Mikey Way

Mikey Way

Way performing in 2012 on his signature Fender Mustang Bass
Background information
Birth name Michael James Way
Born (1980-09-10) September 10, 1980
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Origin Belleville, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Bass
  • keyboards
  • guitar
  • vocals
Years active 2001–present
Labels
Associated acts
Notable instruments

Michael James "Mikey" Way (born September 10, 1980) is an American musician and is best known as the bassist of the rock band My Chemical Romance. He is also the multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist of rock duo Electric Century.

Early life

Way was born September 10, 1980, to Donna Lee Way (née Rush) and Donald Way and is of Scottish and Italian ancestry.[1] He was raised in Belleville, New Jersey alongside his brother Gerard Way. Growing up, he worked in a Barnes & Noble and later Eyeball Records. Both of these played major part in the formation of My Chemical Romance. Eyeball signed the band and released their debut record.

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. He has toured with From First To Last.

Career

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.[2] When Way joined the band, he had to improve his bass skills in less than a week.[3] My Chemical Romance released their second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge on June 8, 2004.[4] My Chemical Romance's third album, The Black Parade, was released on October 24, 2006.[5] My Chemical Romance released their fourth and final studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, on November 22, 2010.[6] While touring for the album, Way collaborated with Squier to release a signature Mikey Way Fender Mustang Bass.[7] 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".[8] The band announced their breakup on March 22, 2013.[9]

Electric Century

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.[10] The duo released their first song "I Lied" in February 2014.[11][12] The same month, Electric Century was included in Alternative Press's "100 Bands You Need To Know" list.[12] The magazine mentioned that "I Lied" "forges an alloy of decades-proven electronic pop" comparing it to fun. and Twenty One Pilots.[12] Alternative Press also said that the duo's album was finished and awaiting release later that year.[12] The album was recorded and mixed by D. James Goodwin at The Isokon Studio in Woodstock, New York.[12] In November, Way revealed that he had flown in February to the East Coast to complete the album but instead went to rehab.[13] Way also said the news about Electric Century would be "in the coming months."[13] On January 13, 2015, "Let You Get Away" was made available for streaming.[14] "Let You Get Away" was released as a single on April 3.[15] The band announced their debut self-titled EP on March 10, and was released on Record Store Day on April 18.[16] "Hail the Saints" and "Right There" were released as singles on May 6.[17][18]

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.[19] 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.[20][21] The album was officially released on July 14, 2017.[22]

Other musical collaborations

In November 2015, Way was featured in Good Charlotte's music video for their first single since their hiatus, "Makeshift Love".[23] He also contributed to Andy Black's debut solo album The Shadow Side, a pseudonym project from Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack.[24][25] Way recorded bass for American pop punk band Waterparks on their Cluster EP,[26] and later joined them on tour with Good Charlotte, including performances at Reading and Leeds festivals.[27]

Discography

My Chemical Romance

Electric Century

Guest performances

References

  1. ↑ "My Chemical Romance channel Scottish roots at T In The Park". NME. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  2. ↑ "11 Things You Didn’t know about My Chemical Romance". Kerrang!.
  3. ↑ Matthew Parker. "Mikey Way talks bass heroes, 'Bowie moments' and his signature Squier". musicradar.com.
  4. ↑ Johnny Loftus. "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge - My Chemical Romance - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  5. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  6. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys - My Chemical Romance - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  7. ↑ "MIKEY WAY MUSTANG® BASS". Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  8. ↑ Parker, Matthew. "Mikey Way talks bass heroes, 'Bowie moments' and his signature Squier". MusicRadar. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "My Chemical Romance Break Up". Rolling Stone.
  10. ↑ "Mikey Way And David Debiak Announce New Band, Electric Century". Blast Out Your Stereo. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "iTunes - Music - I Lied - Single by Electric Century". iTunes. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Electric Century - "I Lied" (SONG PREMIERE) - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Mikey Way: "I Was Told I Should Never Have Woken Up" - Kerrang!". Kerrang!.
  14. ↑ "Mikey Way's Electric Century Stream Second Single - Kerrang!". Kerrang!.
  15. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Let You Get Away - Single by Electric Century". iTunes. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "Electric Century GER on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Hail the Saints - Single by Electric Century". iTunes. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  18. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Right There - Single by Electric Century". iTunes. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  19. ↑ Sharp, Tyler. "Electric Century: “2016 is THE year!”". Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  20. ↑ Ryken, Atreyue. "Mikey Way’s Electric Century announce debut album". Alternative Press. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  21. ↑ "MIKEY WAY GIVES AWAY NEW ALBUM EXCLUSIVELY WITH KERRANG!". Kerrang!. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  22. ↑ "Electric Century premiere “Hey Lacey” and discuss new album—listen". Alternative Press. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  23. ↑ Hingle, James (13 November 2015). "The New Good Charlotte Music Video Features Mikey Way". Kerrang.com. Kerrang!. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  24. ↑ Biddulph, Andy. "MIKEY WAY IS ON THE ANDY BLACK ALBUM". RockSound. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  25. ↑ Hingle, James. "ANDY BIERSACK JOINED BY MIKEY WAY IN THE STUDIO". Kerrang!. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  26. ↑ "5 things you should know about Waterparks before they get big". Alternative Press. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "See Waterparks + Mikey Way Play Reading and Leeds Festival". Rock Sound. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
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