Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) of Newark, New Jersey (later of Belleville, New Jersey) is frontman and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance, in which his brother Mikey Way plays bass.

Way played in a band until his early teens, at which time he decided to turn toward the graphic arts. After graduating from high school in 1995, he attended School of Visual Arts in New York City graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999. In 2001, Way says he tried to sell an animated television series to the Cartoon Network^[1] called The Breakfast Monkey.^[2] He maintains that Cartoon Network turned down the pitch because it was too similar to Aqua Teen Hunger Force, then already in production.^[3]

Way was discouraged by the failure of his cartoon concept. As a resident of New York City, the 9/11 attacks affected Way deeply. Wanting to move his life in a new direction, he found himself motivated to form My Chemical Romance. Way brought together Ray Toro, Matt Pelissier, Frank Iero, and his brother Mikey to play gigs along the East Coast. The band soon released its first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. Music turned out to be an effective means for Way (the band's lead singer and primary songwriter) to deal with his longtime battle against depression, alcoholism, and prescription drug abuse, leading to deeply personal songs such as "Helena"^[4] (written after the death of his grandmother, Elena Lee Rush).

Despite his success as a musician, Way has not left his drawing behind: He drew all of the art on the band's second album, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge.

1. ^ Alternative Press Magazine Issue #197 (December 2004), pp. 129-138
2. ^ "Teen Titans" — Rolling Stone (2005-07-14)
3. ^ Breakfast Monkey concept clip
4. ^ Band biography from the All Music Guide