Gerard Way

At 47 years old, Gerard Way has this physical status:

Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and comic book writer.

He is best known as the lead vocalist and co-founder of the rock band My Chemical Romance.

Hesitant Alien, Hesitant Alien's debut solo album, was released in 2014. Way, in addition to his music, is also the co-founder of DC Comics' Young Animal imprint.

He wrote the award-winning comic book book series The Unconventional Killjoys and the Eisner Award-winning comic book series The Umbrella Academy.

Early life

Way was born in Summit, New Jersey, on April 9, 1977, the son of Donna Lee (née Rush) and Donald Way. He is of Italian and Scottish origins. He was born in Belleville, New Jersey, and with brother Mikey Way he first started performing in the fourth grade, as he appeared as Peter Pan in a school musical performance. Elena Lee Rush, his maternal grandmother, was a great creative influence who taught him how to paint, sand, and act from a young age; he has said, "she has taught me everything I know." Also, while in elementary school, Bon Jovi was instrumental in forming his interest in music, and Bruce Springsteen was the first concert he ever attended.

Way was arrested at gunpoint at the age of 15. "I got a.357 Magnum, had a gun pointed to my head, and put on the ground, execution-style," he said in a Rolling Stone interview in April 2008. "No matter how bad the world is or how stupid it looks to me, I have faith [in it]," the singer continued. He appeared on Sally Jesse Raphael's episode to address the controversy surrounding serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer's publicizing of serial murders in comic books at age 16. Way attended Belleville High School until 1995, when he graduated in 1995. He attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999. He wanted to work in comic-book sales.

Personal life

Way struggled with alcoholism and prescription drug use for many years, but as of 2007, it was maintaining sobriety. He said he'd been able to enjoy the occasional recreational drink as a result of his improved attitude and feeling more in charge.

Way married Lyn-Z, bassist of Mindless Self Indulgence, backstage on the final date of the Projekt Revolution tour on September 3, 2007. The low-key ceremony was conducted by a member of Live Nation's touring staff who was also an ordained minister. Their daughter was born on May 27, 2009. They live in Los Angeles.

Way was raised Catholic, claiming that he was "not Catholic anymore" in 2006 and that he had "ever acknowledged [he] received [...] divine blessings from God."

Way began openly discussing his gender identity struggles online and in interviews in 2014. "I have always been very sensitive to those with gender identity issues," he said in a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) hosted by Way in October 2014, although I suspect I have gone through it as well, albeit on a smaller scale." I have always identified myself as having a positive relationship with the female gender, and I began to articulate this through my appearance and presentation style at a certain time in MCR. So it's no surprise that all of my inspirations and style influences were pushing gender boundaries. Freddy [sic] Mercury, Bowie, Iggy, early glam, T-Rex. Masculinity to me has always made me feel like it wasn't right for me."

Way was featured in The Boyzine, an independent zine released by SWMRS frontman Cole Becker in January 2015. Way back in his gender identity, adding, "I never really subscribed to the archetype masculinity that was on the rise, but I had no interest in sports or anything like that." I was a girl so often that I felt like a teenager when I discovered the possibility of transgenderism that I was the subject of a boy. I identify with trans people and women because I was a child to a lot of people growing up. Way of life Way tweeted in June that he and they pronouns are used.

Way revealed on Reddit that he was a first cousin of comedian Joe Rogan. On his podcast in October 2019, Rogan confirmed it. Despite all of this, he said that the two men have never met before.

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Music career

Gerard and his brother Mikey Way, who later became My Chemical Romance's bassist, were inspired by artists like Iron Maiden, The Misfits, Danzig, Black Flag, King, Pulp, Blur, Morrissey, and The Smiths. Way used to be a guitarist. His grandfather bought him his first guitar at the age of eight, and he appeared in short-lived bands, including Ray Gun Jones and Nancy Drew with future bandmate Ray Toro. When he wasn't successful (one band kicked him out due to his lack of experience with the guitar), he concentrated on his art career.

Way was an intern for Cartoon Network in New York City during the September 11, 2001 attacks. Way changed his views of life in the coming weeks after seeing the results of the attacks first-hand. "I actually said to myself, 'Fuck art,'" he told Spin magazine. I've got to get out of the basement. I've got to see the world. "I've got to make a difference." Way wrote the lyrics to the song "Skylines and Turnstiles," which became My Chemical Romance's first song.

Way has also contributed vocally to other bands' albums, including "In Defense of the Genre," Head Automatica's "In Defense of the People"), and "Barnabus Collins Has More Skeletons in His Closet Than Vincent Price" and "Barnabus Collins has More Skeletons in his Closet Than Vincent Price."

Way has said in interviews that music and his art were effective tools in his long-running fights against depression, alcoholism, and prescription opioid use. Way has accessed "Helena" ("Helena"), a collection of his late grandmother's songs that were based on music to resolve personal conflicts.

My Chemical Romance broke up on March 22, 2013.

My Chemical Romance announced on October 31, 2019 that they would be reuniting with a date in Los Angeles on December 20 and a new product line. A 2020 North American tour, as well as dates in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan followed. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour was postponed to 2022.

Way, a Tumblr-based website, where he announced that he had signed to Warner Bros. Records as a solo artist and that his first solo album was approaching completion in May 2014. In addition to this, he revealed the release of "Action Cat" as a promotional single on his new record and his first solo shows at Reading and Leeds Festivals 2014. He then announced a solo appearance at Portsmouth's Wedgewood Rooms on August 20. Way streamed a new music video for the song "No Shows," the first single off the album's debut on August 19. Hesitant Alien's album was released on September 30, 2014.

When Way asked why he turned the Britpop genre into his music, he said he loved the energy and style of the music and its scene, and he was encouraged to resurrect aspects of the genre in America.

Way performed as a solo artist with The Hormones on the main stage of the Australian 2015 Soundwave music festivals, as well as a solo artist with The Hormones.

In early 2015, it was revealed that he would appear at the Boston Calling Music Festival in May 2015.

Way of Store Day 2016, Way launched "Don't Try" and "Pinkish," Hesitant Alien's first and unreleased tracks.

Way performed his first major solo single in over two years on October 28, 2018. On bass, Way's brother and former bandmate, Mikey Way, appears on the single. On the same day, the official lyric video, which features four skeleton-masked artists, was released on YouTube.

Way released "Get Down the Germs," co-written by former bandmate Ray Toro on November 15, on November 15, which was co-written with former bandmate Ray Toro. According to a statement issued by Way, the single "gives a preview of what [Way] will be headed musically."

Way released "Dasher," the Regrettes' third single, on December 14. As they wait to be reunited after a long absence, the single is a Christmas-themed tale about a girl who falls in love with a reindeer.

Way released a cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter," by Simon & Garfunkel, which was published in cooperation with Toro on January 24, 2019. The song appeared in a trailer for Netflix's Way's The Umbrella Academy's Netflix television series adaptation, which was released the same day. Way announced a cover of "Happy Together" by the Turtles on February 8, 2019, this time starring Toro. The song appears on The Umbrella Academy as well.

Way released a new song titled "Here Comes the End" on July 8, 2020, which stars singer Judith Hill and appears on the second season of The Umbrella Academy.

Way performs with a live band to provide additional instruments and vocals.

This is the most up-to-date touring line-up in favor of Hesitant Alien.

Way and Musical Project Julien-K remixed a version of The Cure's "Sleep When I'm Dead" in 2008, which was released in August. All proceeds earned from the EP's sales go to the International Red Cross Funding.

Way and Japanese singer Kyosuke Himuro co-produced the latest Advent Children Complete, the Blu-ray director's interpretation of Final Fantasy VII's hit film franchise. He is also known for writing the songs and performing with Himuro. On April 29, 2009, the song, titled "Safe and Sound," was released on iTunes. The Japanese film "Safe and Sound" was only mentioned on the Japanese version of the film; the English version 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 "Protesters" on the "Protesters" album.

Way, a long-time fan of the British rock band LostAlone, is the executive producer of their second studio album, I'm a UFO in This City (2012).

Way contributed to "Falling in Love Will Kill You" from Wrongchilde's debut solo album Gold Blooded, a pseudonym project executed by Kill Hannah frontman Mat Devine.

Way co-wrote and performed backing vocals on Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Black's debut solo album The Shadow Side in 2015.

Way appeared in Rnin by Ibaraki in March 2022, alongside Trivium's lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Heafy.

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