My Chemical Romance breaks silence days after grim discovery of former drummer Bob Bryar’s decomposed body
Members of My Chemical Romance have broken their silence following the death of drummer Bob Bryar at the age of 44.
The American emo punk band – made up of Gerard Way, Frank Iero, Mikey Way and Ray Toro – confirmed Bryar’s death and asked fans for “patience and understanding” as they process their grief in a statement to Rolling stone magazine.
“The band asks for your patience and understanding as we process the news of Bob’s passing,” a spokesperson for the band shared in a statement.
Bryar’s death was first reported last week by TMZ. He was found dead at his home in Tennessee just two days before Thanksgiving. His cause of death has not been made public and it is unknown who found him.
According to the outlet, his body was “severely decomposed” when it was discovered and animal control came to the house to remove his two dogs.
Authorities do not suspect any “foul play” as all of his “weapons and musical equipment in the home remained untouched.”
Members of My Chemical Romance have broken their silence following the death of drummer Bob Bryar at the age of 44; (L-R) Frank Iero, Mikey Way, Bryar, Ray Toro and Gerard Way
The American emo punk band confirmed Bryar’s death and asked fans for “patience and understanding” as they deal with their grief in a statement to Rolling Stone magazine.
Bryar was last seen alive on November 4, the same day he posted his final tweets, one of which simply read “TULSI,” apparently referring to former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
As My Chemical Romance’s longest-serving and last official drummer from 2004 to 2010, Bryar’s departure was shrouded in rumors of tension with his bandmates.
Although the band members did not discuss the details, multiple sources confirmed that an argument had taken place, according to MTV.
Bryar replaced former drummer Matt Pelissier after the release of the band’s second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004).
He continued to perform and record music with the group on all their subsequent releases until his departure.
On March 3, 2010, guitarist Iero revealed that Bryar had left the band.
‘My Chemical Romance and Bob Bryar broke up four weeks ago. This was a painful decision for all of us that was not taken lightly. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and expect you all to do the same,” he wrote in a statement shared on their official website.
He last worked with the group in 2013 on their record Conventional Weapons.
After retiring in 2014, he became a real estate agent and an active advocate for several dog rescues and shelters.
In 2021, Bryar auctioned off the drum kit he last used with the band — both on tour and during the recording of their iconic 2006 album The Black Parade — to raise money for an animal shelter in Tennessee, according to Rolling Stone.
“The band asks for your patience and understanding as they process the news of Bob’s passing,” a spokesperson for the band shared in a statement
Bryar’s death was first reported by TMZ last week. He was found dead at his home in Tennessee just two days before Thanksgiving
His cause of death has not been made public and it is unknown who found him
Bryar was last seen alive on November 4, the same day he posted his final tweets, one of which read simply “TULSI,” apparently referring to former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
As My Chemical Romance’s longest-serving and last official drummer from 2004 to 2010, Bryar’s departure was shrouded in rumors of tension with his bandmates.
‘This is my very last drum set and it is ready for a new home. I then used this kit [the band] opened the MTV VMAs in 2005, the next tour, and for some of them [Black Parade] record,” he wrote in the list, according to the outlet.
Bryar was born in Chicago, Illinois and started playing drums from an early age.
While in school, he performed in marching and jazz bands before studying sound engineering at the University of Florida.
In 2015, Bryar tweeted that after being “kicked out of MyChem,” he became “the most depressed, angry, suicidal person ever.”
In a later, now deleted tweet, he wrote: ‘Now I’m taking so many pills that I’m feeling a little better, although they still bother me every day. In a recent conversation I was told I won’t be coming back.’
Although My Chemical Romance was scheduled to tour in 2025, Bryar was not scheduled to reunite with the band.
The current lineup of My Chemical Romance consists of vocalist Gerard, lead guitarist Ray, rhythm guitarist Frank and bassist Mikey.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988, available 24/7/365.