* En anglais uniquement
Best known as the bassist for
UFO,
Pete Way has also been a member of
Waysted,
Fastway, and
Ozzy Osbourne's touring band. Born August 7, 1951, in Enfield, Middlesex,
Way co-founded
UFO in 1969 along with singer
Phil Mogg and drummer Andy Parker. During the early '70s, the group enjoyed some success, but it wasn't until the arrival of German guitarist
Michael Schenker that
UFO truly came into their own, and issued a string of influential heavy metal classics -- especially 1977's
Lights Out, 1978's
Obsession, and 1979's
Strangers in the Night. It was also during this era that
UFO earned the title of one of rock's hardest-partying bands, while
Way was often photographed playing a low-slung Gibson Thunderbird bass and wearing a polka-dotted stage outfit.
UFO soldiered on after
Schenker's exit in 1979, before
Way followed suit in 1982. Co-forming
Fastway with ex-
Motörhead guitarist
"Fast" Eddie Clarke,
Way opted to exit the group shortly after the release of its self-titled 1983 release (which went on to become a surprise hit in the U.S.), to serve as
Ozzy Osbourne's touring bassist and to form another new band,
Waysted. Releasing several albums in a short period of time (including the mildly successful Vices in 1983 and a self-titled release in 1984),
Waysted was over shortly thereafter. The early '90s saw
Way rejoin
UFO, before the
Schenker-era
UFO lineup reunited for 1995's Walk on Water.
Mogg and
Way have also issued albums under the moniker
Mogg/Way, and have kept
UFO afloat in the early 21st century -- with guitarist
Vinnie Moore taking
Schenker's place. Around the same time,
Way issued several solo releases and also resuscitated
Waysted. ~ Greg Prato