Raymond Toro-Ortiz (born July 15, 1977) is the Puerto Rican-American lead guitarist and one of two backup vocalists for My Chemical Romance. He plays Gibson Les Paul guitars with Seymour Duncan pickups through Marshall amplifiers.
When he was younger he enjoyed the music of Queen, Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer and he cites Brian May and Randy Rhoads as large influences on his playing.
My Chemical Romance
Ray and Gerard Way loosely knew each other growing up and reconnected with each other at an Iron Maiden concert, and the two, along with Matt Pelissier, formed My Chemical Romance. Though he initially refused — he had recently started drumming with a different band — Toro was eventually convinced. He is the lead guitarist for My Chemical Romance. Toro is in large part responsible for all the My Chemical Romance instrumentals, as well as writing the majority of My Chemical Romance’s music, and often helps Frank Iero write his guitar music. He plays a SG Gibson Guitar: SG Series, which has a mahogany body with a rosewood fingerboard. Ray has been credited as a “metalhead” by My Chemical Romance bassist, Mikey Way, for his love of bands such as Mudvayne. He plays an Epiphone Elitist Les Paul guitar which has a mahogany body with maple cap and rosewood fingerboard. He eventually became known not only as the one responsible for most of the band's guitar solos, but also as the one with the nice afro-like hair.
Discography
My Chemical Romance
*2002: I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
*2004: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
*2006: The Black Parade
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