My Chemical Romance's former manager, Lauren Valencia, has passed away from cancer...
Members of My Chemical Romance have taken to social media to pay tribute to their late manager, Lauren Valencia, who passed away from cancer.
Lauren worked as an artist manager at Roc Nation since 2012, where she managed Canadian singer-songwriter Grimes, and previous to that she managed MCR.
“Dear Lauren, you were a light that kept me going when times were really hard," Gerard Way wrote in a note posted on his Instagram. "You were there for every show, every shuttle ride, every early morning flight and lobby call, every walk around a city and every moment that I struggled with being on a long and sometimes hard to process journey.”
“But more than what you did for others," he went on to say, "you were incredible and vibrant and funny and wonderful. You were my friend, but you will always be my sister. The world is dimmer today, but I will always have your light to get me through. Your family is my family and I will miss you terribly. I will think of you every day, and every time I get on a stage you will be with me. I will love you forever.”
Frank Iero, meanwhile, credited Lauren for holding things together towards the end of My Chem.
“Damnit, I just got the news… and although I knew it was coming, I am completely heartbroken," he also wrote on Instagram. "Lauren Valencia was one of the kindest most hardworking people I have ever had the honour of working with. She is probably (definitely) the only reason anything got done in the last years of mychem, and she absolutely kept us sane for way longer than we could have on our own. She was smart and driven, beautiful and generous. She made me laugh and I was in awe of how put together she could be in our whirlwind of insanity. I will miss her as I am sure many will. I love you LV, you were a great friend… and I will forever cherish the time I was lucky enough to be around you. <3 xofrnk”
Visual artist and bass player for Mindless Self Indulgence, Lindsey Way, also paid to Lauren, after having spent some time with her the day before she passed.
"My friend Lauren was like Anne Hathaway in 'The Devil Wears Prada'," she wrote next to a picture of her friend on Instagram. "She was the most capable, hardworking person I've ever known, able to make the impossible possible and I was in awe of her."
Lindsey went on to say: "She helped me whenever I was in need, without asking and when she certainly didn't have to. She was thoughtful and kind and selfless. She made difficult times better.
Life is cruel, painful and today I struggle to remember that it is also beautiful and miraculous. She was beautiful and miraculous."
"I held her hand yesterday and today she's gone. I was able to tell her how much I loved her, how much better my life was because she was in it. I was fortunate to be able to do that. Please don't wait, you may never get the chance."
Kerrang!'s thoughts are with Lauren's family and friends at this difficult time.
