Bob Bryar, the former drummer of My Chemical Romance, has been found dead at his home at the age of 44. Further details surrounding his death are yet to be confirmed. Bryar was a key member of the band during their rise to fame and contributed to some of their most iconic albums.
At this time, the cause of Bob Bryar’s death has not been publicly revealed, and it remains unclear who discovered his body, according to TMZ. The outlet reports that Bryar’s body was found in a “badly decomposed” state, and Animal Control was called to remove his two dogs. Authorities do not suspect foul play, as his weapons and music equipment in the home were left undisturbed.
Bryar, who was last seen alive on November 4, the same day he posted his final tweets—one of which simply read “TULSI,” seemingly referencing former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard—was the longest-serving drummer for My Chemical Romance, from 2004 to 2010. His departure from the band was marked by rumors of tension with his bandmates: Frank Iero, Mikey Way, Gerard Way, and Ray Toro.
Although the members of My Chemical Romance did not publicly discuss the details, multiple sources confirmed that a falling out occurred between Bob Bryar and the band, according to MTV.
Bryar joined the band as a replacement for former drummer Matt Pelissier following the release of their second album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004). He continued to perform and record with My Chemical Romance on all of their subsequent releases until his departure in 2010.
On March 3, 2010, guitarist Frank Iero announced that Bob Bryar had left My Chemical Romance. In a statement shared on the band’s official website, Iero wrote, “As of 4 weeks ago, My Chemical Romance and Bob Bryar parted ways. This was a painful decision for all of us to make and was not taken lightly. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and expect you all to do the same.”
Bryar briefly reunited with the band in 2013 to contribute to their Conventional Weapons project. After retiring from music in 2014, he transitioned into a career as a real estate agent and became an active advocate for various dog rescues and sanctuaries.
In 2021, Bob Bryar proceeded to auction the drum set that he had last utilized with My Chemical Romance, both during their tour and in the recording of their seminal 2006 album The Black Parade. The proceeds from this auction were designated for the benefit of an animal rescue center located in Tennessee, as reported by Rolling Stone.
