My Chemical Romance Rips Through "The Black Parade" at Dodger Stadium

On a breezy Los Angeles night, beneath the flickering lights of Dodger Stadium, My Chemical Romance proved that time is powerless against the raw emotion and theatrical spectacle they’ve spent two decades perfecting. As part of their Long Live The Black Parade tour, the band delivered a seismic, two-act performance that was equal parts nostalgia-fueled resurrection and fearless reinvention.

The first set was nothing short of monumental. MCR performed The Black Parade album in full, and the experience felt like a communal catharsis. Every note of that now-legendary 2006 rock opera—once misunderstood, now immortal—was brought to life with precision and passion. From the funeral-march theatrics of the title track to the aching vulnerability of “Cancer,” Gerard Way and company sounded as if they’d never left the stage. If anything, they’ve sharpened their edges with time. Ray Toro’s guitar leads were blistering, Frank Iero’s rhythm snarled with controlled chaos, and Mikey Way stood calm in the maelstrom, anchoring the sonic swell with ease.

The visuals were as grand as the music—towering walls of pyro, stark lighting design, and a stage set that looked lifted from a Tim Burton fever dream. The crowd—many of whom grew up bleeding eyeliner and shouting “I’m Not Okay” into bedroom mirrors—sang back every word like scripture. There were tears, there was laughter, and most of all, there was unity.

But the night didn’t end with a curtain call. Instead, MCR flipped the script with a second set that brought them quite literally into the heart of their fans. A surprise B-stage emerged in the middle of the floor, where the band dove into selections from Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Classics like “Helena” and “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” triggered waves of screaming, jumping, and sobbing across the stadium, but it was the tour debut of “Cemetery Drive” and a blistering rendition of “You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison” that reminded fans just how deep the band’s discography cuts—and how alive those wounds still feel.

Perhaps the most unexpected moment came in the form of a cover—The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”—delivered with such snarling authenticity it felt less like homage and more like possession. And then came “The Foundations of Decay,” an unreleased track that hints at where the band may be headed next. Bleak, bombastic, and beautiful, it stood as a testament to their continued evolution.

My Chemical Romance didn’t just play a show at Dodger Stadium; they orchestrated a mass emotional exorcism. With every scream, every perfectly executed breakdown, and every tear-streaked fan clutching their heart, it was clear: The Black Parade never died. It’s alive, it’s louder, and it’s marching stronger than ever.