Gerard Way
Full Name: Gerard Arthur WayAge: 30
Birthday: April 9, 1977
Sign: Aries
Eyes: hazel
Heritage: half Italian (mother's side), half Scottish (father's side)
Hometown: Newark, New Jersey, USA
Role: vocalist for My Chemical Romance, lyricist
Additional Info
Gerard Way is half Italian and half Scottish; his mother's Italian and his father's Scottish. His grandmother Elena taught him how to draw, sing and perform. He started to play in bands when he was only eleven years old. Gerard is obsessed with the idea and has had many spoky experiences with Ouija boards, and when he was eight years old realized that everyone he cares about will die....and die alone.Gerard has recently recovered from a HUGE addiction to drugs and alcohol, and has been sober as of August 2004. When My Chemical Romance is not on tour, he's visiting his therapist; he loves going to therapy. Though, he still enjoys smoking Marlboro cigarettes, and when asked what brand he smokes, he tells and always includes, "But smoking is bad!"
He attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, with the dream of being a comic book artist. He loved comic books, and his favorite comic was X-Men--his favorite character being Wolverine. His favorite issue of X-Men is the volume where Wolverine gets crucified to an X. Before forming My Chemical Romance with former drummer Matt Pelisser(sp?), Gerard pitched a cartoon for Cartoon Network called "The Breakfast Monkey." Sadly (yet fortunately), Cartoon Network turned the cartoon down because they already had a food-based show (a little something called Aqua Teen Hunger Force). With his idea turned down, he considered himself a failed comic book artist. Though, he still does artwork for My Chemical Romance's albums and used to design merchandise for the band called Thursday.
The song "Helena" from My Chemical Romance's latest album (Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge) was written as a tribute to his grandmother Elena (who passed away during the early construction of the band's sophomore album) who had taught him everything he does. Gerard came up with the wardrobe ideas for the music video as well as the funeral concept for the song's wonderful music video. Originally, Gerard wasn't keen on the idea the director had for the dancing in the video, but after Mark (the director) said it'd be like a tribute to Gerard and Mikey's grandmother, Gerard felt perfectly fine about the idea.
Little Fun Facts
♠ Gerard is DEATHLY afraid of needles, which is why he doens't have any tattoos or piercings.♠ Nipple rings completely freak him out.
♠ He is known for wearing heavy eye shadow during his concerts---but has been seen with a thick black strip along his eyes during Taste of Chaos Tour 2005, which his buddy Bert McCracken (the Used) referred to as being "INTENSE!"
♠ His favorite band is Iron Maiden right now, as well as the Dresdon Dolls.
♠ He's still a major David Bowie fan.
♠ He LOVES bats.
♠ He owns the same color Stratocasters as Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day.
♠ His dream car has always been a red Corvette with the license plate "KNIVES".
♠ He sees lyrics as a way of telling a story and usually loves dark stuff..."anything twisted, wierd, and a little evil."
♠ While at a Smashing Pumpkins concert with his brother Mikey, Gerard was mistaken as Billy Corgan...Because, at the time, Gerard had his head shaved.
♠ Gerard and Frank Iero painted the walls for the room that the "Vampires Will Never Hurt You" video was shot in, and got extremely high off of the fumes...And also got extremely sick afterwards.
Favorite Quotes
♠ "So many people treat you like you're a kid so you might as well act like one and throw your television out of the hotel window."♠ "The Devil got landed with a shitty job, he has to deal with assholes everyday; he's probably bored as hell."
♠ "Be Yourself; don't take anyone's shit and never let them take you alive."
♠ (on why we should give a damn about MCR) "I have a nihilistic attitude so it's like...the new gay...It's popular!"
♠ "Look at me, with my pretty bracelet and tiara....I'm a fuckin' princess!"
♠ "I'd rather be a creature of the night than an old dude."
♠ "People think that just because we have on all this bling, that we're loaded. We're not....So...people think we're rich vampires."*
♠ "I think my real dad is gonna be a bum..."*
♠ "You know what was funny about the mask...I think about a week later, I was really over it...Kids are still coming to concerts doing it...It's more of a super hero thing..." (about the mask [a.k.a. black strip] he used to do)*
♠ "Yeah...He's (Frank) really physched about it...He's waiting for that dude to punch me out..." (about Marilyn Manson wanting to punch him out)*
♠ "Actually, I might party a bit. I haven't partied in a long time...But we party a little differently than, like, Trick Daddy. We like high-speed Internet, and strong coffee."
♠ "This song [Give 'Em Hell Kid] is about getting knocked up, has anyone here ever gotten knocked up?!"
♠ "If you're gonna buy me apresent, don't spend more than twenty-five bucks; you'll get a blowjob anyway..."*
♠ "I feel like there's so many people out there who have the kids in the palm of their hand, listening, but there are so few people actually saying something."
♠ "It's important to keep up momentum, when I'm home alone I get stagnant, I go crazy and have to see my therapist. Being on the road keeps me busy. I'm okay when I'm busy."
♠ "I think I even gave a little speech or something..." (about Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge going gold)*
♠ "I didn't want to say anything.....I liked Star Wars when I was ten." (answering on what he was like when he was ten)
♠ "Karate." - what he would do if he was forced to do something in drag
♠ "We can duct tape my knee, I don't care..." (when he scraped his knee during the shooting of the I'm Not Okay video)*
♠ "I would definitely be the one yelling..I think we're all very protective with Mikey for things like sticking forks in toasters."
♠ "I'M THE COWBOY OF AMERICA!"
♠ "Beach balls at festivals are the work of the devil."
♠ "I want to be a vampire. They're the coolest monsters."
♠ "Suicide is a serious thing. And if you know anyone who is suicidal, you need to get them help. No one should be in pain. Everyeone should love themselves....Like I love you all."
♠ "Who wouldn't want to catch a guy in a bear suit?"
♠ "We actually like to kidnap them in the back of a van...And leave them somewhere dangerous....It's like...SURPRISE!" (about what MCR does special with their fans) *
* = I (Kat) quoted Gerard while watching a video or him on SURS. PLEASE contact me before taking these quotes. PLEASE get permission before stealing these things. If they do not have a bold aterisk (*), then I found them online, and you do not need to ask permission.
Why I picked him for TOWCOH...
I chose Gerard to be the first candidate for TOWCOH because he's had such a HUGE impact on my life...And has also become a HUGE inspiration to me. He's not only inspired and greatly influenced me, but he's done the same for so many other people. Yes, his past with drug abuse and alcoholism isn't the kind of quality you want a role model to have...But the fact that he overcame his addictions makes him an inspiration. His words are so powerful and touching when you read them or see him speak them in a video...But in person, it's as if he's standing before you in the crowd.This man is a true hero, no matter what anyone says. He can relate to depression and being suicidal when just about all other famous faces can't. He knows all too well what it's like, and he wants to help people who have to deal with it on their own because they're scared. He can make a difference, and he already is.
I also picked Gerard for this because he's just an amazing person and funny as well. He has a way of expressing himself and he has a great personality.