The 25 most influential people in rock (20060304 Kerrang article)
The 25 most influential people in rock
Given that their last album, 2003's 'Absolution' was a record that began with the end of the world and still managed to construct a dizzying selection of breathtaking rock arias from the remaining 47 minutes of rubble, it seems that no concept could now be too grandiose, too out of reach for Muse. And if few bands have taken the notions of grand gesture and ambition to such death defying heights as the Teignmouth trio, few musicians have embodied it quite so spectacularly as their enigmatic frontman Matt Bellamy. An explosive nerve centre of light-speed imagination, his ability to demand the impossible from his guitar, piano, and voice (often at the same time) has provided their output with a dazzling charge of technical virtuosity and emotional release, and their live shows with an amp-wired performance energy.
Bellamy's ear for pit-stomping radio hits ('Plug In Baby','Time Is Running Out') has seen rock fans the world over discovering a newfound love for falsetto vocals, classical piano fills and arpeggios. Unsurprisingly, in a climate where viable UK rock exports are thin on the ground, such musical flamboyance has suffered charges of pretentiousness and arrogance. Look behind the pomp and ceremony of the music and you'll find that Bellamy is neither. But neither will you find any clues as to what really drives this self-taught virtuoso and former ouija board enthusiast on his singular mission to push Muse to the outer limits - except perhaps music itself. Because music, according to Matt Bellamy, "is the only language I'm fluent in."
Suddenly everyone else seems tongue-tied in comparison.
FINEST HOUR: Headlining the Pyramid stage in front of a crowd of 80,000 at the 2003 [It was in 2004, they made a mistake] Glastonbury festival.
DID YOU KNOW: Matt's first musical experience was playing along on guitar to the wailings of three witches in deepest darkest devon. Of course.
Back to Kerrang