THE BLACK PARADE

The Black Parade is rock quintet My Chemical Romance's third studio album, released in October 2006.^[1] Like the band's first two albums, it is a concept album, centering on a character known as "the Patient," who, dying of cancer, looks back on his life from a jaded perspective.

The album was produced by Rob Cavallo, who has also produced albums for Green Day. It was intentionally leaked in its entirety on October 19, 2006. In an interview with MTV, bandmember Gerard Way explained the album's title: "...the words "black" and "parade" made you think of death but [also] celebration. And that's what the record felt like, it felt like a celebration of life and death..."^[3] Though several reviewers dismissed the album as a display of showmanship,^[4][5] The Black Parade has, overall, been a critical success.^[6][7]

My Chemical Romance has embarked on a global tour promoting The Black Parade, consisting of two separate North American trips and a European leg.

INFLUENCES

Lead singer Gerard Way has cited Queen as a major influence on the album. Similarities have been noted between the guitar orchestration in "Welcome to the Black Parade" and Queen guitarist Brian May's performances.

Way has also stated that Queen's A Night at the Opera, The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Pink Floyd's The Wall, and The Smashing Pumpkins' album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness were particularly influential in the production of this album.

CHART PERFORMANCE

The Black Parade debuted at number two on the UK album chart, behind Robbie Williams' Rudebox. In the U.S., it also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, behind Disney's Hannah Montana Soundtrack. In its first week, the album sold 240,000 copies, far surpassing the 38,000 best-week sales of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, the band's previous album. It has since received a platinum certification in the UK, and was certified platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA in late February 2007. The album debuted at number three on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum after shipping more than 70,000 copies. It debuted atop the charts in New Zealand and was certified platinum there, with shipments of more than 15,000.