"We're still My Chemical Romance, just on a larger scale," said guitarist Frank Iero of his band's recent success and upcoming tour.In keeping with the epic theme of its third album, The Black Parade, My Chemical Romance has planned over-the-top sets and production. Despite mixed reactions from fans, like winning both the "Best Album" and "Worst Album" polls in a 2006 issue of Kerrang! Magazine, The Black Parade was named "Album of the Year" by Blender Magazine for "crafting a grandiose epic that just might make them the biggest band in the world." Rolling Stone called the album the "best mid-seventies record of 2006, a rabid, ingenious paraphrasing of echoes and kitsch from rock's golden age of bombast," and "Welcome to the Black Parade" led the alternative/modern rock radio charts for a solid eight weeks.

While the rest of the band is still touring in Australia, Iero is recovering in Los Angeles from sinus complications from flying after having his wisdom teeth removed. Iero sat down for a conference call Friday with students around the country to talk about the band, the album, touring and music in general. When asked to sum up The Black Parade in one phrase, he said, "It's an epic battle between life and death set to music," tying in the band's focus on darker subjects with hope and using its music as a healing process for fans and members alike.

He commented on what seems like a new interest in concept albums (like the Red Hot Chili Peppers' double Stadium Arcadium) and a resurgence of artists who take pride in their music and are "over" being driven simply by monetary reward. Iero said it's "great for music in general" to get back to the mindset of the early days of these bands when it was never about making money or gaining recognition. When recording The Black Parade, the band was aware of the uncertainty of how much time left they have as a band and intended to create an album that "if it's the last thing we did, we could look back on it in 20 years and still be proud of it."

With its popularity growing exponentially, the band has been focusing on its new audiences, Iero said the whole reason why the members of MCR were in a band in the first place was because they "weren't the cool kids" and were searching for acceptance. The band members wanted to create a place where they felt they belonged and wanted "to take a piece of you, and that moment home with them." Iero continued, "There have been a lot of new faces, which is great . and the older fans have been really open-minded about it."

Overseas, Iero said the shows and the audiences have been equally amazing, but said he is looking forward to more comfortable traveling on the upcoming U.S. tours. Along with changes in set and production on this tour, Iero said the band is excited to play on an all-arena tour. "It's totally different to play for 10,000 instead of 100 . to connect with people so far away takes time to perfect . but it's incredible seeing all of these individuals walk away with an experience." He said they do the same show they did in people's basements years ago, where they always gave 150 percent "to the point where our noses were bleeding and instruments would be broken."

My Chemical Romance will kick off the first leg of its U.S. tour at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. on Feb. 22. The tour includes a month in the UK and Europe and is scheduled through the end of May. Rise Against is touring with the group on the first leg of the tour, and The Muse will join them on the second. Though it likes to bring at least two or three other bands on the road with them at a time, MCR decided a two-bill ticket would work best for what it wants to do on this tour.