Bob Bryar, the former drummer of My Chemical Romance, has died at the age of 44. He was found dead in his Tennessee home on Tuesday (November 26), after being last seen alive on November 4, per TMZ. His body was reportedly discovered by Animal Control, who were called to remove two dogs from the home. The cause of death is currently unknown, but no foul play was suspected as all of Bryar’s weapons and music equipment were left in his home untouched.
Born on December 31, 1979, in Chicago, Bryar started playing drums at an early age and pursued a degree in sound engineering at the University of Florida. He initially began working as a sound engineer for bands like The Used and Thrice, and befriended MCR during their tour with the former in 2004. He joined the band in 2004, after the release of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, replacing previous drummer Matt Pelissier. He contributed significantly to the band’s seminal 2006 album, The Black Parade.
“I left a very good touring gig where I was tour managing and doing sound. I left that job to join a band that was filthy, had shittyy gear, a smashed-up, smoking, death-trap van and was poor,” Bryar recalled in a 2016 interview with Alternative Press. “They smelled bad, too. I was so happy to receive the offer.” He added, “Long before we recorded Welcome to the Black Parade, I knew that [MCR] were special and I wanted in. I wanted to help evolve the band and be able to shred with them every night.”
Bryar was involved in the making of The Black Parade‘s follow-up, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, and is also credited the compilation record Conventional Weapons. He retired from music in 2014 to become a real estate agent and focused on dog rescue charities and sanctuaries. In 2022, he auctioned off his original Black Parade uniform, using money from the sale to help abandoned and sheltered animals in Florida and South Carolina that were affected by Hurricane Ian.