Muse
Biography
Muse are an English rock band formed in Teignmouth, Devon, in 1994. The band consists of Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Dominic Howard (drums). Initially, the members played in different bands at Teignmouth Community College before Bellamy successfully auditioned for Howard's band, Carnage Mayhem. After Chris Wolstenholme agreed to learn bass, they formed a new group. The band went through several name changes, including Gothic Plague and Rocket Baby Dolls, before settling on Muse in 1997.
Musical Style and Evolution
Muse is known for their genre-bending sound, which incorporates elements of alternative rock, progressive rock, space rock, hard rock, classical music, and electronic music. Their early work, such as their debut album Showbiz (1999), featured a more melancholic and aggressive alternative rock style, with Bellamy's distinctive falsetto vocals being a prominent feature. Their second album, Origin of Symmetry (2001), saw the band experimenting with a wider range of instruments and incorporating more classical influences, which helped them gain a reputation for energetic and theatrical live performances. Subsequent albums continued this trend, with Absolution (2003) featuring string arrangements on tracks like "Butterflies and Hurricanes," and Black Holes and Revelations (2006) incorporating more electronic and pop elements, as heard in the single "Supermassive Black Hole". Later albums, such as The Resistance (2009) and The 2nd Law (2012), explored themes of government oppression and civil uprising. Drones (2015) was a concept album about drone warfare with a harder rock sound, while Simulation Theory (2018) was heavily influenced by synthesizers and science fiction. Their most recent album, Will of the People (2022), combines various genres and themes from their previous work.
Studio Albums
- Showbiz (1999)
- Origin of Symmetry (2001)
- Absolution (2003)
- Black Holes and Revelations (2006)
- The Resistance (2009)
- The 2nd Law (2012)
- Drones (2015)
- Simulation Theory (2018)
- Will of the People (2022)
Success and Awards
Muse have achieved worldwide success, selling over 30 million albums globally as of October 2022. The band has won numerous awards throughout their career, including two Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and eight NME Awards. Their album The Resistance won the Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2011. Their seventh album, Drones, also won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. The band is widely recognized for their spectacular live performances and have won multiple awards for Best Live Act.