Last night in Los Angeles, My Chemical Romance cracked open the vault.
During their set at Dodger Stadium, part of their sprawling Long Live The Black Parade tour, vocalist Gerard Way introduced a previously unheard track titled ‘War Beneath the Rain’. It was an emotional moment, dedicated to the band’s long-time collaborator and beloved studio engineer Doug McKean, who passed away in 2022 at age 54.
“This one’s for a record that never came out,” Way told the crowd. “We really loved this song. It was just us in the studio with Doug. He was recording it. His family’s here tonight, I want this to go out to them.”
The track’s raw delivery and haunting presence lit a fire under long time fans, many of whom have been mourning the loss of The Paper Kingdom, the scrapped fifth album MCR were working on before their 2013 breakup. It’s not confirmed, but all signs point to ‘War Beneath the Rain’ being a relic from those lost sessions.
McKean was more than just an engineer. He was a quiet powerhouse in the studio who helped shape The Black Parade and worked with the likes of Green Day, Paramore and Simple Plan. His absence has been deeply felt.
The Long Live The Black Parade tour, celebrating 20 years of the band’s magnum opus, sees them playing the 2006 album in full nightly. This rare moment, unearthing a shelved track drenched in grief and gratitude, felt like something different. A goodbye and a thank you, a fitting tribute for McKean.
The Long Live The Black Parade US tour
MCR have seven shows left scattering across August and September on their current ‘Long Live The Black Parade’ US tour.
AUGUST 2025
02 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field
09 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
15 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park
22 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre
29 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
SEPTEMBER 2025
07 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park
13 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
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