Hailing from Devon, in England’s Southwest, Muse need little in the way of introduction. Arriving on the scene as the last millennium drew to a close, Showbiz, the band’s debut album started raising eyebrows and put their unfashionable hometown of Teignmouth on the map.
Fusing the space-rock of early Radiohead albums with the riffy make-up of bands like Led Zeppelin and Rage Against the Machine and the bombastic vocal style of frontman Matt Bellamy, Muse’s debut album sold over and above expectations, with Muscle Museum, Sunburn and Cave all charting as singles.
While Showbiz made a gradual impact over the next year, follow-up album Origin of Symmetry promoted Muse to British rock’s A-list. Bellamy, along with bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dom Howard soon found themselves headlining festivals and selling out arena tours around Europe. Hullabaloo, followed midway through 2002, released as a live DVD as well as a double CD compilation of live tracks and B-sides.
Though the first two studio albums broke the band in Britain, few could have predicted the impact of 2003’s Absolution. The album went number one around the world and also took the band’s live show to places they’d never toured before. The album’s apocalyptic themes hit hard, with hit singles in the form of Time is Running Out, Stockholm Syndrome and Sing for Absolution.
While 2004 was the year Muse claimed the title of best live act in countless magazine polls, there were also some major setbacks. The first came just minutes after the band’s headline slot at Glastonbury, where Howard’s father collapsed and died soon after. Despite the tragedy, the band continued with their tour and visited the USA, where an altercation with a guitar left Bellamy’s bottom lip worse for wear. Not to be outdone, Wolstenholme broke his wrist while playing football in a carpark with The Cooper Temple Clause. After recruiting Morgan Nicholls (The Streets) as stand-in bassist for the remainder of the band’s tour,a specially-designed cast allowed Wolstenholme to play on after missing only two shows.
After taking a much-needed break in 2005, Muse returned in 2006 with Black Holes and Revelations, their fourth studio album. Though Supermassive Black Hole, the first single from the record, was regarded by most fans as an unexpected change in direction, the album remains the most successful Muse release to date. It wasn’t long before Muse returned to Australia, performing before Tool on the main stage at the 2007 Big Day Out as well as headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne.
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Event Reviews
Muse @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide (14/11/2007)
Muse have been and gone but the memories will last a long time...
Muse @ The Sydney Entertainment Centre (17/11/2007)
The challenge with each successive Muse tour seems to be: how much bigger? The ambition has always been there, but now it’s (almost) matched by budget.
Muse, The Dirty Secrets @ Supreme Court Gardens, Perth (10/11/2007)
Muse kick off their national tour in Perth with an epic performance underneath the stars at Supreme Court Gardens.
Event Galleries
Muse @ Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney (17-11-2007)
Muse return to Sydney playing live to a huge crowd
Muse @ Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney (17-11-2007)
awsome light show & a night i'll always remember
Muse
Muse fire up for the show of the year
Muse
Chris Wolstenholme's cast comes off for the first time as Muse's Absolution tour hits Metro City in Perth.
Features
Roskilde Festival: on top of the world
A mainstay on the European festival calendar, Roskilde Festival has been running since 1971 and is to Scandinavia what Glastonbury is to the UK, namely a massive multi-genre, multi-day, multi-stage extravaganza.
News
Muse take No. 1 in Triple J Hottest 100
In a minor coup, Muse claimed top spot in the Triple J Hottest 100 over the weekend - seizing the mantle from what’s typically an Australian act. The kings of pomp romped it in with Knights Of Cydonia, closely followed by silverchair at No. 2.
Muse support act confirmed
Organisers have finally confirmed the support act for the opening gig of Muse's impending Australian tour. Click to find out who scored the slot.
More Muse tix released for Sydney and Melbourne
Today Muse made two announcements that will get local punters leaping to their feet - firstly, new Zealand rockers The Checks have been announced as the support act for all shows. Secondly - a new release of tix will be available for Sydney and Melb
Muse bring the noise back to Australia
Following their killer performances at the Big Day Out earlier this year, Muse will be back in the country in November.
International News
V Festival UK rains and shines
While one of V Festival’s dual sites wallowed in mud and torrential rain over the weekend, the other enjoyed uninterrupted sunshine. Both, however, got to enjoy sets from Muse, The Verve, Kings Of Leon, Kaiser Chiefs and many more festival greats.
Muse march back to the studio
Having conquered Wembley, what else is there for Muse to do but begin work on a fifth album?
Bellamy takes a trip
For Muse singer Matt Bellamy, a once-a-year indulgence in hallucinogens “opens new doorways”. Side-effects may include falling into a Supermassive Black Hole.
Look who’s stalking Matt
Muse pocket rocket Matt Bellamy has plenty of admirers – but one in particular has got a little close for comfort. The singer admits to being “freaked out” by a male stalker/poet who pays visits to his house in Lake Como, Italy.
Full UK V Festival line-up revealed
With our own edition of the V Festival just around the corner, the line-up for its English parent has just been finalised. How does it measure up?
Releases
Various - Triple J Hottest 100 DVD Volume 15
When you watch the Triple J Hottest 100 DVD Volume 15, it is immediately apparent where the inspiration for the new J Award category of Best Australian Video derived.
Muse - H.A.A.R.P. DVD (preview screening)
If there’s any comparison to be made between H.A.A.R.P. and Muse’s previous live DVD effort, Absolution, it’s that this time around they’re definitely having more fun.
Various- Triple J Hottest 100 Vol. 15
Triple J Hottest 100 Vol. 15 contains almost half - 43 to be exact - of that poll's honour roll. As a result, it's a truly eclectic hodgepodge of musical highlights from 2007.
