'Everything to live for': school student Hannah Bond hanged herself not long after showing her father the cuts on her wrists as part of her 'emo initiation'

Heartbroken: Ray and Heather Bond told the court their daughter had told them emo was 'just a fashion'

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My chemical romance isnt an emo band, and they dont promote violence in any way. what happened to that girl is sad, but its not the first time something like this has happened, and you cant blame a band for it.

- Julia, Ontario, Canada

The parents are upset, understandably.
But that doesn't mean one girl committing suicide is a death cult.
She may have bought into cutting herself and suicide.
But how many people who commit suicide actually say they are/ were emo?

My Chemical Romance tell people to not be afraid to keep on LIVING.
The lyrics in which you refer are
"And though your dead and gone, your memory will carry on. We will carry on."
They are trying to help people cope with the death of loved ones.
MCR are anti-violence!


- Kayla, Australia

This is certainly a sad story, but MCR cannot be associated with this girls death, 'the black parade' was never a place emo's think they'll go when they die, 'the black parade' was just a name they used for heaven, and as Alison correctly said, the lyrics MCR use encourage the theory that life goes on. Also, the lyrics "Although you're dead and gone, believe me your memory will go on." Just means that people aren't just forgotten when they die.

- Lucy, Exeter, Devon

Wow. That's sad to hear but MCR isn't emo. How can people get this mixed up? First off most of the songs that are done by any band are usually referring to death, sex, drugs, or violence. So what's right?

- Sean, Springfield, Pennsylvania

I think you got something wrong.
From what I've heard My Chemical Romance have saved numerous lives with their lyrics.
The lyric you mentioned is about remembering someone after they die. As I mentioned in an article I wrote in argument to this one, I had a grandfather who died, I still remember him and think about him, that would be saying that his memory is living on.

- Emily, Nanaimo, Canada

This is a sad story, certainly. However, My Chemical Romance can not be blamed again. They are not a 'suicide cult' band, and 'Welcome To The Black Parade' was not even their first single; they have been around since 2001, forming in New Jersey in the wake of the nearby 9/11 attacks - a sure sign that MCR encourage the theory that 'life goes on' rather than 'life stops at thirteen?'
'The Black Parade' is NOT a place where so-called 'emos' believe they go when they die, it is the name of MCR's 2006 concept album, which deals with the subject of death, but not in suicidal terms. 'Parade' helped me out of a short, dark period of my life soon after I lost my mother to cancer (I was fifteen years old at the time), and I'm sure many people around the world will echo this with similar stories. 'Parade' was created to unite people who had experience significant loss in their lives, ie. significant loss that was out of their hands - not suicide. A statement from MCR lead singer Gerard Way last Friday at Madison Square Garden - 'if we never play another show ever again, keep yourselves alive' supports the theory that My Chemical Romance very much encourage LIVING and not DYING. I am an avid My Chemical Romance fan and have never once experienced even remotely suicidal thoughts since I began listening to them. I personally feel that these bands are being blamed due to their success, and that this family needs to be left to grieve in private, without the media trying to place blame.

- Alison Bell, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, UK

MCR is the best band ever, and they have SAVED my life before. Not killed. I was about to jump into water [I have bags of sand tied to my feet and I can't swim] when I saw on a billboard something about Gerard Way and how when he was my age, his life sucked! But he always had faith. That day, my older sister bought Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge, an MCR album that came out in 2004. I loved it! When I looked on the inside, I saw the name Gerard Way. The same person who saved my life.

- Lizzy, Ohio

I listen to MCR 24/7 and I think this is unfair to them. I feel for the Bond family for their loss but there is no way that MCR can be blamed for her committing suicide.

MCR IS NOT EMO!

And in reference to the new album 'The Black Parade' is isn't about the place where Emo fans believe they will go when they die, it is a CONCEPT album where a man receives the news that he has terminal cancer hence the track listing
1. the end
2. dead!
3. this is how I disappear
4. the sharpest lives
5. welcome to the black parade
6. I don't love you
7. house of wolves
8. cancer
9. mama
10. sleep
11. teenagers
12. disenchanted
13. famous last words
14. blood (bonus track)


- Jake, Victoria Australia

Its all well and good giving emo bad name, but i highly doubt this child killed herself because she was "emo". I have many friends who are "emo",and to be honest, we don't all go around wanting to kill ourselves because of the music we choose to listen to. The media have now portrayed every emo culture follower as a self harming, dark, suicidal child, but that's where you have it all wrong. You don't kill yourself because your emo, emos a fashion and music genre, so please, stop making everyone else look bad.

My condolences go to the poor childs parents,but blaming emo is not getting anyone anywhere.

- Naomi, Leicester

I consider myself I great fan of the band My Chemical Romance, and
even though, I have never harmed myself and I love my life, I would never think about suicide just for listening to several songs that talk about the opinions and feelings of someone in a difficult moment.
What I'm trying to say it's that Hannah would be in a hard time of her life, i'm a teenager and I understand we are sometimes hard to understand, but anyway, we don't have to blame My Chemical Romance.

My Chemical Romance didn't tell her to suicide, it was her the one who decided to end up with her life herself.
I hope you know what I'm trying to mean. It's difficult for me explaining myself in English.

- Angela, Spain

Here we go... it's the Manson thing all over again.

I would basically just reiterate everything that has already been said. Especially 'JD, Somerset' :- I know that at least one member of the band, singer/songwriter Gerard Way, has suffered from alcoholism and drug abuse but managed to conquer that and his depression issues. And with those experiences he writes wonderfully inspiring music that basically says 'you can do it, don't give up now, things will get better, you have so much more to give'. This poor girl clearly had other issues that cannot be blamed on a band or anything else in the media.

Also, I'm sorry and it is tragic and all but I have to agree with this:

"While this is tragic it sounds to me more a case of a spoilt little girl who could not get her own way when told she couldn't sleep over at her boyfriends’ house and she was probably hoping her parents were going to come and find her."

- Jessica, London, UK

I have been a fan of MCR for quite awhile now and I have never harmed myself or thought about suicide. They need to get the facts right. My Chemical Romance do not support suicide and never had and in many interviews have said they do not support self harm or 'emo' behaviour. The album The Black Parade is not about death, but more about a journey in life where you face hardship, love and more. They're not a so called 'emo cult' band.

My deepest sympathies for the family of Hannah Bond and even though she lives in another country, I still feel sorry for the loss.

I myself am 13 so it hit's me hard when I hear about things like this.

But blaming bands is not the right way to go about it

- Courtney, New Zealand

I have an "emo daughter" and I've never doubted her choice in music.
I own a small shop.
I don't have goths, emos or any other subculture bothering me; instead I have "hoodies" or "chavs" drinking and being abusive.
I sent my condolences.
But this girl had a choice and she chose to end her life not My Chemical Romance.

- Tracy, Essex

I'm really fed up of the media blaming the music and maybe look whether this at this girl and she if she had some problems.
No straight away you blame the teenage way of life.
Why is MCR are always blamed?
I listen to this band and gone to various shows.
I have no suicidal thoughts.
I'm sorry for her parents lose.
Please don't the blame everything else but the obvious.

- Jade, Essex

Though this is so upsetting about Hannah.
I don't really believe that this can be blamed on the band "My Chemical Romance". There album " The Black Parade" is not about death , suicide or depression. It's about love and if you're ever feeling alone always remember someone is there to love you

I'm really getting fed up of people blaming the labels. Please emo isn't just about death infact it isn't that anyway!

Get your fact's right.

- Kathryn, Manchester, England

this is ridiculous the media is making my chemical romance a scapegoat i have been a fan of the band for about 3 years and have never self harmed, this band actually do the opposite and save many lives and im sure lyrics on the black parade album include 'i am not afraid to keep on living' sounds un-beliveably suicidal to me it is ridiculous and supposedly being emo myself i do not drink on street corners and destroy property i spend my time with friends or at these 'suicidal cult' shows with my mum who also loves the band i think poor hannah got sucked into the medias version of emo which is a shame to waste such a poor young life and i think that her self harm was something much deeper no one would ever show cuts if they did and especially saying its part of initiation , initiaition truly sounds like a cult but im afraid not a my chemical romance cult

- Kirsty, manchester uk

I'm fed up with the media obsession that "emo" music promotes suicidal tendancies. For an apparently "suicide cult" as they describe it, it contains a bunch of people (at least within my social circle) that are perfectly happy and content with life.

So what makes the media (and in fact the deluded parents, although my thoughts are with them) think that bands such as My Chemical Romance are to blame?

Because they tackle the themes of death and loss in their songs? Is that a trait only found in "emo" songs? I don't believe that is the case, and I'm sure any sane person will agree with me.

I, personally, listen to My Chemical Romance. They are not my favourite band, but their music is catchy, and the band have talent - so does my brother, girlfriend, and half of my friends... yet we haven't killed ourselves, or even had the intention to.

At the end of the day, the parents and the media just want someone or something to blame, because they are still in shock that this girl would kill herself. I can partly understand this. But what I don't understand is how exactly listening to a rock band caused this girl to kill herself.

Yes, it is sad, and yes, I give my condolences, but at the end of the day - she made her own choice, and nobody else can be blamed for that.

- Matt, Nottingham, England

I can' believe they're blaming this on my chemical romance and emo culture
I m classed as emo and my favourite band are in fact my chem but I have never self harmed and mcr do not promote it, they have said that they aren't in the 'emo' genre.
Obviously the girl had problems and your just looking to blame it on music and lyrics that actual facts, so long and good night.

- Kirsty, UK

Don't be stupid, I hang around with these type of people all the time, heck, MCR used to even be my favourite band, I'm not emo, but I sure know enough this wouldn't be the reason she killed herself.
Killing yourself, goes way further than a fashion trend. Her parents obviously couldn't see things that were troubling her on the inside.
My chemical romance help people through life not tell them to kill themselves. its just amazing when someone dresses emo and kills themselves emo and my chemical romance are immediately scapegoats.

- Sarah, London

Seriously, My Chemical Romance is not to blame.

Id consider myself somewhat emo, and I ve seen My Chemical Romance twice in concert as well as own a lot of their merchandise and know all 3 albums off by heart, not once have a raised a blade to my wrist.

The parents of Hannah are just looking for something to blame because they obviously didn't pick up on Hannah's depression.

Don't call every person who wears "fringes obscure to there face" and "studded belts and wrist bands" depressed suicide freaks. and My Chemical Romance is NOT a suicide cult. My Chemical Romance are simply expressing themselves. No one made Hannah listen to them.

- Fellow, Australia

Whatever your personal opinions are, this is a girl that has died. The comments attached to this story are shocking. You should be ashamed of yourselves. A little compassion for her family, perhaps?

- Surprised, London, England

One of their songs contains the lyrics: "Although you're dead and gone, believe me your memory will go on." What is wrong with those lyrics, they sound quite sweet to me.
I would have thought that anyone who was going to kill themselves after listening either to a group or a spokesman for a supposed "death cult" is already suffering from some sort of depression or other mental illness.
While this is tragic it sounds to me more a case of a spoilt little girl who could not get her own way when told she couldn't sleep over at her boyfriends’ house and she was probably hoping her parents were going to come and find her.

- Dr Finlays Casebook, London, UK

Oh dear, another emo gone, never mind, shame that the band is still going though.

- A Punk, Cheam

Although tragic and incredibly sad I don't believe that this girls death can be attributed to the 'emo' culture or to My Chemical Romance. I believe people are just looking for a scape goat. 'Emo' culture has never been characterised by depression, self-injury and suicide these are views put up by people who no nothing about it. My Chemical Romance's album The Black Parade is an album of passion, hope and love. It's message lies in the fact that no matter what you face in life there are always people who love you and there is always hope. It's message doesn't say go and kill your self. I don't believe there are any so called 'suicide cult' bands. It's utter rubbish. For me the 'emo' culture makes me want to embrace life to the full and never miss a moment of it. The views in the article above will only serve to alienate people and therefore build a divide between what is essentially a fashion and a love of music. The only problem with 'emo' culture is ignorant people's misunderstanding of what it stands for.

- J Bryer, London, England

EMO isn't a suicide cult it is a reflection of the frustration that teenagers feel when trying to become adults in the modern world.

Marilyn Manson was asked what he would have said to the boys who committed the Columbine massacre. His answer was nothing he would have only listened.

Perhaps we should be considering understanding the problem rather than blaming bands and other youth cultures.

- Stuart, Luton, UK

I think this is a bit ridiculous you people blaming my chemical romance for her death. They aren't emo...

- Jess, Australia, Cairns

If you look at the statistics, EMOs are more likely than other teenage tribes to a) get a university place b) not get pregnant as a teenager and c) not take drugs.

- Casper Slides, Ibiza, Spain

My Chem saves lives.
They are in all ways against suicide.
I think that the people who wrote this should have studied the band a little better before making them look so bad.

- Sassy, Newark, New Jersey

This is a very tragic story and I feel for the families lost I do. But I feel like I have to comment on the unfair labelling this story has given to My Chemical Romance. Yes they have songs to do with death but if you actually took the time to listen and to understand them you will know that they are actually against suicide! Just listen to Headfirst for halos, and like Gerard himself says... Don't do it... MCR make me feel happy and whenever I feel down I listen to them and I feel so much better a lot of other MCR fans feel the same way. It seems the media wants to blame everything from music to video games why don't they look deeper into the victims lives, maybe the media are missing something maybe the girl had a deep secret. Anyway forgetting MCR for a minute, I do generally think this is sad, she was only 13 and had so much to live for, and how I feel sorry for her family. xx

- Charlie, Plymouth, UK

I find this article ignorant and slanderous. To insinuate that a band, especially one such as My Chemical Romance who have always advocated redemption, recovery and clean living, would glamorise self harm and suicide to a point that it is the reason someone would take their own life is absurd.

My thoughts go out to Hannah's family and friends for their tragic loss, but I think it's too easy to stereotype people and make a scapegoat of their culture.

- Jd, Somerset, UK

Although this is a complete tragedy, to put the blame on "emo" and my chemical romance is absolutely absurd. I have been a fan of the band for 4 years, and as anyone who has done any proper research will know, my chemical romance are very strongly anti-suicide, anti-self harm, anti-drug and anti-emo. This poor girl obviously had some emotional difficulties going on that no one was aware of, I myself have suffered from depression on and off since I was 13, and that was well before my chemical romance even existed. Listening to my chemical romance and their message actually helped me to get sober, and helped me out of some dark times. It gave me hope. I think whoever wrote this article needs to research a bit more before spouting off untrue fodder, and whileIi have nothing but the greatest sympathy for this girls family, they need to not try to put blame on outside forces.

- Twitch, u.s.a

This girl's death is a tragedy, but blaming My Chemical Romance for it is bordering on the ridiculous. Front man Gerard Way has told his audiences many times that suicide is a waste and that if they are depressed that they should go talk to someone. Since the beginnings of the band, one of their biggest goals has actually been to help people through depression. In their 2006 DVD, "Life On the Murder Scene," Frank Iero, the band's rhythm guitarist states, "This is a band that wants to save your life." The lyrics to the closing anthem of their album "The Black Parade" go, "I am not afraid to keep on living." These are not the words of men seeking to glamorize death and destruction, but wanting to celebrate life and keep on living it despite struggles.

- Julie, Seattle, United States

It seems to me that this girl was far too naive and impressionable for her own good. And what about the parents? She told them that she wanted to kill herself. Surely you don't just laugh it off? You help your child. You help them through it. And of course, everyone jumps to blame MCR and "emo" yet again. Oh, never mind that their music has helped countless people over the world. One girl kills herself and all of a sudden they're a "death cult".

- Narnie, Basingstoke, UK

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