Former MCR Drummer Mike Pedicone Issues Statement on His Firing: ‘It Was a Tremendous Mistake’

Word broke last week that Mike Pedicone, the drummer from My Chemical Romance, had been fired from the band. Frank Iero, MCR’s rhythm guitarist, informed fans that Pedicone had been caught stealing from the band and had been immediately terminated.

Today, Pedicone has issued a statement via Kerrang magazine in order to give his side of the story:

Almost as soon as I began touring with MCR I ran into problems with a member of the band’s crew who I’ll not name. The problems were many, big and small, but some of them were large enough that they began to greatly impact me and, by extension, my family. I’d reached my wits’ end, and I made what was certainly the poorest decision of my life. Rather than address the issues that I had with the crew member in an open and honest manner, I tried to make them look irresponsible. My intention was to make this person look incompetent. I had no intention of profiting whatsoever. Again, I cannot overstate how poor my judgment was in this situation; it was a tremendous mistake, and it’s one I’ll regret for years to come.

You can read his full statement here.

Pedicone was the third drummer MCR has had in their ten year career. He replaced Bob Bryar, who parted ways with the band during the recording of Danger Days. Bryar had replaced original drummer Matt Pelissier in 2004. Currently Jarrod Alexander, formery of Suicide File, is filling in on drums for the band during the Honda Civic Tour.

What do you guys think about Matt’s statement? Does it change your feelings on the situation?