My Chemical Romance talk Stooges and MC5-influenced new album

My Chemical Romance have unveiled further details about their forthcoming fourth album – and admitted the band almost split up last year.

Singer Gerard Way said the follow-up to their 2006 concept album 'The Black Parade' has been influenced by The Stooges and MC5.

"We wanted to harness everything that's great about this band into shorter songs, almost protopunk, like The Stooges or the MC5," he told Rolling Stone.

The singer also revealed a new track 'Trans Am', which is likely to feature on the new record, containing the lyrics: "These pigs are after me, after you".

He admitted the band nearly split after touring their last album in May 2008, saying: "I thought the band was going to break up," although he did not elaborate on the comment.

Their fourth LP, which is being recorded in Los Angeles with Bruce Springsteen producer Brendan O'Brien, is due in spring 2010.