Guitar & Bass Tabs
Fastway
About Fastway
Fastway formed in 1983 when guitarist Eddie Clarke of Motörhead teamed up with bassist Pete Way of UFO. They recruited a strong vocalist and a tight rhythm section to launch a hard-hitting project built on Clarke’s blistering riffs and Way’s thunderous bass. Their self-titled debut kicked off a run of records that fused bluesy hard rock with stadium-ready hooks, and it quickly established Fastway as a force in 80s rock.
In the mid-80s, Fastway released a string of albums that balanced aggressive guitar assault with melodic chorus moments. Songs like Say What You Will became signature tracks, helping the band carve out international fans and airplay across rock radio and video shows. Clarke and Way brought their pedigree from UFO and Motörhead into a new, accessible rock sound that resonated with both metal and AOR audiences, leaving a lasting imprint on the era.
Though the lineup shifted and the band never dominated the charts for long, Fastway’s influence endures among players who chase big riffs, punchy grooves, and fearless, hook-laden rock. The combination of Clarke’s bite and Way’s groove made Fastway a touchstone for fans of 80s hard rock and a clear bridge between sixties-blues roots and the modern arena-rock sound.
🎸 Want to know what gear Fastway used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Say What You Will
Fastway
View Tab →Playing Style
Fastway’s playing style is characterized by riff-driven, blues-infused hard rock with a focus on powerful rhythm and memorable hooks. Eddie Clarke’s guitar tone is thick and aggressive, built from chunky power chords, palm-muted chugging, and brisk alternate picking, while the melodies weave in tasteful fills and solo lines. Pete Way anchors the sound with pounding, melodic bass lines that lock in with the drums to create a tight groove that drives each track. The overall approach blends raw, high-energy energy with chorus-ready moments, inviting players to master rhythm mastery, tone control, and confident, blues-tinged solos.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic gear associated with Fastway includes Eddie Clarke’s Gibson Les Paul Standard through a Marshall-type amplifier to deliver the bite and crunch the band is known for. The group’s 80s rock tone was typically built on robust tube amps, overdrive, and occasional chorus or delay effects to widen the sonic landscape. Pete Way laid down thick, pumping bass tones that sat firmly in the mix, completing a guitar-bass-drum machine that could fill arenas and clubs alike.
Why Learn Fastway Songs?
Why learn Fastway: The songs teach essential hard rock fundamentals—riff-based rhythm, power chords, palm muting, and melodic hooks that translate to many classic rock staples. They offer a solid challenge for intermediate players while remaining approachable for dedicated beginners, helping you build speed, accuracy, dynamics, and tone shaping that translate to dozens of rock classics.
Did You Know?
- 1The band name Fastway combines Eddie Clarke's nickname 'Fast' with Pete Way's surname.
- 2Fastway's self-titled debut arrived in 1983, introducing Clarke and Way's pedigree to a new hard rock project.
- 3Say What You Will is one of their signature tracks and a staple on 80s rock playlists.
- 4Clarke and Way came from Motörhead and UFO respectively, giving Fastway a rare pedigree from day one.
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