My Chemical Romance Members Dropping Like Heavily Guylinered Flies

By: ChartAttack.com Staff

My Chemical Romance have lost guitarist Frank lero for the remainder of the band's U.K. tour. Down to only three original members on their trek across the world, it's looking as though The Black Parade will be a far sadder procession by the time they return home.

Iero dropped out of the tour this past Sunday in Newcastle after learning of a family illness. He'll be temporarily replaced by guitar tech Matt Cortez. Cortez already has some experience playing on stage with the band after filling in for bassist Mikey Way during his six-month hiatus as a newlywed.

The loss of lero is not the only setback faced by My Chemical Romance as they continue to tour across the world in support of 2006's The Black Parade album. Drummer Bob Bryar is sitting out dates while he waits for wrist pains to subside, although he's still with the band and helping out with the show's pyrotechnics.

Furthermore, the band recently settled a lawsuit filed by the University Of Maine's student government, who sued My Chemical Romance after the band pulled out of an Oct. 27 show with little notice. The school sued for $20,500 in order to recover for promotional costs and contracts. My Chemical Romance paid the full amount in an out-of-court settlement.

The Black Parade continues through to Belfast on Saturday before heading over to Australia and New Zealand for dates beginning on Nov. 28. There's no word yet on whether lero or Bryar will be joining the band for those dates.