Bob Bryar

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Bryar's path to My Chemical Romance was unconventional. He first met the band while working as an audio engineer for the Used during a joint tour. In 2004, after My Chemical Romance parted ways with drummer Matt Pelissier, they asked Bryar to join despite never having heard him play. He accepted, quit his job, and relearned drumming to join their promotional tour for *Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge* within a week. During his tenure, Bryar endured significant physical hardships. While filming the music video for "Famous Last Words" (2007), he suffered third-degree burns that became infected with staphylococcus aureus, spreading across his body and putting pressure on his brain, leading to canceled shows. Later, wrist injuries developed into carpal tunnel syndrome, forcing him to pull out of several dates on the Black Parade World Tour. Despite these setbacks, he continued to assist with stage setup and returned to drumming by January 2008. His departure in February 2010 was initially undisclosed, but in a 2024 tribute, guitarist Frank Iero revealed that the death of Bryar's dog after being scammed by a trainer was a turning point, stating that "he just couldn't keep it together anymore."

In Their Own Story

The stage lights cut through the haze as the opening drum fill echoed off the venue walls. Bob adjusted his grip, feeling the weight of the crowd's anticipation. As the first chord struck, he locked into a rhythm that felt less like playing an instrument and more like conducting a storm. For those few minutes, amidst the theatrical smoke and black-and-white costumes, he was the engine driving the narrative forward, every beat syncing with the collective heartbeat of thousands of fans.

Reader's Guide

Bob Bryar joined My Chemical Romance in 2004, replacing Matt Pelissier shortly after the release of *Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge*. He performed on and co-wrote all songs on *The Black Parade* (2006), the first album on which he received credits. He also received co-writing credits on five songs from *Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys* (2010) and performed on the *Conventional Weapons* (2013) compilation, recorded in 2009 before his departure. Bryar departed from My Chemical Romance in February 2010; according to biographer Tom Bryant, he was kicked out. After leaving, he worked behind the scenes on tours for several bands before retiring from the music industry in 2014. He became a real estate agent and auctioned off his drumming equipment and a My Chemical Romance outfit to support dog rescue charities. Bryar was found dead in his Shelbyville, Tennessee home on November 26, 2024, having died two days earlier. His autopsy report ruled the cause of death as "best classified as undetermined," noting three open canisters of nitrous oxide found near his body and significant decomposition.

Did You Know?

• Bryar was hired by My Chemical Romance without them ever hearing him play drums.
• He suffered third-degree burns while filming the 'Famous Last Words' music video, leading to a life-threatening staph infection that spread to his brain.
• Bryar learned to play every Rush song on drums by practicing along to their music without formal lessons.
• After retiring from music, he became a real estate agent and auctioned his My Chemical Romance uniform to benefit animals affected by Hurricane Ian.
• His autopsy report noted three open canisters of nitrous oxide found next to his body, but his cause of death was ruled inconclusive.

Early Musical Foundations and Engineering Path

Robert Cory Bryar was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 31, 1979. He began playing drums at age four and participated in school jazz band, marching band, and orchestra through high school, when he quit believing nobody took them seriously. He then played in a separate jazz band at parties and coffee shops, later joining a punk rock band and a King Crimson cover band as second drummer. One of his main influences was Rush drummer Neil Peart; Bryar practiced by playing Rush music in the background and trying to keep up, eventually learning every Rush song on drums. He formed his own punk rock band but gave up when his desire to perform constantly conflicted with his bandmates' lives. Bryar studied sound engineering at the University of Florida and became audio engineer at the House of Blues in Chicago for a couple of years. Starting in 2000, he joined the crews of several touring bands as an audio engineer and tour manager, including the Used and Thrice.

The My Chemical Romance Era

Bryar first met My Chemical Romance while working with the Used on a joint tour. In 2004, after the band kicked out drummer Matt Pelissier, they asked Bryar to join despite never hearing him play. He accepted, quit his job, and relearned drumming to join their promotional tour for *Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge* within a week. He appeared in the music video for "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (2004) despite an ankle injury, fearing he'd be seen as unskilled. On *The Black Parade* (2006), Bryar performed on and co-wrote all songs. During filming for "Famous Last Words" (2007), he suffered third-degree burns that became infected with staphylococcus aureus, spreading to his face and putting pressure on his brain, causing several show cancellations. During the Black Parade World Tour (2007-08), wrist injuries developed into carpal tunnel syndrome, with a "golf ball-sized lump" on his wrist and loss of control in his fingers. He missed shows, replaced by Pete Parada or Tucker Rule, but still helped set up the stage and returned by January 2008. In February 2010, Bryar departed; biographer Tom Bryant stated he was kicked out. Frank Iero announced it in March as a "painful decision." In a 2024 tribute, Iero revealed that prior to his departure, one of Bryar's dogs was killed after being scammed by a dog trainer, stating "he just couldn't keep it together anymore."

Departure and Life Beyond the Spotlight

Following his departure from My Chemical Romance, Bryar continued working behind the scenes on tours for several bands, largely avoiding media attention. In 2015, he said the event made him depressed and suicidal, but with medication he was recovering. By October 2014, he announced his departure from music and became a real estate agent. In January 2020, he participated in a remembrance for recently-deceased Neil Peart, recalling his "teenage obsession" and friendship with him. In June 2021, Bryar announced his official retirement from drumming due to ongoing wrist issues, age, weight, and desire for "something new." That month, he auctioned his C&C drum kit from the "Helena" (2005) music video on eBay, donating proceeds to Williamson County Animal Control and Adoption Center in Franklin, Tennessee. In October 2022, he auctioned his uniform from *The Black Parade* on eBay, donating to animals affected by Hurricane Ian in Florida and South Carolina, stating "it's just sitting in a box doing nothing and people need help with money right now."

Tragic Conclusion and Enduring Legacy

Bryar was last seen alive on November 4, 2024. On November 26, he was found dead in his home in Shelbyville, Tennessee; his obituary stated he died two days earlier. The autopsy report labeled his cause of death as "best classified as undetermined," with significant decomposition making it hard to determine the cause. Three open canisters of nitrous oxide were found next to his body, raising concerns of possible overdose, and his body appeared to have experienced animal scavenging. My Chemical Romance paid tribute through social media, and Frank Iero penned a separate tribute on Instagram, recounting their friendship and revealing a tattoo dedicated to Bryar. During the band's concert in Chicago (Bryar's hometown) on August 29, 2025, they projected Bryar's image onstage as a tribute.