By Angus Dalton
The drummer of American rock band My Chemical Romance has died aged 44, according to US media reports.
Bob Bryar was found dead in his home in Tennessee, TMZ reported. The cause of death was not known. He was reportedly last seen on November 4.
Bob Bryar performs with My Chemical Romance at the Big Day Out in Sydney in 2007.Credit: Getty Images
Bryar was the longest-serving and last official drummer for My Chemical Romance. He played with the band between 2004 and 2010.
He met the band while working as a sound technician for other rock bands that toured with My Chemical Romance, whose current members are Ray Toro, Frank Iero, Mikey Way and frontman Gerard Way.
Bob Bryar of American emo rock band My Chemical Romance, photographed in 2006.Credit: Redferns
Bryar lent drums to the 2006 rock opera album The Black Parade, which with lead single Welcome to the Black Parade helped establish the band as one of the most influential pop-punk outfits of the 2000s.
Bryar’s time with the band was marred by a string of injuries, most notably third-degree burns sustained during a fire on the set of the music video for Famous Last Words in 2006.
A few weeks later, he was hospitalised with a staph infection, which forced the band to cancel shows.
His touring career was also stymied in 2008 when he developed a lump the size of a golf ball on his wrist and lost feeling in his fingers.
Despite his reduced ability to play, Bryar continued to travel with the band to handle technical duties such as helping to run the stage’s pyrotechnics. He left the band in 2010.
Bryar became heavily involved in dog rescue charities after he left music and briefly pursued a career as a real estate agent.
My Chemical Romance (with Bob Bryar, far right) ahead of the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards.Credit: AP
TMZ reported Animal Services travelled to his home to rehome his two dogs after authorities learnt of his death.
Bryar wrote last year on Twitter, now X, that he had been struggling to deal with online hate and his mental health, but that at the time he was “mentally healthy … humbled, and ready to move forward”.
Current members of My Chemical Romance were on Saturday night yet to comment on Bryar’s reported death.
The band is scheduled to go on a sold-out stadium tour of America next year to commemorate The Black Parade.
Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.