muse

Muse is a multi award-winning English alternative rock band that formed in Teignmouth, Devon in 1994. Since its inception, the band has comprised vocalist, guitarist and pianist Matthew Bellamy; bassist and backing vocalist Christopher Wolstenholme; and drummer Dominic Howard. Muse are known for their energetic and extravagant live performances [1][2][3][4] and their fusion of many music genres, including progressive rock, classical music and electronica.[5] Muse have released five studio albums – Showbiz (1999); Origin of Symmetry (2001); Absolution (2003); Black Holes and Revelations (2006), which earned the band a Mercury Prize nomination and a third place finish in the NME Albums of the Year list for 2006;[6] and The Resistance (2009). Muse have won many other music awards throughout their career, including five MTV Europe Music Awards, five Q Awards, six NME Awards, two BRIT awards and four Kerrang! Awards. The majority of these awards have been attributed to their live performances. Muse have been involved with Teenage Cancer Trust and have performed at the Royal Albert Hall where they donated all money made from the merchandise stands to the charity. On the 25th of September 2008 all three members of the band were awarded Honorary Doctorates of the Arts by Plymouth University.Many Muse songs are recognizable by lead vocalist Matthew Bellamy's falsetto and use of vibrato. As a guitarist, Bellamy often utilizes arpeggio and pitch-shift effects to create a more "electric" sound, citing Jimi Hendrix and Tom Morello as influences for this method.[12] Black Holes & Revelations was influenced by various styles of European and Asian music, which together makes 'Eurasian' music. "I've been listening to quite a lot of music from the south of Italy on this album", Bellamy admits. "I've been living in Italy for a while, and I discovered this music from Naples, which sounds like a mix of music from Africa, Croatia, Turkey, and Italy. It kind of gives it a mystical sound, so I think that's one thing that influenced the album. I like being influenced by things that have a mixed style. Official members Matthew Bellamy – lead vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, programming Christopher Wolstenholme – bass, backing vocals, double bass, synthesizers Dominic Howard – drums, percussion, synthesizers, programming Muse Album Showbiz (1999) Origin of Symmetry (2001) Absolution (2003) Black Holes and Revelations (2006) The Resistance (2009)