12 Hard Rock Bands Who Succeeded By Never Selling Out
9. My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance was always the stick in the mud in the hard rock world. The band had originally started as a typical scene band of the emo genre, with lyrics that catered to the edgy high schooler crowd. Over time though, the band showed their chops as some of the best rock musicians of their generation.
After breaking into the mainstream Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, the band left their alternative crowd with their mouths open after unveiling their sweeping epic The Black Parade. The band were so proud of their new artistic endeavor that their accompanying tour included a full performance of the album.
Even after their masterpiece, the band showed they had more strings to their bow with Danger Days, which brought elements of dance rock and even electronics into their sound. So, what did they do once they established themselves as rock gods? They broke up.
For most fans, this was a day that has gone down in infamy as the death of true rock and roll. While many saw untapped potential, the band felt the decision was about being realistic given the standard they set for themselves. With years of hindsight, there's something to respect about a band who respects their fans enough to not phone it in.