My Chemical Romance, photo by Devin Sarno
(BELLEVILLE, NJ) -- When Mayor Michael Melham made a grand entrance at his 2024 State of the Township address to the stirring strains of My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade,” he vowed to find a meaningful way to recognize the Belleville boys who founded the world-famous rock band.
Saturday night, before a crowd of 55,000 screaming fans at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium, Melham will make good on his promise as he will hop on stage during the band’s performance of “Welcome to the Black Parade” to personally present the band with an oversize, ceremonial Key to Belleville.
Lead vocalist Gerard Way and his brother, bassist Mikey Way, were raised in Belleville along with fellow member, Frank Iero. The fourth member, Ray Toro, was born in Kearny.
In a private backstage ceremony, Melham will present four decorative gold-coated keys mounted on plaques with their names inscribed. On the rear will be a QR code linking to the Mayor’s 2024 State of the Township speech where he publicly acknowledged the group along with an inscription from the mayor reading:
“In recognition of your musical legacy and your place as a Favorite Son of Belleville, NJ — your worldwide impact has inspired a generation, and you continue to make your hometown proud.”
“My Chemical Romance’s music is deeply rooted in Belleville, but it has gone on to touch the lives millions of people in every corner of the world,” Melham said. “As they return to play a massive concert just a few miles from where it all began, I am excited to honor them on the behalf of Belleville.”
My Chemical Romance has attracted throngs of dedicated fans because of its deep lyrics, anthemic hooks and theatrical performances, borrowing from alternative rock, post-punk, emo and other genres.
The band achieved mainstream success with the 2006 release of its third album, The Black Parade, which hit No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 list and No. 1 on the U.S. Top Rock Album and Top Tastemaker Album charts.
The band is the latest in a long line of musical legends to hail from the small 3½-square-mile onclave, just some of whom are mentioned below.
There’s Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito and Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons, who had five No. 1 hits including “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.” Belleville also boasts of Connie Francis, who had three No. 1 hits including the 1960 smash, “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” Francis passed away last month.
My Chemical Romance is playing The Black Parade in its entirety during its current “Long Live the Black Parade” tour. The tour began in June, with 13 scheduled shows through North America culminating with a date in Mexico City in February.
