Raymond Manuel Toro-Ortiz is the lead guitar and one of two backing vocals for the band My Chemical Romance. Born on the July 15th 1977 in Kearny, New Jersey, he grew up in a Puerto Rican and Portuguese household. During his younger years Ray’s older brother introduced him to the metal bands of the time bringing him the influences of Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd. His brother bought him his first guitar and due to his heavy metal influences he was accredited with the name 'metalhead' by later bass guitarist Mikey Way.

Contrary to popular belief Ray Toro did not attended Belleview High School with the lead singer of My Chemical Romance Gerard Way and his brother, bassist Mikey. Mikey and Toro met through mutual friends at a party. Toro himself said that he knew Mike more than Gerard, who he describes as the artist brother of Mikey’s who he very rarely saw. Before My Chemical Romance Toro played in many bands, once playing drums before returning to guitar for My Chemical Romance. When Gerard Way formed the band in late 2001 after 9/11 Ray Toro was one of the first phone calls he made, calling him “The best guitarist he has ever known”. Gerard was horrified to find that Ray was playing drums and asked him to join the band with Mikey and (then drummer) Matt Pelissier.

My Chemical Romance recorded most of their first album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love without the aid of then Pencey Prep lead, Frank Iero. However when Pencey Prep liquidised Frank was immediately asked to play a second guitar for My Chemical Romance something which Ray found uncomfortable at first as he had never played with another guitarist before. Ray’s fears where soon dismissed as Frank worked wonders on Early Sunsets over Monroeville that apparently Ray would never have thought of himself.

On the second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, Ray began to bring about his particular guitar style based on the greats of guitaring history such as Brian May and Randy Rhodes. Using influences of great metal bands such as Megadeath and Metallica; Ray Toro weaved a metal influence through the pop punk lyrics of Gerard Way and defining punk rifts of Frank Iero. Through Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and The Black Parade, Ray has produced soaring solos based on the 70’s blues that he listens to but also have a Johnny Marr pop influence that gives the music a more current and evolutionary sound. Referred to by his fans as Ray -the fro- Toro, which relates to the afro hair style that Ray sports; Ray Toro is fast becoming one of the most accomplished guitarists in today’s music scene. Whatever your thoughts are on My Chemical Romance, you cannot deny the genius of Ray Toro.

Ray Toro plays a Les Paul Gibson electric guitar (Mostly a '91 and '93) with Seymour Duncan pickups and Marshall Guitar amplifiers.

Pictures taken by Shari at Black Velvet Magazine