May 9, 2014 - The Social Network/Writing/Art/Identity

So, a couple of things to sort out with all this “social media” CNN is telling me the kids are “wild about”. Should be straightened by this afternoon with everything linked up nicely, as I do enjoy using Instagram and would like to continue to do so. But I really do enjoy having a Tumblr, and I feel I haven’t even scratched the surface yet. Just having a place to dump thoughts and process notes is nice, and something I always wished I had.

Lots of comic writing to get done today as I am behind on a couple of things. And lots of exciting developments in that area, and as the music stays on course and will be out in due time, it frees me up to focus on a little bit of writing, while still making music whenever it strikes me.

A dream of mine that has seemed elusive in the last 5 years has been the possibility of a monthly comic series, and that is starting to look like it is more feasible as I move forward, it just means even less sleep than I am currently getting but I think I’m ok with that.

To me, there are so many things you can explore with a monthly series, so many themes and personalities and possibilities. I think a good monthly series is like a road trip, with it’s own peaks and valleys, quiet moments, loud ones, friends coming and going, and coming back. Where it will end up (if it happens) from a publishing standpoint is, is still up in the air, but that is less important than finding my “partner” on the book- the artist/co-conspirator/energy conduit.

I’ve also given a lot of thought to what exactly it is I do. I spent so many years defining myself or reading other people’s definitions (where I found myself occasionally looking for clues, strangely) that I became comfortable with the job description “Rocker who writes comics and makes drawings on the side”. Over the years this stopped working for me, and I really needed to embrace the fact that there are many things I do, and it is difficult to give that a title, so basically I stopped looking for definitions and just started giving myself over to my artistic flow, and where it takes me.

I can’t imagine a life where I am not making music, but I also can’t imagine a life where I’m not shaping something with physical art. So both!

G

May 8, 2014 - Style Guides



So, one of the things I do when starting a new project is create a book that encapsulates the energy of it. This contains reference, experiments, drawings, stickers- really anything that helps give others and myself a clear picture of what is going on up there in my head. They usually begin crudely, and gain refinement as time goes on. Some ideas get abandoned, while others can take over a whole project, or create an entirely new one.

May 7, 2014 - Watching The Levels

Sometimes there is music in the studio and you’ve been hearing it for ten hours but everything is real calm and it’s late and something will catch you. Like the electronic rise and fall of the levels on the board, and it’s in these moments that you realize what you are allowed to do.

It never starts being real.

Sure, there are moments of real, both harsh and boring. But it is in these very quiet, very technical, and very human moments you are reminded that it is truly living inside a dream, and it begins to take on a soft glow. And as you become hyper-aware you start to watch yourself from the outside. And it never starts being real. Until it is.


A note about Gerard's tumblr: I will only post his original content or content he posts relating directly to his work. If he posts work by other artists (as he did yesterday) or reblogs anything, that won't appear here.

Click through to visit his new website.

I am beyond thrilled to finally have a place to share everything I make.

I imagine you’ll see/hear everything from blog posts to images, art, drawings, music, big projects and small projects, looks into things, under things, behind things, and in front of them. This will also be the place to come for news on anything related to my ride into the next part of my life. I’d rather just start moving so I’d like to say thank you for stopping by, check me out on twitter @gerardway and please follow my friend, traveling companion, and news-broadcaster Lola on twitter, @lolaplusg for updates and info.

Oh, this is probably the best place to announce it so-

I am continuing full-steam into comics, art, and more importantly to some of you- music. I am pleased to let you know I am now signed as a solo artist Warner Bros Records. My album is near completion, and you should expect to hear things in the near future, even today actually- with a brief snippet of what is to come. I am excited. It’s starting again-

G

Yo Gabba Gabba
Wednesday December 7, 2011 | Posted by: Gerard

We love Yo Gabba Gabba. And I love DJ Lance. These are some drawings I did after talking to series creator Christian Jacobs and getting really inspired. We talked a lot about Hoth and we definitely wanted a Yeti. Thanks to James Dewees and the awesome people at YGG, that dream was realized.

( concept sketches behind cut )

Fright Night-
Saturday September 3, 2011 | Posted by: Gerard

Was fucking awesome... lots of vampires got killed. It also stayed very true to the original in my opinion. Anyone else spot the sweet Alkaline Trio poster? Or Lisa Loeb?
xo
g

Once more unto the breach, dear friends...
Wednesday August 31, 2011 | Posted by: Gerard


“Your past doesn’t matter- what happened five years ago doesn’t matter- the only thing that matters is your friends on stage- and what you do tonight. That will last forever.”

Reading and Leeds-

Frank said this seconds before we killed the house-lights on stage at Reading- in a group hug, and in near darkness. And not to misquote him but this is what I heard in my head- maybe he said it more poetically, but he has a talent for being direct- which is what I love about him.

And we were very direct.

Our past with the festival is often misconstrued, seen through the lens of “revisionist history” depending on who writes about it. “2006 was a triumph!”. “2006 was a bloodbath!”. It is surely sensational but to me it was simply boring to talk about- or was my boredom masking fear?

No matter what it was- it was the exact recipe for a life-or-death rock and roll show- and that happens to be our specialty.

You see, the thing about My Chemical Romance is that we never wanted to be cool. We never wanted anything dropped in our palms- we wanted to take it. We wanted to be US- and we wanted the same thing for the fans. And because of that- we faced adversity- and started to get really good at it.

So when we got the call to headline the festival it didn’t matter how afraid I was, how reserved, paranoid, nauseous- terrified. We had to do it- in fact we congratulated each other.

I got up there for one reason- US. Every member of the band, and every kid that believed- all of US. And I will never forget the smiles on all of our faces. That was my favorite part.

So I wanted to drop this note and thank every one of you in the crowd that made those nights spectacular. Also the crew, who works very hard, and Brian May, for giving us inspiration, courage, and honoring us by sharing the stage.

Reading and Leeds were the best shows of my life. Period.

Let’s do it again some time.

In other news and rumors:
It has come to my attention that certain things recently said have been misquoted-
Most specifically the bit about Danger Days not being our best work.

It was our best work, my favorite album we’ve done, and the one I’m most proud of.

It’s very easy to accidentally take bits from other interviews and make stories out of them. The bit I have read involves me talking about the “scrapped” or “lost” album- not Danger Days, and then talking about a “new” album.
It would be a discredit to every fan who showed their colors, fucked their hair up, embraced their artistic side, pointed their raygun squarely at the sun, and stood by the band to discount anything we put our name on and released. We gave this album our everything and so did the fans- we will never forget that. We’re also not done with it yet- and have some exciting news coming-

On a “new album”: I’ve actually been very careful/cagey about this subject. All I’ve admitted to was writing songs, because that’s what a band is supposed to do- write songs you want to play in front of people.
Do I think it’s going to be another 5 years before a new album? No. But I can’t say when it will come- we spent the last 3 years of our lives trying to do that and it wasn’t healthy. The band will do what it always does- search. Into the dark, with just the four of us, and come out with something we’ve discovered. A new art. A new perspective. A new sound.
But I really do appreciate the genuine excitement for whatever we do next- that means a lot. So just a bit of clarification then-
I feel a song coming on…

Xo
g

( Photos behind cut (+2) )

Living On The Railways...
Saturday April 30, 2011 | Posted by: Gerard

I think the word Glenn Beck was looking for was "subversion" not "propaganda", because I don't know what it would be considered propaganda for- truth? sentiment?
And I can't tell what he's angrier about- the fact that it's how I feel about the persistent sterilization of our culture or the fact that it's on network television for everyone to hear.
And railways? Is it 1863? Seen any children living on these lately instead of the internet?
I'm actually shocked that no actual fact-checking was done on the lyrics. I mean Fox is a major news channel, covering factual topics in an unbiased and intelligent-
oh wait-

To quote the man himself- "You don't have to live by the standards that society has set,"

I couldn't agree more.
g

PS- drawing is a depiction of an actual situation involving children, indeed "living on the railways" with one Jimmy "Backscratch Pete" Mulrooney, of Kansas City.

( Drawing behind the cut )

Japan was good times...
posted by Gerard on Aug 15, 2009 4:47pm

Thanks to everyone that came out to the shows, we had a great time. Literally talking over the dead-mic on stage after the first song just laughing at the fact that blowing shit up and rocking a stadium was what we did for a living. Luckiest people in the world.
I didn't take as many photos this time as I usually do, and a lot had changed in Tokyo, having been gone for a few years... it's kind of crazy to notice a city that was alien to you start to change.
It was also really great seeing our crew again, as well as some of our new guys...
This was taken while I was walking around alone, just sweating my ass off in a leather jacket in Shabuya...
xo
g

( picture under the cut )

I'm back!
posted by Gerard on Aug 14, 2009 5:52pm

What to say?
Things have been crazy- but most importantly I'm a fucking DAD!
Back in Los Angeles and fighting off the jet-lag from Tokyo, though it seems I am slipping out of my coma.
I apologize for the radio silence, but I generally shut-down when we are working on a new album, and adjusting to the new addition in my life has kept me very busy. But I think it's almost time to put this record to bed, though it doesn't sleep- it thrashes.
I want to thank my beautiful wife for creating with me the most special little person I have ever met.
Here is a depiction by my favorite artist, Mr. Gabriel Ba'...
xo
g

( picture under cut )