My Chemical Romance live in London review: ‘The Black Parade’ brings Wembley to its knees
Almost twenty years after The Black Parade first marched into our hearts, My Chemical Romance prove that they aren’t just on a 2006 nostalgia trip, they’re still firmly one rock’s most ambitious players in 2026.
On the opening night of their three date sold out residency at Wembley Stadium, Gerard Way and his merry band of ghouls delivered a theatrical rock spectacle, smudging the lines between musical performance, political satire and a full scale stage production.
With help of opera singers and lashings of pyro the band had the crowd bending to their will, even before the famous ‘G’ note of ‘Welcome To The Black Parade’ was even played. My Chemical Romance’s loyal fans are no strangers to the extreme and marked the occasion by decking out the stadium in classic military jackets and black eyeliner across a 75,000 strong crowd.
For two hours, Wembley became the fictional authoritarian state of Draag, offering a theatrical setting for a full-run through of their 2006 opus. From the opening pairing of ‘The End’ and ‘Dead!’ the band defied the distinctly eyeliner-unfriendly London heatwave to rally their fans.
Backed by towering propaganda visuals and dramatised speeches, the show opened each song to the reimagined chapter of the original 2006 story with frontman Gerard Way positioned behind a large black podium resembling a revolutionary leader to address the adoring masses throughout.
One of the night’s most memorable moments, was the audience participation segment in the form of the crowd deciding the fate of four ‘losers’ using a “Yea” and “Nay” placard distributed on entry. Unsettling as the mock execution was (with Yea winning by a mile), it wouldn’t have been a My Chemical Romance show without a degree of morbid curiosity from fans.
Musically, The Black Parade has never sounded more haunting. ‘This Is How I Disappear’ and ‘The Sharpest Lives’ slit through the crowd like a brand new knife, sharpened with a renewed sense of urgency. ‘Cancer’ offered a rare moment of calm, with many fans becoming visibly emotional due to the songs lyrical nature before the storm that was ‘Mama’ exploded the stadium into chaos. The band also performed a cover of Morrissey’s ‘Jack The Ripper’ for the first time since 2003 much to the delight of the crowd.
Fan favourite ‘Famous Last Words’ closed the evening in its ever dramatic fashion with concert goers embracing, elated and emotionally exhausted after a truly special celebration of a seminal record.
It’s been quite the journey. From emo cult favourites 20 years ago to selling out Wembley Stadium, here was a show which celebrated My Chemical Romance’s significant place in modern rock and its history. Long Live The Black Parade.