Personalities | Muse | Twenty-First Century | Rock

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1994–present)

Matthew Bellamy (vocals, guitar), Chris Wolstenholme (bass) and Dominic Howard (drums) provide such an enlivening take on the classic power trio formation in rock that it is sometimes easy to forget they are just a trio. Even their earliest singles (‘Cave’ and ‘Muscle Museum’, both 1999) were delivered with ferocity and an understanding of what makes a heavy guitar riff exciting – and radio-friendly.

Formed in Cornwall, but building their sound through American influences such as Soundgarden and Nirvana rather than the British ones bands of the time jumped on, Muse were very much outsiders from the start. Albums Showbiz (1999) and Origin Of Symmetry (2001) saw them stretch rock’s confines further, and 2006’s UK chart-topping Black Holes And Revelations was outrageous, bombastic in its scope and blatant in its nods to rock’s past. The self-produced fifth studio album The Resistance was released in September 2009 and topped the charts in 19 countries, reaching No. 3 in the US. Critics praised its ambition, classical-music influences and the 13-minute, three-part ‘Exogenesis: Symphony’.

Styles & Forms | Twenty-First Century | Rock
Personalities | My Chemical Romance | Twenty-First Century | Rock

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley

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