My Chemical Romance Is Back… But Did Emo Ever Really Die?

For anyone even half-aware in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it’s impossible to forget the potency of the emo era. It was the golden age of punk-leaning rock — a scene where bands didn’t just rule the charts, they defined youth culture. From the warped fringes of fashion to the raw pulse of concert pits, emo was more than music — it was an identity.

Taking Back Sunday. Paramore. Jimmy Eat World. Every shade of emo soared, and the world took notice. But by the mid-2010s, the scene had faded. Hot Topic wasn’t the mall’s crown jewel, and the signature layered haircuts were spotted less in the wild. Many acts struggled to evolve, and for a while, it seemed the movement had burned out.

Now? The tide is shifting. My Chemical Romance has returned with The Black Parade tour. The All-American Rejects are throwing a headline-making house party tour. New blood like YUNGBLUD, Royal & the Serpent, and Meet Me @ The Altar are channeling the 2000s emo DNA into fresh, urgent releases. Even Demi Lovato has leaned back into the grit with her 2022 pop-punk album HOLY FVCK.

The question is no longer “Is emo dead?” —

My Chemical Romance are in full swing with their Long Live The Black Parade US tour — and the rumors of UK dates are now confirmed. The band will take over Wembley Stadium for two massive nights, Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 next summer. Tickets go on sale August 15 at 10 a.m. — and given their track record, expect them to sell out fast.