Mikey Way | |
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 Way performing in 2011 | |
| Born | Michael James Way September 10, 1980 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Spouse |
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| Relatives |
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| Musical career | |
| Origin | Belleville, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar |
| Member of |
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Michael James Way (born September 10, 1980)[1] is an American musician, best known as the bassist of the rock band My Chemical Romance.[1] He is also the multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist of rock duo Electric Century.[2][3] Way co-wrote Collapser with Shaun Simon, which was released July 2019 on DC Comics.
Way was born September 10, 1980, in Newark, New Jersey[4] to Donna Lee Way (née Rush) and Donald Way and is of Scottish and Italian ancestry.[5] He was raised in Belleville, New Jersey alongside his older brother Gerard. Growing up, he worked in a Barnes & Noble and later Eyeball Records. Both of these played a major part in the formation of My Chemical Romance. Eyeball signed the band and released their debut record.[1]
The first concert he ever went to was a Smashing Pumpkins concert with his brother. After seeing them perform he told him "we have to do this." He was asked to join My Chemical Romance, which involved him having to improve his bass skills in the space of a week.[1][6] He has toured with From First To Last.
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Main article: My Chemical Romance |
Way joined American rock band My Chemical Romance in 2001 as their bassist and suggested the band's name after he read the book Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance.[7] When Way joined the band, he had to improve his bass skills in less than a week.[8] My Chemical Romance released their second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge on June 8, 2004.[9] My Chemical Romance's third album, The Black Parade, was released on October 24, 2006.[10] My Chemical Romance released their fourth and final studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, on November 22, 2010.[11] The band announced their breakup on March 22, 2013.[12]
On October 31, 2019, My Chemical Romance announced they would be reuniting with a date in Los Angeles on December 20 and a new merchandise line.[13] They later announced a 2020 North American tour, as well as dates in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The tour was later postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14][15]
For over a year after the break up of My Chemical Romance, Way remained without a band until he formed Electric Century with Sleep Station vocalist David Debiak.[16] The duo released their first song "I Lied" in February 2014.[17][18] The same month, Electric Century was included in Alternative Press's "100 Bands You Need To Know" list.[18] The magazine mentioned that "I Lied" "forges an alloy of decades-proven electronic pop" comparing it to fun. and Twenty One Pilots.[18] Alternative Press also said that the duo's album was finished and awaiting release later that year.[18] The album was recorded and mixed by D. James Goodwin at The Isokon Studio in Woodstock, New York.[18] In November, Way revealed that he had flown in February to the East Coast to complete the album but instead went to rehab.[19] Way also said the news about Electric Century would be "in the coming months."[19] On January 13, 2015, "Let You Get Away" was made available for streaming.[20] "Let You Get Away" was released as a single on April 3.[21] The band announced their debut self-titled EP on March 10, and was released on Record Store Day on April 18.[22] "Hail the Saints" and "Right There" were released as singles on May 6.[23][24]
Since releasing their debut EP, the band re-entered the studio, and spent much 2015 writing and recording new songs. In January 2016, the duo tweeted on their official Twitter page "2016 is THE year", hinting upcoming releases.[25] They announced their debut album For the Night to Control on February 24, 2016, and was released on March 9, exclusively with that week's edition of Kerrang! Magazine.[26][27] The album was officially released on July 14, 2017.[28] Their self-titled second studio album, produced by My Chemical Romance bandmate Ray Toro, was released February 26, 2021.[29]
In November 2015, Way was featured in Good Charlotte's music video for their first single since their hiatus, "Makeshift Love".[30] He also contributed to Andy Black's debut solo album The Shadow Side, a pseudonym project from Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack.[31][32] Way recorded bass for American pop punk band Waterparks on their Cluster EP,[33] and later joined them on tour with Good Charlotte, including performances at Reading and Leeds festivals.[34] Way was also a special guest DJ at Emo Nite LA's 1st-year anniversary.[35]
Way is known for using Fender 4 string bass guitars.
Starting in 2002, Way used a 2001 silver sparkle Fender American Designer Precision Bass, which is seen in the music video for ‘Vampires Will Never Hurt You’, however this bass was destroyed in transport around 2003.
For My Chemical Romance’s next album, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge (2004), Way used both a Candy Apple Red Fender American Standard Precision Bass, and a black Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, which he used on the next album also.
In My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade (2006) recording and supporting tours, Way was known for using a black Deluxe Jaguar Bass, his previously used black Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, and most famously an Inca Silver American Standard Fender Precision Bass
On The World Contamination Tour in support of Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, he used his own signature Squier Mustang Bass, along with a red Pawn Shop Series Fender Mustang Bass, used as the tours ‘E Flat guitar’.
When My Chemical Romance reunited in 2019, Way, along with guitarist Frank Iero, received new Fender Custom Shop instruments, with Way unveiling two identically specced Fender Jazz Basses, with the exception of the finishes, one being in Gloss Silver Sparkle, the other in Gloss Black Flake. The basses featured vintage 70’s style hardware, and heavily black accented maple fretboards. This specification of bass went on to be used for Way’s 2023 Fender signature model, however only available in Gloss Silver Sparkle, largely due to the fact the Black Flake Sparkle example being rarely used live.
As of March 2023, Way was using a Fender Super Bassman Amplifier through 2 Fender Bassman 810 cabs when touring Australia, New Zealand and Japan as shown on his instagram.
| Mikey Way Mustang Bass | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Squier (Fender) |
| Period | 2011-2015 |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale | 30" |
| Woods | |
| Body | Alder |
| Neck | Maple, "C" Shape,(Gloss Polyurethane Finish) |
| Fretboard | rosewood |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Strings-Thru-Body with 4 Individually Adjustable Saddles |
| Pickup(s) | Custom |
| Colors available | |
| Large Flake Silver Sparkle | |
While touring for the Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, Way collaborated with Squier to release a signature Mikey Way Mustang Bass.[36] In an interview with MusicRadar, Way commented on his signature bass: "I had been sponsored by Fender through most of my time in MCR. I had contacted them about making a custom bass and they hit me back saying they wanted to give me a signature model".[37] The guitar in question, The Fender Squier Mikey Way Mustang Bass, was a produced by Fender's Squier sub-brand from 2011 until 2015. Based on the Squier Mustang Bass, finished in Large Flake Silver Sparkle with a black competition stripe, it was based on the Squier Super-Sonic a guitar Way and his brother, Gerard, had always wanted. The guitar also features a natural finished neck, black pick guard and Way's signature on the back of the head.
Way's personal example varied rather heavily from the production model, being produced by Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California. The most obvious of the changes being the Fender marked headstock, oddly marked 'Fender BASS', as opposed to 'Fender Mustang Bass'. Less noticed changes include the chrome dome shaped pot knobs (as opposed to black plastic) and a black painted neck, as opposed to the satin clear finish of the production variant. Although official specifications were never revealed, it is highly likely the body of Way's variant was made of Alder, as opposed to the production models Basswood. Way's own example was fitted with an EMG35 Hz, unlike the production variant's custom unbranded model.
| Mikey Way Jazz Bass | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Fender |
| Period | 2023-present |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale | 34" |
| Woods | |
| Body | Alder |
| Neck | Maple, "70's C" Shape,(Satin Finish) |
| Fretboard | maple with black binding |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Fixed |
| Pickup(s) | ’70s single-coil Jazz Bass pickups |
| Colors available | |
| Gloss Silver Sparkle | |
The Fender Mikey Way Jazz Bass is a limited edition signature series variant of the Fender Jazz Bass produced from 2023 by Fender at their Ensenada, Mexico facility. The bass is heavily equipped with 1970s style Jazz Bass hardware, it is equipped with Fender's 70s Jazz Bass pickups, with a vintage-style 4 saddle bridge, Fender stamped tuners and an all-maple neck with black block inlays and binding, with a 70s 'C' shape neck. The bass is inspired by Way's circa 2002 touring bass, a 2001 Fender American Designer Jazz Bass, a Guitar Center exclusive, which was also finished in Silver Sparkle with a blackout headstock, however featured a Rosewood fingerboard and white pick guard as standard, which way kept until the Bass was lost when the band forgot to securely lock a box on a touring van in about 2003. The run of models featured an exclusive serial number prefix of MW23, As opposed to the standard MX23 prefix that would have otherwise been used.
In 2013, Way made his acting debut on The Hub original series The Aquabats! Super Show! in the season two finale "The AntiBats!", playing the lead singer of a fictional death metal band called Asthma. Additionally, Way's brother Gerard co-directed and co-wrote the episode.[38] In 2018, Way debuted as a voice actor by voicing the role of Snarl in the Transformers: Power of the Primes animated series.[39]
In March 2007, Way married his first wife, Alicia Simmons.[40] They divorced in 2013.
In February 2016, Way married Kristin Blanford.[41] Together, they have two daughters, born in 2017 and 2019.[42]
Way has spoken openly about his struggles with addiction and sobriety. He has been sober since 2014, after entering rehab following an intervention.[43]
My Chemical Romance
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Main articles: My Chemical Romance discography and List of songs recorded by My Chemical Romance |
Electric Century
Guest performances
