damn.

dstarpro

May 15, 2008

Well the Daily Mail in all its infinite cowardice refuses to print any of my counterarguments, so I'm going to have to vent here.Let me start out by extending, from one parent to another, my deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the Bond family for their tremendous loss.The Daily Mail clearly has issues with MCR, as this is the third article within a year's time (at the height of their success, "coincidentally") in which your publication has launched an all-out attack on this band - attempting to terrify parents into banning their music from their children's lives.As a journalist, I am of full suspicion that the Daily Mail's quotes are either altered or the sources biased, because no fan of bands like MCR or Blink would EVER refer to themselves as "an emo" unless it were in jest.What IS it with the constant use of the term "emos" anyhow, as if that were a species of animal? What the Daily Mail is doing is no different than what Tipor Gore did in the 80's - demonizing innocent musicians for the rash actions of unstable teenagers. The reality is that no child self-harms, or hangs themselves from bedposts, if they are "fine." Music cannot create mental illness, and sadly, Hannah's parents allowed themselves to be misled by her.There is no such thing as a "suicide cult" - I can't think of one band in the history of music who would ever have fit that description, but ESPECIALLY not this one. Children seek solace in MCR's lyrics, which are uplifting; Gerard Way has been known to plead with kids from the stage to seek help if they're suicidal, and that it's never the answer.The Daily Mail has gone so far as to even invent information, such as that the Black Parade is "where emos believe they go when they die" or that MCR "romanticizes self-harm" and they stereotype teenagers who dress a certain way; a dangerous game in an intolerant world.Thank you, NME, for giving fans a voice - the Daily Mail is an ignorance-driven rag and I feel sorry for anyone who believes a word that they say.Sincerely, Deborah J. Draisin

ffantasy

May 21, 2008

hail to all the mcr fans doing this!!! Supporting u guys every step of the way

vampireswilnevrhurtu

May 21, 2008

i am a sixteen year old irl who, to anyone with a properly operatin brain could figure out, am also obsessed with my chemical romance. last semester i did a research project or my ELA class about the claims of suicide due to the black parade and my chemical romance being a "death cult". my research brouht me to this conclusion: the music does not anyway promote suicide {duh} so in order or someone to commit suicide and blame the music not only are you a complete idiot, but also, the person has to have suicidal thoughts in the irst place and the way THEY interpret the music {>although the lyricist never intended them to BE interpreted as "go kill yourself" words{and yeas i used this quote or my paper

cbenedict42

May 25, 2008

Go here My Chemical Romance for more info on the march. See you there!

Beduessey

May 25, 2008

i think things like this are terribleMy Chem's purpose is to SAVE lives, not end them. think it's disgusting when people pretend to be depressed to be cool and popular. it's wrong that the blame of this tragic event happens to land on the shoulders of My Chem. just because one teenager girl was trying to be cool by being depressed and misinterpreting the lyrics, doesn't mean it was My Chem's fault. the Daily Mail should be ashamed of hat they are printing and if i lived in the UK, i would be marching along with all of you. i hope you all can march strong with your heads held high as the world around you is loosing theirs

mcr_o233

May 25, 2008

I agree with most peopl on here.Mcr dosen't make people kill themselves it's because, they have problems in their heads, it's total phycolgical reasons. I LOVE mcr and I'm a completly happy person,and so are my friends that love them. If some blames Mcr for a persons death they are just wanting money or fame. In todays world people see emo as an easy thing to call those who are diffrent, like in they 60's in American south with the blacks. People are afraid of what they don't know. Even my mom loves mcr and she's not suicidal. SO THINK BEFORE YOU SAY SOMEONE THAT IS AN MCR FAN A SUICDAL EMO. Teens look to mcr and find that they help them a way to be happy because mcr has been through stuff like that and they say stuff some of us just want to say to the world.

xxxMCR63xxx

May 25, 2008

This whole thing is absolute CRAP!!!! I am 19 years old and have been listening to MCR for a little over a year and they are my favorite band ever, and truth be told, they saved my life!! I was never suicidal or really depressed or anything like that, but I was in a fairly dark place. MCR's music helped me to see that even through the bad, life can still be good, and when I listen to their music, I feel hopefull that everything in my life will work out the way it's supposed to. Next I want to say that MCR is NOT emo and I don't see how people can even imagine that they are. Besides, MCR's lyrics are not at all emo, or suicidal oriented at all. MCR does their best to help children and teens to enjoy life and live it to it's fullest. It was increadibly tragic that a 13 year old girl killed herself, but please, don't go blaming MCR, they did nothing wrong, and they shouldn't be prosecuted by newspapers, news stations, and other media sources for something that they didn't have anything to do with. If people would give MCR a chance and listen to their lyrics, they would realize that MCR wants teens to live a good life and teach them that teen violence and suicide is NEVER the right choice!!!!

M.Xixi

May 25, 2008

"If you're making enemies at one of the most ignorant papers in the country then you're doing something right."-Gerard WayTo the Daily Mail- OWNED!!!No one should read that crap. XoXo

mychemrox93

May 26, 2008

a coroner has no right to make that kind of accusation. I'll qoute something Gerard said on stage before any of this happened: "If you or someone ou know are severely depressed you need to fucking talk to somebody, your mom, your best friend, someone at school, i don't give a fuck who, because pissing away your life on suicide is fucking bull shit!" now you tell me Mr. Coroner, how the hell does that say "GO KILL URSELF"? because im confused as to how you got to ur pathetic, close-minded, clueless, idiotic conclusion that it was their fault. Wait, let me qoute some of their songs for u too: "I am not afraid to keep on living" - Famous Last WordsDo or die you'll never make me because the world will never take my heart go and try you'll never break me" - Welcome to the Black Parade. I agree with xxxMCR63xxx. They saved my life. They helped me find myself. They pulled me through some family issues. Their songs gave me hope and told me that everything will be alright. That doesn't spell "suicide cult " to me.

paranomia

May 27, 2008

First of can I just say that I am upset by reading that certain media is blaming rock groups such as My Chemical Romance for promoting self harm and suicide, I suffer from depression and anxiety and have had suicide attempts in the past and in no way blame anything but personal matters in my life and mental illness for this. Music is not to blame, My Chemical Romance and bands alike, provide me with strength, courage, support and hope, music is about what you take from it and the way you personally view it, My Chemical Romance doesn't support self harm and suicide, if anybody actually bothered to listen to the lyrics I am assuming they are about personal experiences and life in general, they are about feelings and to reflect on how people writing lyrics about how you felt at a certain time and to mark a point in your life when things are or aren't so great.If you are suffering from depression, suicide is not the answer, people can be depressed without having depression but regardless, if you do not feel good and are having trouble coping with life in general or something has happened in your life such as a death in the family,breakups,being treated like shit by somebody, if this is affecting you please talk to somebody, someone you can trust and confide in, if you do not have anybody, seek professional help, if it be a doctor,counselor,psychologist or a organization that specializes in mental illness, please do not feel hopeless and hat nobody cares, you may think they don't but someone does...if you have made mistakes and you are suffering because of this, it really sucks when you hurt and upset people, but everybody deserves a second chance and they will see that, whatever you do seek help, there is nothing wrong with asking for help, this does not make you weak or stupid, it is the first step to helping yourself and getting on the road to recovery.You might have negative people in your life who say that you are full of shit, making a big deal, it might not matter to them but it matters to you and is affecting how you feel then it DOES MATTER. regardless of what other people say, if they will not take to time to listen then find someone who will, your mental health and your life DOES MATTER. Please try not feel afraid, it is very daunting going to talk to somebody, but if you let people in and tell them how you feel, it will help. Mental Illness is not something to be pushed aside or ignored or taken lightly, just because you don't physically appear to be ill doesn't mean you aren't, if you believe you are suffering then please seek help. It is sad that suicide does occur, but to place blame on music, lyrics and people who are just trying to make a living, that isn't fair or justified. I am a huge My Chemical Romance fan and being somebody that listens to them ALOT (yay) and experiences there music,lyrics,live concerts etc, I can say that they DO NOT PROMOTE SUICIDE OR SELF HARM! If I remember correctly lead singer Gerard Way has been quoted saying "If you or someone you know is depressed, you need to talk to somebody, because pissing away your life on suicide is bullshit" I think that statement speaks for itself.My heart goes out to anybody that suffers from mental illness, has been affected by suicide or self harm, someone who is mentally ill, needs your love, care support and does not need to be judged, or be made to feel like an idiot, if you choose to ignore this, it makes you the idiot for not being supportive and taking time out to listen to somebody who has reached out to you.To anyone who has read this, thank you for taking the time to do so, everyday we all face an up hill battle in someway, and sometimes it feels to hard, please be strong, be good to yourself and don't think you deserve anything less that the best of what life has to offer. Because you do. xxoo =)

LilyBabes

Jun 1, 2008

Oh dear,If emo music really did promote, suicide and self harm,Then I think its safe to say, 10% of the world will be dead before Christmas (=Unless a fan has been with MCR from the start, i think its hard to say whether or not you can actually interpreate the lyrics properly.RIP Hannah, its over now, you'll be okay (: xo,

Gorgeous Eyes Shine Suicide

Jun 2, 2008

I know this chick is like 3 years younger than I am but I went through the same phase that she did..I came out alive.I decided to change my ways when I started high school last year because everyone would tease me. I really do feel bad for this chick..but MCR had nothing to do with he death.I mean yeah that was her favorite band but it's not like they were going around saying "Hannah Bond..you must kill yourself to join the black parade".I enjoy their music. The thing that I thought was emo about MCR was the line in the song "Cemetary Drive that says "Singing songs tht makes you slit your wrists, now isn't that much fun. staring down a loaded gun" and the song "mama" where they all sing "so yaise your glass hie for tomarrow we die and return to the ashes we fall".Those are really good songs to..I'm not idiotic enough to kill myself because I wonder what happens next? I know for a fact that life gets better. Emo is just a phase.yes I went through it and I have scars to prove it. I did almost attempt suicide but my boyfriend talked me out of it..Scarier thing. My mom is a beautician and she worked at this Salon and this lady that worked there had a stalker ex boyfriend and he told her he loved her and that he wanted her back..she refused him. and later on that day he called her on speaker phone and made her listen to him hannging himsellf...scary how this world is turning out huh?

MCR_FOREVER

Jun 6, 2008

MCR are not to blame for Hannah's (RIP) death, they do not in any way promote or glorify death or suicide and Hannah (RIP) has blatantly taken the lyrics the wrong way, if that was even the reason she killed herself.I repeat MCR are not to blame.

MCRhelpsme12

Jun 14, 2008

my chemical romance wants teens and adults to have a good happy life, no matter what life throws at them. its all about being strong enough to make it through the tough times alive. i feel completly sorry for Hannah, and maybe the music compelled her to do this, but it shouldnt have. Maybe she didnt understand the hidden meaning of the music. MCR does sound like they are singing about suicide and things like that, but under the surface really the lyrics are beautiful and pure. It was not MCR's fault that the girl misunderstood what the lyrics were saying to her. I myself have had suicide thoughts, and i didnt and wont ever go through with it, because of what MCR has taught me. Whenever im or anyone is sad, listen to some music, alot of times it makes all the difference !!! MCR ROCKSSS

niisan

Aug 6, 2008

wow ... first off i aint emo....but erm i do love Nirvana (wich is considered emo? idk wtf but nvm..neshoe... heres the thing...and since my post issnt directed at a specific person.. u can decide for your self if u feel attacked... if you do.. yes then im talking about you.... most of yall dont know shit about "the world" and yall do whatever you want...wich issnt allowed im sorry... yes it is a lil' stupid just blaming music..but some sounds that are CALLED music aint even music.. its just propaganda with a background tune..i mean.. someone with mad guitar skills or with an incredible voice... carlos santana mark knoffler whitney houston mariah carey...jimmi hendrix ... or the instrumental music in each linkin park song.. i mean its all diff genres.. but its all quality.. and the songs have MEANING.. now what adults try to say is that some bands ARE a bad influence... and they are right... but still that doesnt mean you can blame the usic cuz its the kids themselves that do "bad things"now me... for example.. im 22... ive been there.. ive listened to every genre music except for most classical and heavy metal.. people missunderstand eminem... hes just singing about his life and things that are bad and good in society... thats a good example of music.. he cant sing for shit.. but his lyrics are the best.... i mean this is getting a tad long... uhm what im trying to say is all you people replying ur all emo fans... so ofcourse u wanna defend emo music.. but plz wake up soon and notice that adults dont hate the music.. they hate what you do and they associate the music with your behaviour....grtz