Great MTV Moments for the Scene - 'The Black Parade' Premieres at the VMAs
38 years ago, MTV would debut to the world as a mecca of all things music for television. Musicians flocked to it to premiere their videos while the television station would act as a magnum opus for everyone looking for a fresh tune or music video to fill their eyes and ears. These days you wouldn't expect MTV to be the place for new music to listen to in the scene anymore unless it happened to pop up in the background of your favorite trainwreck reality show. 2006 was a different time and also a monumental moment for the scene. After riding the tantalizing success of the saucy release Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, no one had any idea what to expect when My Chemical Romance promised to debut their new song "The Black Parade" or how it would change the rock music game for years to come.
The VMAs saw the band introducing their brand new musical experience high atop of the rooftops. An ominous drum roll build-up ensued, alongside a singular G note on a piano, with the band’s radically different visual appearance from the year before, introducing us to a song that most of us know a majority of the lyrics to. Atop the Rockefeller Center, MCR would be flanked by a small army of skeletons, dressed like Sgt. Pepper's worst emo nightmare. Playing on a rooftop was another Beatles homage during the performance. It was a dramatic image shift for fans who were used to the black-and-red-suited, long-haired Gerard, only to be given a new Gerard with bleached blonde short hair. The singer went full bore into the concept album’s message by appearing to be a cancer-ridden patient.
The moment was monumental and paramount in getting the word out on the band's upcoming third album that would revolutionize their success to levels all bands in the scene strive for even a fraction of these days. These visuals were etched into our minds with the song leaving a lasting impression for years to come. With the band setting their rescheduled dates to next year, maybe at this year's VMAs, could they debut a brand new song? One can only dream! While MTV premiered 38 years ago, it's been host to many moments in the scene, with this just being first of many we'll dig up. Who knows what we'll find considering the scope of the station's lifespan.