interview from the now defunct roar zine, circa 2005

Good afternoon, can you please introduce yourself?
FRANK: Hi, I’m Frank, and I play guitar
MIKEY: I’m Mikey, and I play bass.
BOB: My name’s Bob, drums.

How are you doing?
FRANK: Good! Very good. Yesterday we had a show, and it was our first show since we were back in Europe. We flew back to Miami last week, so we’re really fucking tired, but we’re doing great. Plus we got coffee so we’ll make it. (writer’s note: we just delivered them some coffee)
BOB: And Red Bull! *raises his can of Red Bull*

You flew back to Miami to perform on the MTV video Awards. You’ve also been nominated for 5 awards. The show haven’t been on television here yet, but did you win anything?
FRANK: No, we did not win anything. But there was something later on, and I won a bag of potatoes and Smarties.
MIKEY: We were more excited to play I think. We didn’t really care if we won or not. We have seen play all our favourite band the VMA’s, so even though we didn’t won anything we won everything.
BOB: What was the one that Green Day lost?
FRANK: Nothing
BOB: No, there was one that they didn’t win. I wanna know what it was...

The album ‘Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge’ came out a while ago. Why did it take you so long to promote it in Europe?
FRANK: Well, it’s not up to us. It’s up to the European range of our label. And sometimes it takes a while for certain things to come out over here. We wished it came out the same day, but you did get the ‘The Ghost Of You’ before it came out over there.


And if you look back on the ‘I brought you my bullets’ record. What’s the biggest difference between that record, and the new record?
FRANK: Well. We had more time. That first record was recorded in nine days, and was recorded in a basement.

But it still sounded awesome.
FRANK: Thank you! I appreciate it. On the new record we used real amps and stuff. We recorded the old record through a budget store, and I wished we’ve don differently, and I was added to the band 2, 2 and a half weeks before heading into the studio, so we were a ‘whole band’ for about 2 weeks. Then we recorded the album in 9 days, and went on tour for 2 year. On the new record you hear more of an actual band. On the old record it’s more a bunch of guys having fun.

And what about the new album title “Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge”. Do you feel like getting revenge on anything or anybody right now?
FRANK: I think... kind of. It’s our own revenge, and it’s sweet.

My Chemical Romance is very close with the band The Used, but do you think that their fame helped you to become what you are now? They helped you, and brought you with them on tour, isn’t it?
MIKEY –immediately-: No.
FRANK: erm... I think that they gave us opportunities each show. But here’s the thing if you reach up with someone who is successful, how come Deadsy isn’t huge?

You also recorded a song with The Used. It was a cover of the song ‘Under Pressure’. How was that for you? Recording that song for the victims of the Tsunami disaster last Christmas?
FRANK: It was a new experience. It was great to help but other than that it was weird because we didn’t go in the studio together.

Separate recordings? Why’s that?
FRANK: Schedule... But that’s the main thing about being in a band and tour so much. Some tracks were recorded in England; some tracks were recorded in L.A. It’s really a miracle that it got done.
MIKEY: Some of the songs were recorded on Mars too! *laughs*


What can we expect from My Chemical Romance in the future?
FRANK: You can expect a new record soon, and we will tour our fucking balls off. We will be back in Europe to do a headlining tour.

Participating on the Taste Of Chaos tour right?
FRANK: No. We’ve done that. We did that, the first one in the States and it was a great experience.

About the Chaos Tour. What is it like to be on stage with a band such as Killswitch Engage? Which is not really the same kind of music that you play?
It was great, and that’s a great thing about that tour. That there are so many different bands on one stage.

And what about the audience?
MIKEY: It was great. They were waiting for every band.

And the Taste of Chaos tour is growing out to be the next Vans Warped tour?
FRANK: Yes, it will be the counterpart of the Warped tour.

So, on to the fun questions now.
If you could choose to have one superhero superpower. What superpower do you really like to have?
MIKEY: I would love to be able to turn invisible.
FRANK: That’s great. But I can’t have that if you already picked it. I think to manipulate time.
MIKEY: That would be sick too!
FRANK: Rewind everything, and stop it.

Are there any things that you would like to do over again?
FRANK: There are some small things, but living without any regrets wouldn’t be nice. You can’t think everything out. A part of living your life is to fuck up.

And what about you Bob?
BOB: Can’t say it. It’s X-rated.

*laughter*

Ah, it’s the Netherlands man. You can say everything!
FRANK: Ah! There you go!
BOB: Me and Bert (Writer’s Note: Bert McCracken, Singer from The Used) have a secret superpower. We can’t talk about it.
FRANK: A secret adult superpower.

So, what’s by far the coolest animal on this planet?
MIKEY: The zebra! Duh...
*laughter*
BOB: I like the Mastodon.

But why the Zebra?
MIKEY: Ofcourse, because it’s striped! Zebra’s are really black. It you shave them it’s a black horse. And it makes funny noises.
FRANK: Zebra’s can be very nice, but if you piss ‘em off they can be very mean!
FRANK: I would choose the sea cow!


What’s the first record you’ve ever bought or got as a present?
FRANK: The first CD that I bought was DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
BOB AND MIKEY: yeeaaah!!!
*laughter*

And what about the last one?
FRANK: The last one? I think the record from ‘The Banner’. A hardcore band from New Jersey. But the next albums I’m going to buy when I‘m back in the States are: Every Time I Die, The Flesh, and The Bled.
BOB: The last record I’ve bought? Dragon force.
*Frank laughs*
BOB: Do you know Dragon Force?

Never heard of it.
BOB: You should get it.

What’s it like?
BOB: Glory metal.
FRANK *laughs*: Glory metal! I like that one.

So, on to the last question. What’s in your pockets right now?
FRANK: My Sidekick (telephone) and money... I will empty up my purse.

That was about it. Thank you for your time. Do you have any last words for this interview?
FRANK: Any last words..?

Or a random quote, etc.
FRANK: Oh yeah. Paint it black!
MIKEY: My last words are noon. N-o-o-n.

*Bob’s Sidekick is ringing for the 4th time in a row, and he picks up yelling “WHAT!!??!”*

MIKEY: And his last words are ‘what’. *laughs*