#tour of New Zealand

[bentwolioo]

Ok so why did Gerard wear the same costume for 6 shows???

Like a lot of people, I noticed the Aotearoa (NZ) & Australia tour drum head messages seemed to be about 9/11. The costume also tells a very specific story that lines up with this--and there was more to Melbourne Night 2 than Gerard deciding it was casual Friday. I'm gonna go through my personal interpretation and explain why I think MCR did this at the end of their tour. 

TLDR: This Is Not The End.

I will include image credits in the reblog since there are a lot!

AUCKLAND, March 11 2023

Based on the skirt suit and drumhead ‘FIX FAX FUCK YOU’, Gerard is dressed as an office worker. For simplicity I will refer to the costume as the Secretary, I see it as both a character and a metaphor. Auckland establishes the monotony and repetition of daily life prior to 9/11, ‘FIX FAX FUCK YOU’ showing an attitude of boredom unaware of the events to come. 

BRISBANE 1, March 13 2023

The main difference between Auckland and Brisbane 1 is the briefcase. This indicates the point in time--Auckland is the days before 9/11 and Brisbane 1 is the morning before the attacks begin. The secretary travels to work, thinking ‘Everything under Control’.

BRISBANE 2, March 14 2023

The drumhead message ‘Here Comes the AIRPLANE’ marks this as minutes or even seconds before the towers are hit. Brisbane 2 is the first time Gerard wears the coat, representing everyone taking cover. 

MELBOURNE 1, March 16 2023

I unfortunately could not find a good photo of Gerard wearing the coat from this show but you can see it on the floor behind him!

The Melbourne shows are as the towers collapse. Pretty straightforward from the Melbourne 1 drumhead ‘TERROR’. This show also had the only appearance of the umbrella, which I interpret as representing the rubble and destruction raining down. The umbrella is closed, showing the secretary is unprotected and ultimately killed when the towers fall. 

MELBOURNE 2, March 17 2023

It seemed odd at first that Melb 2 was the only show that Gerard didn’t wear a costume for, but I actually believe he still did. This is the key to my interpretation: Gerard is dressed as himself witnessing the towers collapse, on his way to work at Cartoon Network. This the only show on the Oceania leg where they played Skylines and Turnstiles*, the song Gerard wrote immediately after 9/11. The drumhead ‘BARK BARK BARK’ makes you picture, a chained dog, representing the powerless horror of only being able to watch as the destruction unfolds--the deeply personal experience that drove Gerard to form MCR. 

SYDNEY 1, March 19 2023

Blood!!!! At Sydney 1, we see the continuing aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The secretary has died but keeps moving, picking up her briefcase and carrying on. This could be showing how a lot of people’s faith in the US government and in the world died, but life had to find a way to move on. 

SYDNEY 2, March 20 2023

At Sydney 2, the addition of Gerard’s white contacts shows the Secretary decaying--but she has not stopped. Frank changed the drumhead message from ‘UNKILLABLE’ to ‘UNKILLABLES’, expanding the meaning from the context of his accident in Sydney to include the band, the fans, and on a wider level everything MCR represents. 

I think all of this is a metaphor for the band’s career in multiple ways. Firstly, the Secretary being undead of course reflects MCR’s return, and her zombified appearance aligns with the imagery of their new era (decay, swarm, the destroyed buildings of the stage set). Secondly, it is very interesting to me that they did this sequence of costumes and drumheads at the end of their headlining tour, rather that at the start. The story they told seems to imply a rebirth--MCR was ‘born’ out of the trauma, pain and confusion of 9/11, so the fact that they represented the start of the band on stage signifies a second beginning. 

(Thank you for reading to the end and if I got anything wrong please let me know!)

*EDIT 1 (23/03/23): They actually also played Skylines at Brisbane 2. I do think the position of Skylines in the Melb 2 set is still significant. They played it as the first encore song which mirrors it being the first MCR song and written shortly after 9/11.

EDIT 2 (30/03/23): So actually 8 shows of Secretary Gerard when you include Japan! Tokyo and Osaka analysis here

[lizziemothman]

unkillables: mcr oz+japan leg zine [image descriptions can be found in alt text]

[velvetdestroya]

We a re My Fucking Chemical Romance! The Outer Fields, Auckland, New Zealand on March 11, 2023.

[photo credit; coupdemain]

[oldphanny]

They're both going to regret those pleather pants when they get to Australia in December. Yes, the amount of chaffing and ball sweat happening during the performance is the only thing on my mind. It's beginning to look a lot like Sweatmas, my friends.

[princesscatherineblog]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George arrive at the international airport in Wellington on April 7, 2014.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Not exactly a dome home, but round, ultra modern, and so expensive if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. (But, it is really only available on request.) It's in Auckland, New Zealand and has 3bds, 1ba.

The living room area is placed off to the side of the dining area and spiral stairs. I would say that it's about the right size for IKEA furniture, but it's so expensive, why the cheap furniture and drop ceilings?

The terrace on the first level.

The home has glass walls that slide open in each area.

The ultra modern stainless steel kitchen is a part of the main living area.

It isn't huge, but large enough, and it gets a lot of natural light.

The wraparound upper deck provides beautiful views.

The spiral stairs go up to a bar and entertaining area.

The round bar has a very club-like look. I would really light this up.

Open the door and guests can wander out to the deck.

The bedrooms are on the other side of the circular home. The primary bedroom would be the largest room. It has a wall of windows and a door to go out on the terrace.

All 3 bedrooms have windows and sliding doors to the terrace.

The 3rd bedroom is the smallest. It would be good nursery, home gym or home office.

The single bath is quite large.

On the ground beneath the house there's a patio and yard area with a large garden shed.

https://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/180-l-2814028-nezgnb/179-maraetai-drive-maraetai-auckland-au-2018

[oneminutefiftysixseconds]

jarrad drizners and magnus cort not only riding the tour de france but also attending a three-week intensive language course in dutch/french and norwegian respectively

[peter-must-die]

no cus what the fuck r they gonna do for their silly pun in the new zealand preshow tweet. phew phealand??????? new cuntland?? genuinely how do u make a pun out of new zealand.

[meat-wentz]

MORE IMAGES FROM MY POINT OF CONTACT

[lace-anne]

Bought my Terrible Influence Ticket!

Anyone else going to the Auckland, NZ leg of the tour? 🥝💕

[fandomweasel]

"Uproar" looks incredible!!!

I've just seen the trailer and I so hope I'll be able to watch it! I adore movies about the 1970-80s, it was a period of time full of protests, strikes and brave people standing up against a system that was built to make them struggle.

Uproar looks to show just that, shown through the lense of an ostracised Mãori teenager during the 1981 protests against the Springbok tour.

If you would like to read more on the 1981 protests, a quick search came up with the New Zealand government's history page on it:

If anyone would like to add other resources on this history, please do so!

I can't wait to watch this movie when it comes out!

[velvetdestroya]

Ray’s feeling it hard The Outer Fields, Auckland, New Zealand on March 11, 2023.

[photo credit; coupdemain]

[srldesigns6277]

Niall getting the crowd to sing with him, even extending his microphone to hear them - Meltdown - TSLOT Auckland

[princesscatherineblog]

Large crowds cheer and try to catch a glimpse of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as she does a walkabout on the South Bank on April 19, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on a three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand, the first official trip overseas with their son, Prince George of Cambridge.

[soup-is-nice-sometimes]

happy 1 year of me seeing my chemical romance and consequently the first "secretary Gerard" look

[pressure-machine]

THE KILLERS perform Bones at their secret show at Liberty Hall, Sydney, December 19th 2022