My Chemical Romance Drummer Bob Bryar has quit the Band.

                                                 Bob Bryar

The band made the announcement on their website and explained that Bryar had actually left the group four weeks ago. In the short message posted on their website, the other members of My Chemical Romance wished Bryar all the best but did not reveal the reason for his departure or who would be replacing him.

“Recently it seems as though every time we write to you guys we have bad news, and we apologize for that, but we’ve learned in life you can’t have the sweet without the sour,” wrote guitarist Frank Iero.

“As of 4 weeks ago, My Chemical Romance and Bob Bryar parted ways. This was a painful decision for all of us to make and was not taken lightly. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and expect you all to do the same.”

Bryar originally replaced former drummer Matt Pelissier in 2004. Iero continued on in the message, providing an update on the band’s upcoming album.

“We have been writing some very powerful new songs,” he said. “So this week the four of us entered the studio once again, and what has been ending up on tape each night is some of the most exciting and honest work we have ever created.”

Read the entire message from My Chemical Romance on their drummer’s departure at their official website.

Last December, the band's fourth album appeared to be on target for a Spring release, but now the remaining members are heading back into the studio, making a Fall 2010 on-sale date more likely. "We have been writing some very powerful new songs, so this week the four of us entered the studio once again, and what has been ending up on tape each night is some of the most exciting and honest work we have ever created," Iero continued.

Reps for MCR's label played seven new songs for SPIN staffers in December, which featured Bryar's drum work, but now, with the band writing and recording again, it's unclear how many of those tracks will make the final album.

At the time, Way spoke to SPIN.com about what to expect from the new material. Unlike 2006's The Black Parade, the singer promised that the new album would not be conceptual. "At this point, the best way to describe the new album is My Chemical Romance being the purest, most distilled version of itself," Way said. "No bells and whistles."

Thematically, Way said the music was influenced by the band members' New Jersey childhoods, the Springsteen-esque notion of "getting up and blowing out of town," and how "a band and an audience can be immortal through rock'n'roll, even if just for one night."

MCR previewed three new songs last August at a performance in Los Angeles -- with Bryar on drums -- including the Hives-inspired "Death By Disco."Any questions? Post a comment.