The Kid

Lore & Background

In the narrative universe, The Kid is a man dying of cancer who goes on a journey to the afterlife. Throughout his journey, he reflects on his life and the traumas that went along with it; death itself is primarily presented to him in the form of his fondest childhood memory: his father taking him to see a marching band while he was a child. The album opens with "The End.", a track that uses a heart rate monitor and follows the Patient as he nears his death. "The End." then leads into the album's first proper full song, "Dead!", as the heart rate monitor from the former flat lines. Lyrically, "Dead!" also follows the Patient's impending death, but interprets his fate in a sarcastic, cheerful manner. The album then leads into "This Is How I Disappear" and "The Sharpest Lives", two songs that are fairly similar. The former showcases a different way of discussing death, calling for one to "drain all the blood and give the ki" (the source cuts off here). The album's centerpiece is "Welcome to the Black Parade", which evolved from a song concept originally sketched out in the band's earliest recording sessions, "The Five of Us Are Dying". The album leaves the final heartbeat ambiguous, daring listeners to write their own ending.

In Their Own Story

The sterile hospital room feels colder than usual as the Kid stares at the ceiling tiles, counting the cracks like the days he has left. Outside the window, a low hum vibrates through the glass — not wind, but drums. He sits up, ignoring the pain that blooms in his chest like a bruise, and looks out. A sea of black uniforms marches down the street below, brass instruments gleaming under grey skies like teeth in a skull's grin. They are not here for anyone else; they are waiting for him to finish packing. The Kid touches the cold glass, and for a moment, he sees his own reflection — white-faced, hollow-eyed, already half a ghost. The parade has arrived before he was ready to leave.

Reader's Guide

Gerard Way acts as lead vocalist and the conceptual architect of the narrative — the one who first created the storyline centered around a man dying of cancer, whilst death presents itself to him in the form of his fondest childhood memory: his father taking him to see a marching band while he was a child. From there, he created a plethora of characters that would exist within the album's world: Mother War, Fear and Regret, The Soldiers, and The Escape Artist. The album would adopt this story, becoming a concept album. The album's working title was *The Rise and Fall of My Chemical Romance*, although its name was later changed into *The Black Parade*. The album was produced by the band alongside Rob Cavallo, a producer known for his work on albums from other artists like Green Day. Recording took place from April to August 2006, during which the band secluded themselves in the Paramour Mansion. The band's members, particularly bassist Mikey Way, faced mental health issues that impacted the album's production and influenced several of its songs.

Did You Know?

• The album's working title was *The Rise and Fall of My Chemical Romance* before it was changed to *The Black Parade*.
• The song 'Welcome to the Black Parade' evolved from an early concept called 'The Five of Us Are Dying'.
• Recording took place from April to August 2006 in the Paramour Mansion, which the band found scary and uneasy to be in.
• Bassist Mikey Way developed depression and alcoholism from the toll of living in the mansion, particularly due to a lack of communication to the outside world.
• The album could have been a double album — Gerard Way stated in 2016 that it 'could have been, and almost was, a double album'.