My Chemical Romance kicked off their much anticipated reunion tour last night (December 20) at Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
- Read more: My Chemical Romance’s LA comeback – reviewed
Their first gig since 2012, the band announced the comeback show back in October and when tickets went on sale on November 1 they sold out in minutes.
Fans began camping out overnight at Shrine Expo Hall ahead of the show – and according to social media some had been queuing since Tuesday (December 17).
The line outside the @MCRofficial reunion show right now #mcrreunion pic.twitter.com/rC6WBviN1t
— BABY YODA (@evancouture) December 21, 2019
We out here #MCRReturn pic.twitter.com/pFDg4oTx0D
— Nathan Bakker ? (@nathanbakker_) December 20, 2019
The first few fans (some of whom have been in line since Tuesday!) are through the doors and at the barricade for the @MCRofficial reunion show at @ShrineLA! pic.twitter.com/gIzAKL9FZ5
— KROQ (@kroq) December 21, 2019
While the venue could only hold 6,500 people plenty of My Chemical Romance fans watched via livestream.
“GUYS MY EYELINER IS RUNNING DOWN MY FACE,” one fan tweeted, posting a clip of the show’s livestream. Another wrote: “can’t believe i’m ugly crying on my bed instead of being there singing every lyric to this song with them.”
#mychemicalromance GUYS MY EYELINER IS RUNNING DOWN MY FACE pic.twitter.com/GKAs70kUGB
— вɾιттиєу ? (@BlhHaynes) December 21, 2019
can’t believe i’m ugly crying on my bed instead of being there singing every lyric to this song with them #mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/ZQgRi2kcLa
— ツ (@maggotlyss) December 21, 2019
One fan tweeted that Panic! At the Disco‘s Brendon Urie was in attendance: “BRENDON URIE IS AT THE MCR SHOW!!! BRENDON URIE IS AT THE MCR SHOW!!! BRENDON URIE IS AT THE MCR SHOW!!!”
BRENDON URIE IS AT THE MCR SHOW!!! BRENDON URIE IS AT THE MCR SHOW!!! BRENDON URIE IS AT THE MCR SHOW!!! BRENDON URIE IS AT THE MCR SHOW!!!#mychemicalromance #MCRReturn #MyChemicalRomanceReturn
— ً (@CUTMYLIP_LIVE) December 21, 2019
According to Rock Sound, Gerard Way dedicated last night’s show to artist manager Lauren Valencia, who passed away earlier this year. Addressing the crowd, he said: “We didn’t know if this was ever going to happen again, so we really appreciate you guys showing up.”
The band’s setlist included ‘Thank You for the Venom’, ‘Give Em Hell, Kid’, ‘I Don’t Love You’, ‘The Kids From Yesterday’ and a live premiere of ‘Make Room!!!!’. They played two encores featuring the songs ‘Helena’ and ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’.
See the full setlist below:
The setlist
Photo by @nathanbakker_ #mychemicalromance #MCRReturn pic.twitter.com/jTv0dv35UL
— My Chemical Romance Updates (@MCRupdates1) December 21, 2019
See footage from the show below. The top clip is of the full show:
Gawd I can't believe they opened with THIS ????#mychemicalromancepic.twitter.com/qYkcaVQ2UE
— ashD ? (@RMono_kive) December 21, 2019
We still love you, like we did, yesterday.
#mychemicalromance singing I Don't Love You. pic.twitter.com/l4AHgpggre
— TwentyFirstKilljoy (@BanditoFairy) December 21, 2019
WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE #mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/qZgsDSHqTg
— brunão EMOcionada (@broonaoo) December 21, 2019
this is the most beautiful thing i’ve ever seen #mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/KhPvVGrTsZ
— 쟈니 마이 러브 ?❤️ (@Seo10vely) December 21, 2019
ISN'T THIS THE FIRST TIME THEY PLAY MAKE ROOM LIVE, I'M GONNA CRY I LOVE CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS SO MUCH #mychemicalromance
pic.twitter.com/uNLpjrwFrV— 홍중's ioa☆ATEEZ D-90 (@foreverrainmyg) December 21, 2019
so long and goodnight???#mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/9kSlCQqnaB
— ツ (@maggotlyss) December 21, 2019
this moment is going in the history books folks #mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/Dg4OplPjuL
— ree (@jkyoongs) December 21, 2019
the sheer amount of people in the venue…no ones going to the bathroom tonight #mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/YPG8KM122N
— kenny (@sirnuggs) December 21, 2019
Mama and I Don’t Love You
?: @altpress #mychemicalromance #gerardway #frankiero #mikeyway #raytoro pic.twitter.com/ZkPyf2X7nr
— Gerard Way Street Team (@GerardWayST) December 21, 2019
Awake and unafraid. #mychemicalromance is back. pic.twitter.com/2jxeIpdVfG
— TwentyFirstKilljoy (@BanditoFairy) December 21, 2019
bros i love ray so much truly we are not worthy #mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/pNq60alBAT
— 쟈니 마이 러브 ?❤️ (@Seo10vely) December 21, 2019
iconic #mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/eqtmTCi52F
— kinsey?11-3 (@vibin_ariana) December 21, 2019
A A AA A A style#mychemicalromance pic.twitter.com/UFX4M6UeSG
— richi sad as fuck (@richieatacid) December 21, 2019
Chills. ? @nathanbakker_ #mychemicalromance #MyChemicalRomanceReturn pic.twitter.com/o47Q7xNXnO
— Gerard Way Street Team (@GerardWayST) December 21, 2019
“We’re gonna take a picture..”
?: @ dietshampoo on IG #mychemicalromance #gerardway #mikeyway #frankiero #raytoro pic.twitter.com/brsBmV22rJ
— Gerard Way Street Team (@GerardWayST) December 21, 2019
PLEASE RISE FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE BROKEN, THE BEATEN, AND THE DAMNED. #mychemicalromance #MyChemicalRomanceReturn pic.twitter.com/FgzqejY7KD
— TwentyFirstKilljoy (@BanditoFairy) December 21, 2019
Last night’s gig comes as MCR revealed earlier this week that they began planning their comeback in 2017, saying that that’s when they first got back in the room together to discuss reforming.
My Chemical Romance have five more confirmed concerts, all in March 2020. They play two shows each in Australia and Japan, with a New Zealand gig in between.
There are no confirmed UK dates as yet, with All Points East and Reading And Leeds the favourites to secure the band for a festival show.