« LONG LIVE THE BLACK PARADE »

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE STADIUM TOUR 2025

This is a working page of lore I'm collecting and and theories I am writing about the tour! Plus any art or things I end up making and want to share.

POSTIN ABOUT THE TOUR

LAST SHOW:

NEXT SHOW:

ESSENTIAL INFO

The Black Parade is a 14-song, 52 minute concept album by My Chemical Romance released in 2006.

The story behind TBP features "the patient" a man diagnosed with a terminal illness, mentions an ex-partner of the patient's, and Death, which comes to the patient in the form of "The Black Parade" band.

The 2025 tour expands on the lore of the Black Parade world, which takes place in Draag, a fictional dicatatorship modeled East-bloc countries during the Cold War. At each show, the Dictator forces The Black Parade to perform the show, despite the lead singer's (or the audience's) pleas to the contrary.

The story progresses with each show of the tour.

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FAQ

«THE DRAAG ENCYCLOPEDIA»
BY CALLERBYTE

«LIVE STORY ARCHIVE»
BY THEENGINEER1423

LISTEN TO THE BLACK PARADE ALBUM

DRAAG NATIONAL ANTHEM


The Black Parade album cover.

The Black Parade (2006)

TOUR BLOG

Reactions and Theories and Show Highlights. Unorganized because I am FREAKING OUT.

TORONTO, ON 08/22

Tumblr posts about the toronto show!!! I'm working on updating stuff/have been watching some streams and will get links up to posts and good photos when they drop in the next few days!

PHILADELPHIA, PA 08/15

Posts about the Philly show while I get my info organized enough to write out!

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ 8/09

Okay I was moving this weekend so I'm a little late on this one but nothing can stop me from MCR posting on tumblr not even starting my last year of college. Okay. Here's some of my favorite things from the show last weekend!

Feel free to let me know anything I missed! Here's my posts about the nj show on Tumblr for more photos and silly posting!!!

Also, (8/13) here's an interview with Clarice Jensen, the cello player for the tour, that just dropped today!! She met Gerard because he came to a concert she did with Max Richter (he wrote A Catalogue of Afternoons which I have loved since it came out in 2018!!!!)!!! Isn't that crazy!!!!! What a small world!!!!! Make art that moves your heart forever&ever&ever!!!!!!!

ARLINGTON, TX 8/02

OKAY SO!!! Highlights from today's Arlington Texas show!

Tumblr posts I've collected from today's show!


LOS ANGELES, CA 7/26 + 27/25

They played DESTROYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The band + the Dictator all had "Dodger Dogs" during the elexecution. My friend DJ Killjoy went to both nights so when we discuss I will update with more differences! I know it now very much looks like Gerard is wearing heavier foundation and the slap scratches are scarring over. He fought back before the slap on one of the nights and the guy in charge poked his eyes?? They also played a song off of their unreleased album The Paper Kingdom. (!!!!!)

Tumblr posts about the show: Night 1, Night 2, General LA posts.


SAN FRANCISCO, CA 7/19/25

★*ੈ✩‧₊˚my show*ੈ✩‧₊˚★

The moment I realized at SF that Gerard had scrapes on his face from the Seattle show slap.........god I've never felt something like that. Christ. How does time work in this universe where the band is reincarnated/brought out for a show and then put away until the next one? How are they keeping them preserved? Gerard way my beautiful comic book character I love you so fucking dearly!!!!!!! Here's a video about how dazed he looks when he comes onstage. How he puts his hand on his cheek as if he's just been slapped and even (to me) still looks dazed when he begins the song. Gerard Way the creature you are......

I'm also so curious who the clown is? He kills Gerard, who is sympathetic to me, so I already don't like him. He's an extremist figure, and I'm not really sure what side he's on. The bomb has already gone off, so why does he need another?

I am so excited to learn more about the phone calls and everything. So fascinating. What did the dictator say to you. Are they going to kill The Black Parade's mom on stage in LA?????

How much more 'truthful' hostage information will we get??? How much more slapped can Gerard be?? Are we going to progress to punching? Kicking?? how horny can the people stand?? And this is a fucking. world tour?????? The lore implications of the extra dates....they're not allowed to die until the end of the tour sometime next year.....certainly no new album in that time......guys this is why we're not getting MCR5 yet dont worry

Although there is some evidence to the contrary (mentions of America/the US in the lyrics), I think a fun interpretation is that Draag is the country that predated the world in Danger Days. Atom bomb, dictatorship, killing people who disagree. It's all there. I think there is also mentions of "draag" in Danger Days?

I think the most emotional moment to me was when Gerard's voice shook while reading out the advertisement before Cancer.

I've also seen a post theorizing that the four people being shot under the hoods are MCR and it's a threat to The Black Parade what fate awaits them if they step out of line.

Interestingly, this show was also exactly 2 hours and 20 minutes.

By the way, I love how much of like. A Though Experiment this tour is. Like, it's not a movie. It's not a book. It's not a comic. It's.....playing pretend. It's theater. But it's not a conventional story structure. LIKE??????????? HELLO????? HUGE NEWS FOR NON TRADITIONAL STORY FORMATS EVERYWHERE??????? I really am obsessed with how Gerard said I have a world in my brain and I'm going to inflict it on everyone else. Via our album. Live onstage. Gerard I'm so sorry I said you were selling out I should have had faith. But I didn't and you proved me wrong.

8/3/25 update: Here is a post showing Frank & Mikey's reactions to the execution in Seattle and SF. At Seattle, Frank sticks his fingers in his ears, and in SF, he covers them completely. In SF, Mikey shakes his head, unclear whether in disgust towards the execution or the hostages executed. Here are some more/other angles on Frank from other shows!

Tumblr posts about the SF show!

Profesh SF photos!!!


SEATTLE, WA 7/11/25

This show introduced us to the world of Draag, Keposhka, the execution election, the slap, and the opera singer. It is MCR's longest show to-date, clocking in at 2 hours and 20 minutes.

8/6/25: Something I was curious about was whether every show had fake blood when the clown kills Gerard, and according to the video from the second to last slide on this instagram post from @heyitscaleigh it looks like it's been going on since Seattle! Here are some gifs by @rubbish78 on tumblr.

KEPOSHKA

Keposhka is a fictional alphabet created by Nate Piekos with direction from Gerard Way for MCR's 2025 Long Live The Black Parade tour. It is the alphabet used in DRAAG, on the rules displayed on the screens before shows, on the merch, and in during-show advertisements.

The abbreviation MCR in Keposhka

Nate Piekos released an article on Blambot detailing the font's creation, which was un-published and republished on 7/21/25 with edits. Keep scrolling for a log of real-time updates to the article!

A chart depicting a translation of Keposhka's alphabet, by reddit user jetblkhotelmirror.

This translation guide for Keposhka is from jetblckhotelmirror on reddit and tumblr.

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As I've practiced, I noticed that some letters just fit together nicer than others. Since "MCR" fits together so nicely and is lowkey readable, and other words....look ugly LMAO...I thought it likely that they prioritized certain words looking nice over others during the creation of the font. And it turns out that I was right!

A screenshot of Nate Piekos' Keposhka article reading: One of Gerard's first goals was to decide which three symbols he wanted to represent the initials, 'MCR'. His assistant diligently printed out my scans and cut out all the symbols so Gerard could make a decision. He spread them out on the floor of his studio to puzzle them together. Gerard adds:  'I swapped them around until I found the 'MCR'. This is before we wanted a cleaner 'C' since the other letters are clearly not an 'M' and an 'R'.'

Since there's no standardized font yet for posting online, I am also curious how much people's handwriting styles will influence the development of differing styles of handwritten Keposhka. Or what shortcuts people are using to make the letters flow easier? I've found, for example, that the characters for "h" and "a" fit together well if stacked, but take up a bothesome amount of space if spaced out. I wonder if a standardized/fan-canonized handwriting will emerge since people might be learning from each other instead of the original article.

PIEKOS ARTICLE UPDATE LOG

08/11/25: New info about the YEA/NAY signs and Keposhka Red added the end of the article!

08/24/25: New info about the CHICKEN/FISH signs coming to the article next week!

08/26/25: New info added about the CHICKEN/FISH signs added to the end of the article! Piekos teased that the single torn CHICKEN/FISH sign found in the Philly parking lot that may or may not have been "planted by the band, or a complete accident. I'll never tell," he said. I'm gnawing at my enclosure. WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT WAS ON PURPOSE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU KNEW ABOUT IT. HOW MUCH OF THIS IS ORCHESTRATED IM LOSING MY MIND

A gif of a red heart monitor line.
* . °•★|•°∵ STUFF I'VE MADE∵°•|☆•° . *

I made an outfit for my show and I'm planning on making fanart as well. I'll post that here and if my film is any good when I get it developed I'll post that here too!

I'm currently editing the 2nd file of my MCR-related radio broadcasts...

PRE-SF BROADCAST

POST-SF BROADCAST [coming soon]

#MY FIELDS

In-universe silly posting!

@setulose DRAAG tumblr dash simulator

@gerardpilled r/draag

@elexecution diet coke tarrif?

@sealtrick DRAAG wheat weaver himejoshi

@adaggeradagger sold to the black parade


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EXECUTION LOG

Transcripts sourced from @omtai. Thank you!!

SEATTLE 7/11

TRANSCRIPT [x] «Hello Seattle! It’s a beeauuutiful daaaaay to be hereeee… with yoooou… right now, we’re gonna try an experiment, maybe. Maybe an experiment, maybe a practice of democracy. When you came in, you got a sign. Yes, you got a sign. One side says yea! The other side, says nay. What we are gonna do here is have an election. If you would pay attention to the big red round circle in the centre, you’ll see our four candidates for election. You will get a chance to vote them in or out of office. Seattle, are you ready?! Now, who rejects these individuals and does not want to elect them, say nay! Up, all around! Let me see the black if you disagree! Now I need to hear you. I don’t know. We have a lot more to try. There’s only one more colour. And that’s yea! Who would love to elect these individuals, let me hear you! All together, yeas and nays up at the same time, yea and boo, let me hear you! That’s a lot of fucking yea! Let’s go! Roll! Ready! Set! FIRE! Thank you! Thank you so very much for participating in democracy!»

VOTE: YEA

YEA/RED MEANING: KILL

OUTCOME: 4/4 "CANDIDATES" ELECTED

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SAN FRANCISCO 7/19

TRANSCRIPT [x] «Hello! (laughs) Draagoshka, are you having trouble there? That feels strange. What making think you put it on the inside, huh? Oh. We can’t have this. So, I gotta apologise, I mixed up my words last week when we did this. I confused the word ‘execution’ with ‘election’. I messed that up completely. Let’s make it dark. The dark went out. So, yes. Made a mistake there. So, uh, yeah, it’s an execution, that’s actually what’s gonna happen. But, good news, San Francisco! You all get to vote on it. You decide! It’s up to you! It’s very dark. Okay, so, when you all, uh, came in, you got a sign? One side says yea! One side, says nay! But now we’re gonna decide the fate of these people. Now let me tell you their crimes first, you gotta hear this: they dared to question the longevity of our most beloved, and handsome, Grand Immortal Dictator. Can you believe that?! Such a handsome man should never have to deal with those things! Now, tonight, San Francisco, you only have to make one vote. You show me the yea, or you show me the nay. Are you ready? I’m gonna count to three. One! Two! Three! Everybody vote. I see an overwhelming ocean of red. I guess we’ll spare them after all. Okay, so, I guess we could just start taking them maybe off the stage…?
(phone starts ringing) (picks up) Hello? Yeah, you know, yeah, I- yeah, you know, stuff. Yeah, it’s next week, she’s gonna be 78. I mean, she likes the things any lady her age likes, she likes, um, hand creams and puzzles… yeah. Okay. Well, alright, well, I’ll see you then. Okay, goodbye. (hangs up)
Oh, boy. Roll. Ready! Aim! FIRE!»

VOTE: AN OCEAN OF RED [YEA]

YEA/RED MEANING: UNCLEAR

OUTCOME: 4/4 "PEOPLE" EXECUTED

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LOS ANGELES NIGHT 1 7/26

TRANSCRIPT [x] «Oh! Hot dog! I feel like rather going to have one(?). Are you guys having one? Delicious, no? Well, what does The Grand Immortal Dictator think of this delicious hot dog? It’s good, yes? It’s, how you say, looking good, yes, thank you very much. I will try it myself. It’s good, yes! This is the part of the show, of the performance of The Black Parade, where it’s either an execution or an election, but I’ve started to call it an “elexecution”. Over on The Red Circle, which I can’t see right now, you’ll find some individuals there, who have committed heinous crimes. Heinous crimes. What crimes, you ask? I’m glad you asked! They dared question the longevity of The Grand Immortal Dictator! We can’t have that! We can’t have that at all! And so, upon your entrance, you received a sign, one side is red. It says yea. One side is black with red lettering, it says nay. What you’ll do now is vote on the fate of these individuals. If we shall carry out this execution and you agree, let me see the yeas! Damn. Alright, hold them up, hold them up, keep them held up, please. If you oppose this execution, let me see the nays. Scary. Uh, looks like, looks a split to me, guys, I don’t know, what do you think? Grand Immortal Dictator, what do you think? Yeah? Alright then. Umm, alright. Here we go. Roll. Ready! Aim! Fire. Merci. Merci.»

VOTE: TIED

YEA/RED MEANING: KILL

OUTCOME: 4/4 "INDIVIDUALS" EXECUTED

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LOS ANGELES NIGHT 2 7/27

TRANSCRIPT [x] «Good news, America! The Black Parade is the official spokesman of the world-famous Dodger Dogs! They loved what we did so much last night, that they asked if they could sponsor us, and we said O-KAY! One of our jobs is to pass out these dogs to everybody. Here you go! And here's a vegan one! And why aren't you guys throwin' 'em? Let's go! Now, our Grand Immortal Dictator had his first hot dog last night. But I don't think he had ketchup or mustard. I do not know this. And so, what do you think? Grand Immortal Dictator, I see tonight you've got a very large hot dog. I see some ketchup, I see some mustard. Okay. So. We're gonna vote on condiments tonight. Are you ready? Are you ready?! You got a sign, hold 'em up, when you came in you got a sign. We're looking for some, uh, see a lot of red, looking for some uh, individuals... that's beautiful. Some say that last night there was an execution. This will be kind of similar, right. The other side is black, it says nay. Yes. Okay. Well. We're gonna vote. Does The Grand Immortal Dictator get ketchup or mustard? Now, here's the catch. One of these condiments is gonna end the lives of these prisoners. Not now, my friend. Alright. Now. All those in favour, of ketchup on the hot dog, let me see the yea! That's a lot of ketchup. Now, keep your ketchup signs up. All those in favour of mustard... let me see the black and red side. Woo! Hmm... I think... mustard it is. Yeah... it's mustard. Can we hook our Grand Immortal Dictator up with some mustard, please? Now that that's sorted out, roll! Ready! Aim! FIRE! I prefer ketchup, just saying.
To a gorgeous night! (in response to audience flashlights) Pink! Beautiful!»

VOTE: MUSTARD [NAY]

NAY/BLACK MEANING: KILL

OUTCOME: 4/4 "PRISONERS" EXECUTED

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ARLINGTON TX 8/02

TRANSCRIPT [x] «Hello, Texas! We’re gonna have an election! No-no-no, we’re gonna have an execution! Everybody that came in today, you got a really free sign, you got a really beautiful free sign, you got a red side that says yea! You got a black side that says nay! We’re gonna hold a vote, and we’re gonna decide if these people get executed or if they’ll live. Their crime is collective: to question the vitality of His Grand Immortal Dictator. It’s up to you, America, what we do with them. For those that think, we put a bullet in ‘em. Let’s see the red, let’s see yea. Now, all who oppose, say nay! That’s a lot of fuckin’ red! It’s close though. I’ll let you know when it’s close. We gotta give the people what they want.
Roll! Ready! Aim! Fire.
Yes! Wait, hold on. Oh, one of ‘em didn’t get hit. One of our guys missed. We should’ve got somebody from Dallas to do it.
Alright, well, let’s show her what she’s won, then! It’s brand new 2009 Baruva Dart. Gets great gas mileage. Looks pretty sweet. What’s in it? A brand new goat. In the back seat. Alright. Yeah, let’s get her over there, let’s get her behind the wheel of that brand new car. Whaddaya say, Texas?»

VOTE: RED

YEA/RED MEANING: KILL

OUTCOME: 3/4 "PEOPLE" EXECUTED.
1 SURVIVOR

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EAST RUTHERFORD NJ 8/09

TRANSCRIPT [x] [Following the key to Bellville ceremony, in which Michael Melham, mayor of Bellville, presented the members of MCR with ceremonial keys to Bellville.] «Thank you, Mayor Belleville New Jersey, thank you so very much. We cannot let you leave without giving you a token from our land, Draag, [hands mayor a bundle of wheat] may the wheat never fall in your house. And one final thing, come from all the way in Draag outside the MOAT, is delicious, the wonderful, Gubrik fish, [clerk hands mayor a giant fish wrapped in a towel] come from the Gubrik River. And thank you so much. That was quite beautiful. That was good. But this fish is excellent. Okay. Oh, wait! We got one more thing to do. Let’s fucking kill some people! Get these up! Alright, get them up! Alright, you know how this one works by now, right? Red means yea, they die! Black means nay, they don’t die! What do we wanna see? Fuck yeah, New Jersey! Alright, roll! Ready! Aim! Fire!»

VOTE: RED

YEA/RED MEANING: KILL

OUTCOME: 4/4 "PEOPLE" EXECUTED.

☒☒☒☒

PHILADELPHIA 08/15

TRANSCRIPT [x] «Good news, America! The Black Parade may have lost its last job as the spokesband for the Dodgers Dog. But luckily, we got a new gig! And our funny friend right here is gonna help us earn the big bucks! The Black Parade is now the officials spokesband of The Cheesesteak. Yes. Just like the old Cheesesteak would do for The Black Parade. Spicy. And how are you all tonight, are you having a great time? You’re a great time! Alright, so let’s kill some people! Oh wait. Different thing. Okay, so when you came in, you all got this sign, and, uh, one side says chicken, the other says fish, right? Is that—? Never mind. Uh, sorry. Hold on. Yeah, keep the music on. Alright, here we go. Okay. God, I can’t find—alright! One side, it says yea, right? The other side, it says nay, right? Well, we’re gonna have a vote here tonight, right now. These people over here, I don’t even know what the fuck they did. But they’re either guilty or they’re not. Wait. They’re guilty, but are we gonna kill ‘em, that’s how this works. Kinda forgot. So, all those in favour of putting a bullet in these motherfuckers, let me see the yea. Alright. Alright. That’s not bad at all. Now. All opposed to that action, let me see the nay. Hmm. A little close. I’m not sure. One more time, everybody at the same time, hold up the yea or the nay, whichever you believe. We gotta give the people what they want, and what they want is blood! Let’s go, Philadelphia! Roll! Ready! Aim! Fire! Thank you.»

VOTE: RED

YEA/RED MEANING: KILL

OUTCOME: 4/4 "PEOPLE" EXECUTED.

☒☒☒☒

TORONTO 08/22

TRANSCRIPT [x] «How are you doing tonight? It is lovely to see you here in your place where you live. It’s nice to see us here, I think, right? It’s kinda nice, right? Alright. Now comes the time. When you came in, you got a sign. One side says chicken. The other side says fish. What we are gonna decide right now is what is better: chicken or fish? Who fucking knows? Who fucking cares? They’re gonna die anyway! So! I wanna see everyone that wants chicken first. That is so much chicken. Look at all that yellow, orange, and red. Alright! Who wants fish?! Aquatic, you know? Aquatic? Under the sea? Right? Okay. So, here’s the thing. You’re gonna vote for either chicken or fish, you’re all gonna hold ‘em up at the same time, and I swear, I promise you so badly that one of these sides—chicken or fish—will save their lives. Trust me. Are you ready? At the count of three, I wanna see all of the signs up in the air! And it’s one! And it’s two! And it’s… delicious. Roll. Ready. Aim. Fire! [clucking noises] Delicious. Fish or chicken, chicken or fish… grab a leg and make a wish, or a fin, dive on in. Dinner’s always better with a cluck or a swim.»

VOTE: CHICKEN

YEA/CHICKEN MEANING: KILL

OUTCOME: 4/4 [REDACTED] EXECUTED.

☒☒☒☒

THEORIES

New plan for this section, I'm going to post theories regarding the tour/lore that I find compelling here!

@sigynpenniman SF "election" theories

@sigynpenniman SF pre-cancer ad read

@casket-of-imps SF pre-cancer ad read 2

@mantictiger on puppeteering

@alecscudder1987 (me) on fascist aesthetics

@roryfrommybabysittersavampire lots of great lltbp timeline theories + Danger Days connections in the notes!

@casket-of-imps on swarm tour + lltbp tour themes & connections

@clowns-ofthesame-circus on see/hear/speak no evil and the auxilary band having no connection to the rebellion against draag

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DECOMPOSITION LOG

Go here for the rest of the band + B-stage

SEATTLE WA

⥇ Black eyeshadow.

⥇ Little if any foundation.

SAN FRANCISCO CA

Sources: Photos from Focus mag and Mary Elizabeth Perez via the MCR Archive!

⥇ No eyeshadow.

⥇ A light layer of white foundation.

⥇ Thin red scratches on her right cheek

LOS ANGELES CA 1

⥇ Here is filler text about MCR. What a cool band they are. Damn I really love this tour I'm so glad I got to go. Yippee!!!

LOS ANGELES CA 2

⥇ Here is filler text about MCR. What a cool band they are. Damn I really love this tour I'm so glad I got to go. Yippee!!!

ARLINGTON TX

⥇ Very visible white foundation.

⥇ Appears to be scarred over scratches (with some fresh cuts?)

⥇ Blood spatters on the right side of her face too.

EAST RUTHERFORD NJ

Sources: Greg Pallante

⥇ All white foundation.

⥇ Red scratches haphazardly across RIGHT cheek.

⥇ YELLOWED BRUISING ON LEFT CHEEK (NEW).

PHILADELPHIA PA

Sources: [x], [x]

⥇ White foundation.

⥇ Slap scratches.

⥇ Lacerations on her other cheek, similar to Arlington's blood spatters but more clearly scratches.

TORONTO ON

Sources: [x], [x]

⥇ Coming soon!

⥇ Coming soon!

⥇ Coming soon!


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Thank you for visiting my webpage! I love MCR but also I am just one guy and I am not Gerard Way so things may be wrong/out of date!
If you have any ideas for changes/updates/sections, or you have a source for something, I would love to hear from you.
My tumblr is @alecscudder1987 and my email is westwordstars@gmail.com

LAST UPDATED: 24 AUG 2025

A black antique timer.