Peter Frederick Way (7 August 1951 – 14 August 2020), known professionally as Pete Way, was an English bass guitarist prominent in the hard rock and early heavy metal scenes. He is widely recognized as a founding member and long-serving bassist of UFO, a band whose work in the 1970s and 1980s influenced many later rock and metal musicians. Way combined driving low-end lines with a stage-oriented presence that helped define the sound and live identity of several bands.

Career and musical style

Way's musical career began in the late 1960s and gained international attention as UFO rose in profile. He played with UFO through their formative and most acclaimed years, serving in the band from 1969 until 1982, briefly rejoining in 1988–1989, and again from 1991 to 2008. His approach favored melodic but forceful bass lines, often emphasizing rhythm and groove to support twin-guitar arrangements and extended live solos. Colleagues and fans noted his straightforward, no-frills technique and energetic stage manner.

Bands and collaborations

  • UFO — co-founder and principal bassist during the band's classic periods.
  • Waysted — founded by Way as an outlet for a harder-edged rock direction after his initial departure from UFO.
  • Fastway — Way is credited as a co-founder of this project alongside guitarist Eddie Clarke; his early involvement helped shape the group's formation.
  • Michael Schenker Group and Ozzy Osbourne — Way also performed and collaborated with other prominent artists, contributing his bass work to projects and tours.

Across these associations, Way moved between studio work and touring, sometimes leaving or rejoining groups as musical directions and lineups evolved. He was respected for his reliability as a rock bassist and for helping to launch and stabilize new bands.

Legacy and notable facts

Pete Way's impact is most visible in the bands he helped form and in the generation of players who cite UFO as a touchstone of 1970s hard rock. His name is linked to the development of melodic, guitar-driven rock that bridged blues-based rock and the heavier sounds that followed. Way's formation of Waysted gave him an opportunity to lead creatively, while his early role in Fastway connected him to the wave of 1980s hard rock projects.

Way died on 14 August 2020 at the age of 69. Reports indicated his death followed complications from an injury sustained in an accident two months earlier. For further reading and archived interviews see archival material, a timeline and discography at reference page, and selected tributes and news coverage at news archive.