Biography
Guitarist Raymond Toro-Ortiz, recognized by My Chemical Romance listeners as Ray Toro, entered the world on July 15, 1977, in Kearny, NJ, and shared the halls of Belleville High School with his future bandmates Gerard and Mikey Way. Growing up in a room shared with two brothers, he first reached for the guitar after observing an older sibling playing along to Led Zeppelin. The surrounding streets offered little safety, with frequent sightings of both corpses and addicts, prompting his mother to discourage solo outings and leaving Toro to fill his high-school days indoors with guitar practice and repeated listens to metal alongside classic rock. An additional interest in film led him to enroll in college with plans to work as an editor.
Following the September 11 attacks, his former high-school acquaintance Gerard Way proposed forming a band together with drummer Matt Pelissier. Toro initially declined, having only recently joined another group on drums, yet he eventually agreed, forming the core trio that launched My Chemical Romance. Once second guitarist Frank Iero joined, Toro assumed the lead-guitar position. He gained notice both for delivering the majority of the band’s solos and for his distinctive afro-like hair.
Following the September 11 attacks, his former high-school acquaintance Gerard Way proposed forming a band together with drummer Matt Pelissier. Toro initially declined, having only recently joined another group on drums, yet he eventually agreed, forming the core trio that launched My Chemical Romance. Once second guitarist Frank Iero joined, Toro assumed the lead-guitar position. He gained notice both for delivering the majority of the band’s solos and for his distinctive afro-like hair.
Albums
