Bob Bryar, the former drummer of New Jersey-based band My Chemical Romance, has passed away at the age of 44, according to TMZ.
Bryar was found dead at his home in Tennessee on November 26, after being last seen alive on November 4. His death is currently under investigation.
A Chicago native, Bryar was part of My Chemical Romance from 2004 to 2010, playing a key role in the band’s rise to fame as a pop-punk and emo icon. He replaced original drummer Matt Pelissier, who co-founded the band with frontman Gerard Way in 2001, following the September 11 attacks.
Bryar joined My Chemical Romance after the release of their second album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004), and played on their third album, The Black Parade (2006). The album was a massive success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200, with the hit single “Welcome to the Black Parade.” In 2006, Bryar sustained third-degree burns on his legs while filming the fiery music video for the album’s track “Famous Last Words.”
After leaving the band in 2010, Bryar was replaced by Michael Pedicone on tour before My Chemical Romance disbanded in 2013. Following his departure, Bryar transitioned to a career in real estate and became an advocate for dog rescue.
My Chemical Romance reunited for a tour in 2019 and will again hit the road in 2025 with the Long Live the Black Parade tour, which includes a stop at MetLife Stadium on August 9. Bryar was not part of the band’s reunions.
In 2022, My Chemical Romance released “The Foundations of Decay,” their first new song in eight years.
