When My Chemical Romance announced their premature split in 2013, the world wept for the loss of concept songs and emo fringes. However, that wasn’t the last we were to hear of the band members who made up our favourite theatrical rockers; raised from the ashes of My Chemical Romance are lead singer Gerard Way and guitarist/vocalist Frank Iero, both of whom have released albums this year and are currently touring the UK.
Whenever Gerard or Frank branched out into solo careers, the music world was always going to go crazy. Media coverage of Gerard’s Britpop-infused album Hesitant Alien exploded, while Frank’s punky solo album Stomachaches surprised and delighted music critics all over the world. Of course, the overlap between the two artists has led to criticism and, unfortunately, comparison. It’s only expected that two beloved members of one of the world’s most ambitious rock bands recording and touring so close together would make tongues wag, but is it really fair to compare the two solo artists to their past or, more importantly, to each other? We don’t think so.
Anyone who has listened to both Hesitant Alien and Stomachaches can vouch that they have totally different sounds. Gerard Way has taken this chance to delve into some of his not-so-guilty pleasures, particularly his much-loved Britpop influences, making for an extremely upbeat, poppy sound intertwined with his rock background. Stomachaches, on the other hand, is one of the most raw, stripped-back albums you’ll hear this year, with Frank Iero’s punk roots screaming out from every track in amongst personal, emotional lyrics. They are polar opposites, so is it fair to compare Gerard’s aspirational Brixton Academy date to Frank’s intimate Barfly show? Or Gerard’s natural showmanship to Frank’s cute, down-to-earth honesty? It would be absurd to attempt a fair comparison between, say, Oasis to the Sex Pistols, so why pit two different Britpop and punk artists against each other?
When any band makes ripples, it’s hard to ignore them; when a band like My Chemical Romance makes tidal waves, it’s impossible to forget them. Both Frank and Gerard are perfectly aware that they cannot shake their musical past, no matter how successful their solo ventures would turn out to be. It would be somewhat arrogant of them to turn their backs entirely on the very thing that opened their current career doors- thankfully, neither of them have done that. Yet it’s perfectly acceptable that they want to respectfully put My Chemical Romance to one side and focus on the present; no-one wants to be successful by riding off coattails. However, they will never get the opportunity to do that if people don’t stop dragging them back to their old days as band mates. “Hey, remember how Gerard never let Frank take centre stage?” Because My Chemical Romance needed a flamboyant, theatrical frontman. “Why didn’t Frank be more honest like this with MCR songs?” Because that wasn’t what My Chemical Romance were about- they were conceptual, melodramatic and ambiguous. Not only are the two artists and albums completely different to each other, but they are also completely different to their previous work. You just can’t compare them.
You can discuss the pros and cons of Gerard Way and Frank Iero until your head spins; you can bitch about how one is better than the other until your voice is hoarse; and you can take as many trips down the MCR memory lane as you like. But the truth is, both Gerard and Frank want to move on with their careers and, unless people stop comparing them like they are two race horses charging towards the same finish line, they will never be able to fulfil their new dreams. No genuine fan of either of these artists should want that to happen.
