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OK, these get filed under ‘Comedy’ once again…  I hereby name the interview below (drumroll please!): “Private Jets For Climate Change“.  Listen to Matt Bellamy from Muse talk about Rage Against The Machine, Tom Morello, Las Vegas, Muse the Musical, a weird incident with Elton John, and how to impersonate The Edge from U2. 

1. Muse – Myf Jay and The Doctor – Matt Bellamy Triple J Interview 2007

The next item on the menu is the interview I call: “What was that?  It wasn’t me“  Matt is laughing like a man posessed and is barely able to talk to the interviewer about aliens, American space weapons, Exo-Politics, and the Canadian ex-Defense Minister who we all should listen to…

2. Muse – Matt Bellamy and Dom Howard Interview With XFM 2006

This one took place in April of 2008 and is the most serious interview in this lot.  Matt and Dom talk about playing Dubai, Marlay Park, Indonesia and other places.  The interviewer talks to Dom about drums being almost the most overlooked instrument in the band.  Dom, in turn, jokes about his ego.  A lightning that struck the stage is mentioned at one point.  I jokingly call this one: “Do you wanna play Dubai?  Someone must have said yes.“

3. Muse - Phantom 105.2 Interview With Matt Bellamy and Dom Howard 2008

The next interview is short and sweet.  I’ve named it: “I am a little bit turned on, to be honest“.  This took place immediately after the Q Awards in 2007, where Muse have won the award for ’Best Live Band’ yet again.

4. Muse – Matt Bellamy and Dom Howard Interview at the Q Awards in 2007

The following interview was done after Wembley in 2007.  Put your ears together for: “I can’t do this anymore“.  Matt Bellamy and Dom Howard talk to Topshelf Radio in Australia about the project HAARP in Alaska, conspiracy theories (Dom admits to being almost as much into them as Matt), and ’shitting themselves’ before Wembley.  Apparently the boys were stuck half way up in the hydralic lift that took them on stage during their first night at Wembley; Matt proceeds to call them (insert a couple of expletives here).

5. Muse – Matt Bellamy and Dom Howard Topshelf Radio Interview 2007

And the last bit of entertainment for this lovely evening is entitled: “It was bigger than I expected“.  Matt and Dom talk to Virgin Radio about playing RAH for the Teenage Cancer Trust in 2008.

6. Muse – Matt Bellamy and Dom Howard Virgin Radio Interview 2008

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The scans from: grosvenormum — thank you!

Matthew Bellamy

Guitarist of the Decade

We count down 10 reasons why Muse’s frontman has shaped the last decade of guitar, from his blistering solos and heavy riffs, through to his electric stage presence and that superguitar. 

10.  He’s made classical cool again. 

Present Zakk Wylde with a chamber orchestra and he’d probably eat the conductor for breakfast and pick his teeth with the baton.  Matt Bellamy has a different attitude, instead hijacking the fusty world of powdered wigs and harpsichords and fusing its coolest ideas into his mould-breaking guitar solos and riffs.  As you bang your sweaty head to Plug in Baby’s monster intro, you are actually listening to a bastardization of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.  Bach’n’roll, baby… 

9.  His stage presence is off the wall. 

Respect to the Muse set designer, but all the satellite dishes and acrobats in the world can’t compare to the spectacle of a small man from Devon losing himself in the music.  Bellamy doesn’t ‘do’ banter, shout-outs or feet on monitors.  Instead, he deals in unhinged virtuosity, stroking and strangling his Manson through the hits, jolt dancing like an electric eel, using nervous energy to power the greatest show on Earth (or any other planet). 

8.  He saved us from nu-metal 

Sludge-tuned chugging topped with meathead rap was the sound of the new millennium, until Matt Bellamy arrived with Showbiz, fired stinger missile solos into the lumpen rock scene and reminded a generation that life doesn’t have to stop at the seventh fret.  Without rubble rousing early guitar parts like Sunburn and Muscle Museum, this magazine would be full of potato-headed dullards mumbling about “playing for the song”.  Nobody wants that. 

7.  He has a ‘superguitar’. 

Actually, Matt has a bunch of superguitars; all built by UK luthier Hugh Manson and featuring more onboard technology than it took to put the first man on the moon.  Matt’s guitars, including his famous ‘retired’ Delorean or Silver Manson, feature various combinations of Fernandes Sustainer pickups, Z.Vex Fuzz Factory stompbox circuitry and X-Y controlled KAOSS pads to allow him to manipulate his effects with his fingertips.  Genius. 

6.  He made the most flamboyant debut album ever. 

Muse released their first album Showbiz in 1999, the year of Britney Spear’s debut single Baby One More Time and not a whole lot else.  Guitar music was flatlining, so the sight and sound of Matt Bellamy tearing at his guitar strings was exhilarating.  Despite accusations from some quarters that Muse were little more than Radiohead rip-off, Matt’s heroic performance on songs like Muscle Museum proved that something special has arrived. 

5.  He bends all the rules. 

On paper at least, a combination of progressive rock, classical music, electronica and pop shouldn’t really work… a bit like Genesis jamming to those horrible Hooked On Classics albums from the 80’s.  Matt makes it work.  Not many musicians can switch from a beautiful Danny Elfman style piano piece to a heavy as hell riff like he can.  Listen to New Born (Origin of Symmetry, released in 2001) for evidence of the man’s genius. 

4.  His solos are works of art. 

Matt’s solos are as beautifully constructed as his Manson guitars.  A masterclass in expressive guitar technique his solos usually feature tremolo-picked passages, string scrapes, whammy bar clips and inventive use of effects.  Matt has a fantastic vibrato and always manages to make his solos sound spontaneous, even if they are carefully constructed.  Look up Knights of Cydonia: Live at Wembley Stadium 2007 to witness Matt’s killer lead guitar. 

3.  He has unrivalled creativity. 

Matt Bellamy has some really serious chops.  In addition to his incredibly unique guitar style, the guy kills on piano and has a three octave vocal range as demonstrated by his incredible falsetto singing on Plug in Baby and other gargantuan Muse ditties.  As if all that virtuosity wasn’t enough, Matt is also the primary songwriter for Muse, composing classics such as Supermassive Black Hole, Stockholm Syndrome and Knights of Cydonia.  Yeah, we’re jealous too. 

2.  He wrote the biggest riff of the decade. 

If the sheer number of ‘attempts’ at music shows and in music shops is anything to go by, the Plug in Baby riff is this generation’s Sweet Child O’Mine or Stairway to Heaven.  Like its illustrious forbears, Plug in Baby grabbed guitarists by the balls by virtue of its sheer inventiveness.  The sick fuzz tone didn’t hurt much either.  It’s one of those riffs that sounds fresh and unique, and it makes everyone wish they could play guitar. 

1.  He is the Hendrix of our generation. 

Comparing anyone to Jimi Hendrix can get you in some serious trouble, but we can recon you’re on pretty safe ground with Matt Bellamy.  Matt uses effects and feedback like a musical instrument, punctuating solos with weird pops and squeaks.  Just like Jimi.  In Matt’s hands the guitar is more than just a tool, it’s an extension of his body and his voice.  Just like Jimi.  He’s also that extremely rare combination of a guitar virtuoso who can write great songs that will stand the test of time. 

Again, just like Jimi.

For those of you who were curious about the Bach comparison, here is the piece that’s been mentioned:

Bach – Toccata and Fugue in D minor

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Now, there is nothing rare about most of these – they’ve been aroung for ages.  It’s just that I know how many Muse-newbies visit (or accidentally stumble upon) this site and I want them to be aware that there is a lot more to Muse than the five studio albums or ‘Supermassive Black Hole’… I can but try!

Don’t forget about Muse Instrumentals.  Listening to one of these is almost like discovering a brand new piece of music; it’s like listening to Muse from a whole different dimension and with a fresh perspective on sound. 

— Erato1

1. Muse – Apocalypse Please Instrumental

2. Muse – Time Is Running Out Instrumental

3. Muse – Sing For Absolution Instrumental

4. Muse – Stockholm Syndrome Instrumental

5. Muse – Falling Away With You

6. Muse – Hysteria Instrumental

7. Muse – Blackout Instrumental

8. Muse – Blackout Orchestral HAARP Version

9. Muse – Butterflies and Hurricanes Instrumental

10. Muse  – The Small Print Instrumental

11. Muse – Endlessly Instrumental

12. Muse – Thoughts of a Dying Atheist Instrumental

13.  Muse – Ruled By Secrecy Instrumental

Bonus:

Muse – Matthew Bellamy – ‘The International’ End Credits 2009 

Muse – Supermassive Black Hole Acapella Version

Muse – Butterflies & Hurricanes Acapella Version

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Here it is boys and girls, a very Christmas-ey performance of ‘Uprising’ on BBC1 today:

Enjoy!!

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Merry Christmas!

This is for those of you who enjoy Muse Instrumentals and can’t help singing along to them.  We all do that, don’t we?  

I also hope that everyone has a lovely time with friends and family during this Christmas Season!  Holiday cheers and best wishes for a fabulous 2010 to all of you, my online friends!

— Erato1

1. Muse – Showbiz Instrumental

2. Muse – Falling Down Instrumental

3. Muse – Feeling Good Instrumental

4. Muse – Space Dementia Instrumental

5. Muse – Plug in Baby Instrumental

 6. Muse – Cave Instrumental

7. Muse – New Born Instrumental

8. Muse – Hyper Music Instrumental

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There has been so much talk in the press about RATM lately — my second favourite band, that I’ve decided to post their first album for your listening pleasure!  The album came out in 1992 and is titled ‘Rage Against The Machine’.  I know that a lot of people are probably discovering Rage for the very first time; and it’s no wonder, since some of those people may not have even been alive in 1992! Wow!  That certainly makes me feel old!

Anyway, have a listen and don’t hesitate to tell me if you happen to hate it.  Not every bit of music is for everyone!

— Erato1

from www.nme.com

Rage Against The Machine: ‘We want Simon Cowell to host our Christmas Number One victory gig’

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Merry Christmas Musers!

Christmas is just a couple of days away, and even though I am not much for religious celebrations, I didn’t want to leave it without wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

In honor of the upcoming holidays I have dug up a Christmas interview with Matt convenienty titled “He Can’t Wait To Wear His Santa Outfit”.  The interview was published in Kerrang! Magazine in December of 2006.  It’s short and kind of sweet.

– Erato1

He can’t wait to wear his Santa outfit

(December 2006 Kerrang! Article)

We’ve nearly got through another year without WWIII breaking out. That’s got to be a result…

(Laughs) Well, I think there are a few ways you can look at all that. It has felt like it’s been very close, like we’ve been on the edge for a while and a lot of people think it just takes one or two chess moves by the big boys to make it happen. In other words, we’re now only one major move – the castle only has to move five spaces down – and you’ve got yourself a checkmate, or a check at least. That’s probably closer than we’ve been for at least 30 years, but obviously you’d hope that people see sense and back off a bit, calm down, relax, chill out, you know? I think in the long run we’ll probably be all right. 

What did 2006 mean to you as a band?

2006 was the first year we headlined Reading, which was a big deal to us – we’d always had that on the horizon as something we wanted to achieve. I remember watching Rage Against The Machine play there in the mid 90’s and thinking how great it would be to headline and be up there ourselves. So we spent quite a while preparing for that. 

Were Reading and Leeds the best gigs you played?

It depends on what kind of gig you like. They were definitely the most overwhelming experiences overall but then both nights at Manchester on the arena tour were really good – the Manchester crowd’s always brilliant.  And Madrid in Spain was a pretty special one as well. 

Is Black Holes and Revelations your best album yet?

Well that was the one where we decided to expand upon what we’d been doing before – we tried to change ourselves a little bit and tried to find the range of the band.  We were just trying to explore where we could go with certain ideas.  We were trying certain styles of music that we weren’t really sure we could pull off before and we’ve opened up a few new things on this album.  If I was only going to show one album to someone I’d show them this one because it shows the diversity of the band. 

What was the biggest revelation you had this year?

I can’t believe that we were ever afraid to have a fourth person play with us.  Over the first three albums we were afraid of that, but on some nights of the week now we’re actually playing as a five piece because we’ve had Morgan (Nicholls, keyboards and samples) onstage and we’ve also had a trumpet player come on for certain songs. I don’t know if that’s a revelation as such but it’s given me the freedom to think outside the format of a three piece in terms of writing songs. 

Were you disappointed when the album ended up leaked all over the internet?

We almost expected that.  It’s kind of the norm these days – it’s pretty much inevitable for any band that has a strong internet presence in terms of fans message boards and all that kind of stuff.  There are so many people involved in getting a record out there and it falls into so many hands before it’s released that it’s bound to happen. 

So where do you stand on the old file-sharing debate?

Some other bands out there have tried to take draconian measures to stop it but I think the physical format of an album is seriously under threat anyway.  Technology is naturally changing the music industry and I think it will naturally change the way music gets from the person who writes and records it to the fans.  I think that the whole process will change radically to the point where the whole concept of an album will be regarded as just a 20th century thing. 

Justin Timberlake came out as a Muse fan at the MTV Europe Awards. Is that mutual?

(Laughs) I’ll just say I’m not familiar with any of his music at all. I believe it’s sort of R&B and I know he was in a boyband once but I’ve never heard their music either.  I’ve probably heard him in a supermarket once but it’s a different kind of world to the one I live in to be honest. 

Do award ceremonies mean that much to you?

I think obviously most of them are promotional edifices both for the people who sponsor them and the people who go to them. But aside from that there’s no harm in a bunch of musicians getting together and getting drunk and having a laugh. 

What about chart positions? It must still mean something having a number one album…

It’s nice I suppose but even that’s less important than it was 20 years ago.  What’s important to us is not making money, it’s having an impact on people with our music and that impact’s happening without necessarily being Number One everywhere. 

Who’s the most famous person you met this year?

I rubbed shoulders with Cameron Diaz while she was hanging around with her Timberlake boyfriend.  She’s probably up there, isn’t she? 

Who did you most want to kick up the arse?

He’s probably a lot bigger than me and I’m pretty sure he’s got security guards who are way bigger than me but Kanye West was a bit over the top at that same awards ceremony.  He started winging about how he’d spent a million dollars on his video and how he should have won the award instead of whoever it was who won it.  That was all a bit embarrassing for everyone. 

What will you be doing for Christmas?

I don’t know yet. I’ve got some family in Leeds and some in Northern Ireland so I might do the rounds and hang about. I might do a proper Father Christmas, just seeing the family, drop off a few presents and then move on.

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Capping off a successful 2009, Muse appeared as the musical guest on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in an episode hosted by actor James Franco. The UK rockers performed ‘Uprising,’ the lead single off their latest album ‘The Resistance,’ as well as ‘Starlight,’ their hit single from 2006’s ‘Black Holes and Revelations.’

Although the band knew that playing ‘SNL’ was a great opportunity, drummer Dominic Howard confessed to Spinner that they’re not exactly familiar with the show. “To be honest, none of us have ever really seen it before,” he said before the taping. “I know it’s this huge, big American institution and everyone watches it, so I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s all about. I’ve seen a few like classic band performances on it, like Nirvana in ‘92. I’m excited to be doing it.”

The gig marked only the band’s second appearance on American television, following their performance of ‘Uprising’ at the MTV VMAs. Rather than play at Radio City, the trio recorded their gig at the nearby, Kanye-free Walter Kerr Theatre. “That particular thing was a really cool experience because we were in our own theater and effectively did our own gig,” Howard said. “Even though it’s only song that went out on the air for MTV, we actually played for about an hour and filled the whole place up with like 900 fans. It was a really fun experience.”

Fresh off a tour opening for U2, Muse next heads to Asia and Australia before returning to North America for a headlining tour in late February. In the meantime, check out clips of their ‘SNL’ performances below.

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A huge THANK YOU goes to Valerie M. who wanted to share some of her Muse pictures (as seen above) with the rest of the community!  Valerie had an opportunity to see Muse twice during The Resistance European Tour; the first time was at Bercy in Paris France on November 17th 2009, and the second, – at Zenith in Limoges France on the 1st of December 2009.

The pictures have turned out amazingly well!  I think, when the time comes for me to go to my gigs, I’ll be following her advice on what camera to buy.  Click on the links below to see the rest of the pictures:

Muse – Paris Bercy (11/17/2009)

Muse – Zenith Limoges (12/01/2009)

Don’t forget to comment and leave her loads of great feedback!

Thank you, Valerie!

— Erato1

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As the Brits already know, there has been a massive Facebook campaign to get RATM’s single “Killing in the Name” to No.1 for X-Mas in the U.K.  The charts at this time of the year are usually dominated by Simon Cowell’s latest pop-singing sensation that he’s personally hand-picked from the X-Factor.  This needed to change.  The campaign founders have explained that it is not directed against Mr. Cowell personally, but rather against the ‘establishment’ itself.  And what a better way to resist than with an awesome single from one of the most important political protest bands?

Knowing Muse, this is exactly something they would want to be a part of; I am just surprised that it took them so long to voice their support. 

This is what Dom Howard posted on his MySpace Blog:

“I actually can’t believe it! Rage Against the Machine for Xmas number 1 is the best and funniest thing I’ve heard all week! They’re currently holding fort on top of X Factor Joe right now so let’s make this happen! I’ve bought my copy. Best 29p from Amazon I’ve ever spent!

This isn’t some contrived stunt from RATM or their label. Its just real music fans making a point about how typically boring and obvious this particular number 1 can be. Of all the bands to be chosen by rock fans to challenge this, it couldn’t be more apt for one of the most ‘power to the people’ orientated bands there has been in the last 20 years. Genius!! Love it and love Rage. This song is almost 20 years old and it still sounds amazing!

Can’t wait to see the Xmas day Top of the Pops now (which we’re on by the way, ha!), and how it will be dealt with or what will be shown.

Hopefully Simon Cowell won’t rush out and buy an extra 50,000 Joe McElderry singles to keep them off!

Merry Xmas!!

Dom x”

I personally can’t wait to see how it will be dealt with on Top of the Pops as well.    I’ve never even thought of that aspect of it until Dom mentioned it.  Those of you who haven’t heard the song, please give it a listen below. 

Do you think the line “Fuck you, I won’t do what ya tell me” will go down well with the British TV audience?

— Erato1 

1. RATM – Killing in the Name

Buy “Killing in the Name” NOW!!

Rage Against The Machine for Christmas No.1 Facebook Group