The Black Parade might be finished.
Then again, music fans might never have even know the band if it hadn’t been My Chemical Romance’s alter egos while the rockers were touring to promote their album, also titled “The Black Parade.”
Alas, The Black Parade’s official Web site now shows a replica of a heart monitor that is flatlining, presumably signaling that the group/stunt/side project is finished, mtv.com reports. (MTV tried in vain to reach a rep for My Chemical Romance to confirm the news.)
But even though The BP apparently has flatlined, it lives on in the silly and bizarre world of celebrity musician alter egos.
Let’s take a look.
T.I. ALTER EGO: T.I.P.
T.I. explained the two sides of his persona — T.I. is the dashing superstar; T.I.P. prefers the grit of the streets — in an interview with mtv.com while talking about his album “T.I. vs. T.I.P.” in March. “Sometimes people might see me act a certain way one time and another way one another time,” he said. “They might not believe the same cat you see dressed so sharp and winning awards and speaking eloquently is the same cat you see fist-fighting with hoodlums outside a nightclub. This album will be an explanation of all of this.”
Beyonce ALTER EGO: SASHA
The superstar revealed to Parade magazine a year ago that she created a stage persona “to protect myself.” “I become someone else when I’m onstage,” she said. “I call that stage persona ‘Sasha.’ I keep her onstage and keep me, Beyonce, offstage. I wouldn’t like Sasha if I met her offstage. Oh, no. She’s too aggressive, too strong, too sassy, too sexy! I’m not her in real life at all. I’m not flirtatious and super-confident and fearless like her.”
Miley Cyrus ALTER EGO: HANNAH MONTANA
Admittedly, Hannah Montana isn’t an alter ego Cyrus created — it’s the name of the character she plays on her Disney Channel show. But when Cyrus went on tour to promote her new album as Miley Cyrus, it was nonetheless titled Best of Both Worlds. Even on “Hannah Montana,” Cyrus’ character lives a double life, as uncool 8th grader Miley Stewart and glamorous pop star Hannah Montana. “Sometimes, I get confused,” she admitted to Parade magazine.
Mariah Carey ALTER EGO: MIMI
When Carey made her grand comeback in 2005, she relied on Mimi, even calling her album “The Emancipation of Mimi.” The title represented a break from the cloud of negative press still clinging to Carey’s name at the time, and the album proved a smash hit.
Janet Jackson ALTER EGO: STRAWBERRY AND DAMITA JO
Jackson was in the market for an alter ego after getting slammed in the aftermath of Nipplegate at the Super Bowl. And so, in an interview with Blender magazine, she revealed not one but two characters. Strawberry “is the most sexual of them all, the wildest.” Damita Jo, Jackson explained, is more no-nonsense — “quick to put you in your place.”
Garth Brooks ALTER EGO: CHRIS GAINES
He’s a little bit country. He’s a little bit … goth? Nothing puzzled country music fans quite like Garth Brooks’ decision to dye his hair black, grow a soul patch and perform under the name of Chris Gaines. The result was not pretty: EMI Music reportedly asked retailers to lower the price of Brooks’ album “In … The Life Of Chris Gaines” as much as possible, offering a $3 rebate for each copy sold in exchange.
David Bowie ALTER EGO: ZIGGY STARDUST
Bowie’s futuristically dressed, androgynous-looking character took flight during his tours in the early ’70s. It was a look instrumental in shaping what came to be known as glam rock. “I became Ziggy Stardust,” he has said. “David Bowie went totally out the window. Everybody was convincing me that I was a messiah, especially on that first American tour. I got hopelessly lost in the fantasy.”
