Sing along with the Chemical people?
Gerard Way is set to perform his first solo shows next month at the Reading and Leeds festivals in the United Kingdom, so it’s no surprise the former My Chemical Romance frontman is lathering up the British press.
In a new video interview with the NME, Way explains his love for Britpop, and reveals that his upcoming solo record, due this fall, was heavily influenced by Cool Britannia and other classic British sounds.
“The sound of it I feel is rooted in shoegaze, also Britpop, and the whole thing feels largely like a British album,” he says of his solo debut. “I guess I was going for a lot of things that were completely new to me.”
Way explains how he “would chase all that stuff in My Chemical Romance,” but the various interests of the band’s other members would keep the New Jersey post-emo crew’s familiar sound intact. He then goes on to list Supergrass, Blur, Pulp — “especially This Is Hardcore,” he says — Lush, and Elastica as influences.
“Even older stuff like Wire and Gang of Four, you know, that stuff’s all in there,” Way adds.
My Chemical Romance did cover Pulp’s “Common People” a few years ago, and you can watch that down below.
But we’re intrigued by these solo developments. Check out the full clip below…
Here’s the first taste of Way’s solo record, “Action Cat.”
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