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]

Electric Century

Mikey Way (left) Dave Debiak (right)

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]

Other musical collaborations

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]

Squier Mikey Way Mustang Bass

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.

Fender Mikey Way Jazz Bass

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.

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