Bob Bryar, My Chemical Romance's former drummer who helped record their hit album The Black Parade, was found dead at age 44.
The music world has lost one of its own.
Bob Bryar, former drummer of My Chemical Romance, has died. He was 44.
A spokesperson for My Chemical Romance confirmed Bryar's death, telling NBC News in a Nov. 30 statement, "The band asks for your patience and understanding as they process the news of Bob’s passing."
The musician was found dead in his Tennessee home Nov. 26, two days before Thanksgiving, TMZ reported Nov. 30, citing law enforcement sources.
Bryar was last seen alive Nov. 4 and after his body was discovered, Animal Control came to his house and removed two dogs from the home, the report said. There is no foul play suspected in the rocker's death, the sources told TMZ. Its cause and manner is still under investigation by a medical examiner.
The rocker, a native of Chicago, had joined My Chemical Romance in 2004, replacing their original drummer Matt Pelissier. He had met and befriended the band members while working for fellow rock group The Used during a joint tour.
"I left a very good touring gig where I was tour managing and doing sound," Bryar told Alternative Press magazine in 2016. "I left that job to join a band that was filthy, had s—ty gear, a smashed-up, smoking, death-trap van and was poor. They smelled bad, too. I was so happy to receive the offer."
For several years, Bryar toured, performed, wrote and recorded music with My Chemical Romance, including their hit 2006 album The Black Parade.
"Long before we recorded "Welcome To The Black Parade," I knew that [My Chemical Romance] were special and I wanted in," he said. "I wanted to help evolve the band and be able to shred with them every night."
Bryar left the band in 2010. "You won’t find one My Chem item in my house. Not one," he told the magazine. "I don’t need to be bummed out every day by hearing or seeing things relating to something that I thought would last forever."
My Chemical Romance, led by frontman Gerard Way, broke up three years later before reuniting—without Bryar—in 2019. They have toured on and off over the past few years and are set to embark on another tour in summer of 2025.
In 2021, Bryar announced he was retiring from drumming.
"I'm permanently closing the book on my drumming days," he tweeted at the time, per radio network ABC Audio. "I have too many wrist issues, I'm too old, too fat, and it's time for something new."
At the time, Bryar auctioned off a drum set he played onstage and in the studio with My Chemical Romance, in support of the Williamson County Animal Control and Adoption Center in Franklin, Tennessee.
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