Gerard Way

Gerard Way - Singer-songwriter, Family and Facts

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Gerard Way's Personal Details

Gerard Arthur Way is an American singer-songwriter, band member, and musician

InformationDetail
BirthdayApril 9, 1977
NationalityAmerican
FamousMusicians, Lyricists & Songwriters, Singers, Rock Singers, Singer-songwriter
City/StateNew Jersey
SpousesLyn-Z
SiblingsMichael James Way Lee
Universities
  • School of Visual Arts
Birth PlaceSummit, New Jersey, United States
Height175
GenderMale
Net Worth$20 Million as on apr 28,2017
Sun SignAries
Born inSummit, New Jersey, United States
Famous asSinger-songwriter, Musician
Socials

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Gerard Way's photo

Who is Gerard Way?

Gerard Way is a dynamic American rock/ punk singer-songwriter, band member, musician and comic book writer/director. He founded the band ‘My Chemical Romance’ in 2001, which had its fair share of stardom until it split in 2013. Like most of the children, Way was fond of comic books as a child. Fulfilling his passion, he created his own dark-humored mini-comic series ‘The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’ and released the comic book ‘The Umbrella Academy’ in 2007. Way went on to release his debut solo album in 2014 and named it ‘Hesitant Alien’. It peaked the ‘UK Rock Albums’ chart and was labelled a platinum selling album. Gerard is also known for his association with the boy band ‘The Hormones’. He is the band’s lead vocalist alongside guitarists Ian Fowles and Matt Gorney, drummer Jarrod Alexander and pianist James Dewees. Battling with a distraught childhood wasn’t easy for the rock star and most of his teenage years were spent in isolation, depression and alcoholism. His only source of inspiration was his grandmother who taught him both music and art. With sheer perseverance and determination, he overcame a rotten past and is today known as a pioneer of punk and has made it a thriving genre in mainstream music.

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Childhood & Early Life

Gerard Arthur Way was born on 9th April, 1977 at Summit, New Jersey to Donna and Donald Way. He is of Scottish and Italian descent. He was raised in Belleville, New Jersey along with his younger brother, Mikey Way.

He grew up under the guidance of his grandmother, Elena Lee Rush. She taught him to paint, sing and perform. He was in elementary school when he first performed at a school musical in which he played the role of Peter Pan.

After listening to the influential ‘Bon Jovi’, Way decided to become a performer. He began immersing himself in music and drawing. While other kids of his age took to partying, Way kept to himself.

High School was his roughest phase and not many people understood him. His only companion was his brother. He became an alcoholic and got into trouble with the cops too.

At the age of sixteen he began writing comic strips on a fictional serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer. Upon graduating from ‘Belleville High School’ in 1995, he decided to attend ‘The School of Visual Arts’ in New York and pursue a career in the comic industry.

He graduated with a ‘Bachelor of Fine Arts’ degree in 1999 and was selected as an intern at ‘DC Comics’, followed by a job wherein he made toy designs and created animations.

My Chemical Romance & Comic Book Writer

After landing a job with ‘Cartoon Network’ all seemed to go well for Way. He and Joe Boyle created a cartoon called ‘The Breakfast Monkey’ and pitched it to the Network. But the project was declined owing to its similarities with the existing ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’.

However, after the September 11, 2001 attack his life changed forever. The incident stirred a desire to make a difference and reach out to people and so Way took the music route to attain his goal.

In 2001, he began writng the song ‘Skylines and Turnstiles’ projecting people’s emotional battle after the attack which became the first song of his self-formed band ‘My Chemical Romance’.

Gerard alongside Ray Toro, Frank Lero and his brother, Mikey Way, as guitarists got the pianist James Dewees to join them and carved success for the band.

The following year the band released their debut studio album titled ‘I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love’. The album was certified gold by ‘RIAA’ selling over 500,000 units.

In 2004, a second studio album hit stores called ‘Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge’. It peaked at number 28 on the ‘US Billboard 200’ and was rated platinum by ‘RIAA’ and ‘Music Canada’. They reprised their success with another album in 2006 titled ‘The Black Parade’.

Around the same time, Way worked with other bands such as ‘Every Time I Die’ and ‘Head Automatica’ among many others featuring in their songs ‘Kill the Music’ and ‘Graduation Day’ respectively.

By 2007, his love for creating comic strips rekindled and he began working on the comic book ‘The Umbrella Academy’ which released on 19th September, 2007 and become a best-seller.

Second Comic Book & Edge of Spider-Verse

After the success of his first comic book, he began working with Shaun Simon in 2009 and co-created a comic series called ‘The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’.

In 2012, Way announced at the ‘New york Comic Con’ that readers would get a peek into the series on its ‘Free Comic Book Day’ release in 2013. The same year he and Gabriel Ba began working on sequeals for ‘The Umbrella Academy’.

In an interview he stated that the upcoming parts of his comic book would be more detailed and would release two volumes one after another with a few flashback publishings in-between.

Simultaneously, he began working on a comic series centered around cats titled ‘All Ages’ and signed a deal with the ‘Marvel Universe’ the same year for a comic series that developed an alternate universe for Spider-Man titled ‘Edge of Spider-Verse’.

He made his directional debut as the co-writer and co-director of the season two finale episode of ‘The Aquabats! Super Show!’ It earned a ‘Daytime Emmy Award’ for ‘Oustanding Writing in a Children’s Series’.

My Chemical Romance Split & Solo Album

After the band ‘My Chemical Romance’ split, Way signed a deal with ‘Warner Bros Records’ as a solo artist. He began working on an album in 2013 and by June, 2014 the single ‘Action Cat’ was aired on radios as a promotional song for his upcoming album.

He embarked on several shows to promote his solo studio album. He first performed at the ‘Reading and Leeds Festival’ 2014 and later made an appearance at ‘Wedgewood Rooms’.

On 19th August 2014, a new music video of the song ‘No Shows’ was released as the first single of ‘Hesitant Alien’. The album reached music store shelves on 30th September, 2014.

In order to promote his album he formed the band ‘The Hormones’ that toured with him in February and March, 2015. They also performed as a team at the ‘Australian 2015 Soundware Music Festival’.

He co-wrote and provided vocals for Andy Black’s song ‘Louder Than Your Love’ that year. In 2016, two tracks ‘Don’t Try’ and ‘Pinkish’ were added to his album.

Major Works

‘Hesitant Alien’ is the first solo studio album of Gerard Way. The album topped the ‘US Rock Albums’ and ‘US Alternative Albums’ chart and booked the 16th spot on ‘US Billboard 200’.

His comic book ‘The Umbrella Academy’ received critical appreciation. The book’s first six-issues were titled ‘The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite’ and were published by ‘Dark Horse Comics’. It went on to win the ‘Eisner Award’.

Awards & Achievements

In 2005, Gerard Way and his band ‘The Chemical Romance’ took home the ‘Best New Artist-International’ and in 2006, he received the ‘Best Rock Artist- International’ award at the ‘Los Premios MTV Latinoamerica’.

In 2007, the band received the ‘Best Rock Video’ for ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ at the ‘MTV Video Music Awards Japan’ and earned the ‘People’s Choice: Favorite International Group’ award at the ‘MuchMusic Video Awards’.

In 2007, they took home the ‘Best International Band’ award at the ‘NME Awards’ and followed it up by collecting the ‘Best International Band’ award in 2008.

In 2011, they won two ‘NME Awards’ in the category of ‘Best International Band’ and ‘Best Video’ for the song ‘Na Na Na’.

Personal Life

Gerard married the musician and bassisit of ‘Mindless Self Indulgence’ Lyn-Z Lee on 3rd September, 2007. He married her backstage at the ‘Projekt Revolution’ tour with a member of the ‘Live Nation’s’ touring staff officiating as the minister.

On 27th May 2009, the couple welcomed their daughter, Bandit Lee Way. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, California.

Trivia

Way designed and drew the cover for ‘My Chemical Romance’s’ first and second album.

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Gerard Way biography timelines

  • // 9th Apr 1977
    Gerard Arthur Way was born on 9th April, 1977 at Summit, New Jersey to Donna and Donald Way. He is of Scottish and Italian descent. He was raised in Belleville, New Jersey along with his younger brother, Mikey Way.
  • // 1999
    He graduated with a ‘Bachelor of Fine Arts’ degree in 1999 and was selected as an intern at ‘DC Comics’, followed by a job wherein he made toy designs and created animations.
  • // 2001
    However, after the September 11, 2001 attack his life changed forever. The incident stirred a desire to make a difference and reach out to people and so Way took the music route to attain his goal.
  • // 2001
    In 2001, he began writng the song ‘Skylines and Turnstiles’ projecting people’s emotional battle after the attack which became the first song of his self-formed band ‘My Chemical Romance’.
  • // 2004
    In 2004, a second studio album hit stores called ‘Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge’. It peaked at number 28 on the ‘US Billboard 200’ and was rated platinum by ‘RIAA’ and ‘Music Canada’. They reprised their success with another album in 2006 titled ‘The Black Parade’.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, Gerard Way and his band ‘The Chemical Romance’ took home the ‘Best New Artist-International’ and in 2006, he received the ‘Best Rock Artist- International’ award at the ‘Los Premios MTV Latinoamerica’.
  • // 2007
    By 2007, his love for creating comic strips rekindled and he began working on the comic book ‘The Umbrella Academy’ which released on 19th September, 2007 and become a best-seller.
  • // 2007
    In 2007, the band received the ‘Best Rock Video’ for ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ at the ‘MTV Video Music Awards Japan’ and earned the ‘People’s Choice: Favorite International Group’ award at the ‘MuchMusic Video Awards’.
  • // 2007 To 2008
    In 2007, they took home the ‘Best International Band’ award at the ‘NME Awards’ and followed it up by collecting the ‘Best International Band’ award in 2008.
  • // 3rd Sep 2007
    Gerard married the musician and bassisit of ‘Mindless Self Indulgence’ Lyn-Z Lee on 3rd September, 2007. He married her backstage at the ‘Projekt Revolution’ tour with a member of the ‘Live Nation’s’ touring staff officiating as the minister.
  • // 2009
    After the success of his first comic book, he began working with Shaun Simon in 2009 and co-created a comic series called ‘The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’.
  • // 27th May 2009
    On 27th May 2009, the couple welcomed their daughter, Bandit Lee Way. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, California.
  • // 2011
    In 2011, they won two ‘NME Awards’ in the category of ‘Best International Band’ and ‘Best Video’ for the song ‘Na Na Na’.
  • // 2012 To 2013
    In 2012, Way announced at the ‘New york Comic Con’ that readers would get a peek into the series on its ‘Free Comic Book Day’ release in 2013. The same year he and Gabriel Ba began working on sequeals for ‘The Umbrella Academy’.
  • // 2013 To 2013
    After the band ‘My Chemical Romance’ split, Way signed a deal with ‘Warner Bros Records’ as a solo artist. He began working on an album in 2013 and by June, 2014 the single ‘Action Cat’ was aired on radios as a promotional song for his upcoming album.
  • // 2014
    He embarked on several shows to promote his solo studio album. He first performed at the ‘Reading and Leeds Festival’ 2014 and later made an appearance at ‘Wedgewood Rooms’.
  • // 19th Aug 2014
    On 19th August 2014, a new music video of the song ‘No Shows’ was released as the first single of ‘Hesitant Alien’. The album reached music store shelves on 30th September, 2014.
  • // Mar 2015
    In order to promote his album he formed the band ‘The Hormones’ that toured with him in February and March, 2015. They also performed as a team at the ‘Australian 2015 Soundware Music Festival’.
  • // 2016
    He co-wrote and provided vocals for Andy Black’s song ‘Louder Than Your Love’ that year. In 2016, two tracks ‘Don’t Try’ and ‘Pinkish’ were added to his album.

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Gerard Way's FAQ

  • What is Gerard Way birthday?

    Gerard Way was born at 1977-04-09

  • Where is Gerard Way's birth place?

    Gerard Way was born in Summit, New Jersey, United States

  • What is Gerard Way nationalities?

    Gerard Way's nationalities is American

  • Who is Gerard Way spouses?

    Gerard Way's spouses is Lyn-Z

  • Who is Gerard Way siblings?

    Gerard Way's siblings is Michael James Way Lee

  • What was Gerard Way universities?

    Gerard Way studied at School of Visual Arts

  • How tall is Gerard Way?

    Gerard Way's height is 175

  • What is Gerard Way's sun sign?

    Gerard Way is Aries

  • How famous is Gerard Way?

    Gerard Way is famouse as Singer-songwriter, Musician

  • What is Gerard Way's facebook?

    Gerard Way's facebook is https://www.facebook.com/gerardway/

  • What is Gerard Way's twitter?

    Gerard Way's twitter is https://twitter.com/gerardway/

  • What is Gerard Way's youtube?

    Gerard Way's youtube is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt27MCKTkEqDyKQxRiimL5Q

  • What is Gerard Way's instagram?

    Gerard Way's instagram is https://www.instagram.com/gerardway/