Muse: “Metal Has Always Been Around For Us”
Muse have spoken about the influence of heavy metal on their sound in a new interview with Classic Rock.
Buy Muse CDs and merch here
“When we were growing up we were listening to bands like Iron Maiden,” singer Matt Bellamy explained. “And though we connected more through Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine and the Smashing Pumpkins, we always had this love for eighties metal. Metallica were also a big one for us, but Iron Maiden were the British band and also felt a bit more punk rock in ways.
“The song Phantom Of The Opera [from Iron Maiden’s self-titled debut album] doesn’t feel as bloated or overtly classical as other metal songs. There’s still something quite angry and scary about it. That’s why Maiden are a band we’ve always looked up to.”
Bellamy went on to discuss Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, “Yngwie was one of those people I got into in the early nineties when I first started playing. Clearly back then, I thought there was a chance! After a while I realised I simply couldn’t get to where he was, and sort of veered off towards more classical and flamenco guitar styles.
“Then I started listening to players like Hendrix and Cobain and felt: ‘You know what? I can do chaos. I can’t do this unbelievable technical precision, but what I can do is create a mess.’ So I went down the road of noise, chaos and carnage…. and little elements of the other things stayed with me.”
Muse Will Of The People European tour dates 2023:
MAY 2023
27 – Plymouth, Home Park
JUNE
3 – Stadion Open Air, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
2 – The Hague, Netherlands, Malieveld
9 – Cologne, Germany, RheinEnergieStadion
15 – Lyon, France, Groupama Stadium
20 – Huddersfield, John Smith’s Stadium
23 – Glasgow, Bellahouston Park
25 – Milton Keynes, The National Bowl
29 – Bordeaux, France Matmut Atlantique
JULY
8 – Paris, France, Stade de France
12 – Bern, Switzerland, Bernexpo Areal Openair
15 – Marseille, France, Orange Vélodrome
18 – Rome, Italy, Stadio Olympico
22 – Milan, Italy, Stadio San Siro