View source for Muse (band)

{{short description|English rock band}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Muse
| background        = group_or_band
| image             = MuseHammsmith100522 (47 of 76) (52089636284).jpg
| alt               = Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme on stage while performing
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = Muse in 2022. From left to right: Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme.
| origin            = [[Teignmouth]], [[Devon]], England
| works             = {{flatlist|
* [[Muse discography|Discography]]
* [[List of songs recorded by Muse|songs]]
}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative rock]]
* [[progressive rock]]
* [[space rock]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[art rock]]
* [[electronic rock]]
}}<!-- Genres cited in the "Musical style" section -->
| years_active      = 1994–present
| label             = {{flatlist|
* Helium 3
* [[Warner Records|Warner]]
* [[Taste Media|Taste]]
* [[Sawmills Studios|Dangerous]]
}}
| spinoffs          = [[The Jaded Hearts Club]]
| website           = {{URL|muse.mu}}
| current_members   = * [[Matt Bellamy]]
* [[Dominic Howard]]
* [[Chris Wolstenholme]]
| past_members      = 
}}

'''Muse''' are<!-- Bands that originate from the UK are treated plural, per British English criteria. Please do ''not'' change "ARE" to "IS". --> an English [[Rock music|rock]] band from [[Teignmouth]], [[Devon]], formed in 1994. The band consists of [[Matt Bellamy]] (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), [[Chris Wolstenholme]] (bass guitar, backing vocals), and [[Dominic Howard]] (drums, percussion).

Muse released their debut album, ''[[Showbiz (Muse album)|Showbiz]]'', in 1999, showcasing Bellamy's [[falsetto]] and a melancholic [[alternative rock]] style. Their second album, ''[[Origin of Symmetry]]'' (2001), incorporated wider instrumentation and [[Romantic music|romantic classical]] influences and earned them a reputation for energetic live performances.<ref name="iTunes">{{Cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/muse/1093360 |title=Muse biography |website=[[iTunes]] |access-date=21 July 2018}}</ref> ''[[Absolution (album)|Absolution]]'' (2003) saw further classical influence, with strings on tracks such as "[[Butterflies and Hurricanes]]", and was the first of seven consecutive [[Lists of UK Albums Chart number ones|UK number-one albums]].

''[[Black Holes and Revelations]]'' (2006) incorporated [[Electronic music|electronic]] and [[Pop music|pop]] elements, displayed in singles such as "[[Supermassive Black Hole (song)|Supermassive Black Hole]]",<ref name="iTunes" /> and brought Muse wider international success. ''[[The Resistance (album)|The Resistance]]'' (2009) and ''[[The 2nd Law]]'' (2012) explored themes of government oppression and civil uprising and cemented Muse as one of the world's major stadium acts. Topping the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], their seventh album, ''[[Drones (Muse album)|Drones]]'' (2015), was a [[concept album]] about [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|drone warfare]] and returned to a harder rock sound. Their eighth album, ''[[Simulation Theory (album)|Simulation Theory]]'' (2018), prominently featured [[synthesiser]]s and was influenced by [[science fiction]] and the [[simulation hypothesis]]. Their ninth album, ''[[Will of the People (album)|Will of the People]]'' (2022), which combined many genres and themes from their previous albums, was released in August 2022.

Muse have won [[List of awards and nominations received by Muse|numerous awards]], including two [[Grammy Award]]s, two [[Brit Awards]], five [[MTV Europe Music Awards]] and eight [[NME Awards]]. In 2012, they received the [[Ivor Novello Award]] for International Achievement from the [[British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors]]. {{As of|2022|10}}, they had sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.targetcenter.com/news/detail/muse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126171106/https://www.targetcenter.com/news/detail/muse |archive-date=26 November 2022 |url-status=live |title=JUST ANNOUNCED: MUSE |date=3 October 2022 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==History==

=== 1994–1997: Early years ===
The members of Muse played in separate school bands during their time at [[Teignmouth Community College]] in the early 1990s. Guitarist [[Matt Bellamy]] successfully auditioned for drummer [[Dominic Howard]]'s band, Carnage Mayhem, becoming its singer and songwriter. They renamed the band Gothic Plague. They asked [[Chris Wolstenholme]] – at that time the drummer for Fixed Penalty – to join as bassist; he agreed and took up bass lessons.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |last=Buckley |first=Peter |date=17 November 2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=1843531054 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/roughguidetorock0003unse }}</ref><ref>''International who's who in popular music, Volume 4'' p.37. Routledge, 2002</ref> The band was renamed Rocket Baby Dolls and adopted a [[Gothic rock|goth]]-[[Glam rock|glam]] image. Around this time, they received a £150 grant from [[the Prince's Trust]] for equipment.<ref>Jools Holland interview, 10 October 2018</ref>

In 1994, Rocket Baby Dolls won a local [[battle of the bands]], smashing their equipment in the process.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.feelnumb.com/2016/01/22/rocket-baby-dolls-muse-original-band-name-battle-of-the-bands/ |title=Watch "Rocket Baby Dolls" Later Known As Muse Win Battle of the Bands 1994 |website=feelnumb |date=22 January 2016 |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129231729/http://www.feelnumb.com/2016/01/22/rocket-baby-dolls-muse-original-band-name-battle-of-the-bands/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bellamy said, "It was supposed to be a protest, a statement, so, when we actually won, it was a real shock, a massive shock. After that, we started taking ourselves seriously." The band quit their jobs, changed their name to Muse, and moved away from Teignmouth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tastemedia.com/muse/musebiog.html |title=Muse Biography |website=Artists |publisher=Taste Music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021208040122/http://www.tastemedia.com/muse/musebiog.html |archive-date=8 December 2002}}</ref> The band liked that the new name was short and thought that it looked good on a poster.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8176141/Muse-profile-of-the-band.html |title=Muse: Profile of the Band |website=The Telegraph |date=2 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185130/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8176141/Muse-profile-of-the-band.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> According to journalist Mark Beaumont, the band wanted the name to reflect "the sense Matt had that he had somehow 'summoned up' this band, the way mediums could summon up inspirational spirits at times of emotional need".<ref>Mark Beaumont (2010). "Out of This World: The Story of Muse". Omnibus Press, 2010</ref>

=== 1998–2002: ''Showbiz'' and ''Origin of Symmetry''===
{{Main|Showbiz (Muse album)|Origin of Symmetry|Hullabaloo Soundtrack}}
[[File:Muse logo.svg|thumb|right|200px|The Muse logo, incorporated chiefly since the release of [[Muse (EP)|''Muse'' EP]] in 1998]]
After a few years building a fanbase, Muse played their first gigs in London and [[Manchester]] supporting [[Skunk Anansie]] on tour. They had a significant meeting with Dennis Smith, the owner of [[Sawmills Studio]], situated in a converted water mill in [[Cornwall]]. He had seen the three boys grow up as he knew their parents, and had a production company with their future manager [[Safta Jaffery]], with whom he had recently started the record label [[Taste Media]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Safta_Jaffery_Interview.html |title=Interview with Safta Jaffery, manager for Muse |publisher=HitQuarters |access-date=3 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420051919/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_Safta_Jaffery_Interview.html |archive-date=20 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The meeting led to their first serious recordings and the release of the [[Muse (EP)|''Muse'' EP]] on 11 May 1998 on Sawmills' in-house [[Dangerous Records|Dangerous]] label, produced by Paul Reeve.<ref>Ben Myers (2007). "Muse: Inside the Muscle Museum". p. 58. Random House,</ref> Their second EP, the ''[[Muscle Museum EP]]'', also produced by Reeve, was released on 11 January 1999. It reached number 3 in the indie singles chart and attracted the attention of the radio broadcaster [[Steve Lamacq]] and the magazine ''NME''.<ref>{{citation |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist) |date=8 October 2008 |title=Out of This World: The Story of Muse |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |page=57 |location=London, England |isbn=978-1847723772 }}</ref>

Later in 1999, Muse performed on the Emerging Artist's stage at [[Woodstock '99]] and signed with Smith and Jaffery. Despite the success of their second EP, British record companies were reluctant to sign Muse. After a trip to New York's CMJ Festival, Nanci Walker, then Sr. Director of A&R at Columbia Records, flew Muse to the US to showcase for Columbia Records' then-Senior Vice-president of A&R, [[Tim Devine]], as well as for American Recording's Rick Rubin. During this trip, on 24 December 1998, Muse signed a deal with American record label Maverick Records.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ticketmaster.ie/artist/944747 |title=Muse biography |website=Ticketmaster |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420013322/http://www.ticketmaster.ie/artist/944747 |archive-date=20 April 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=2 May 2008 }}</ref> Upon their return to England, Taste Media arranged deals for Muse with various record labels in Europe and Australia, allowing them control over their career in individual countries.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA96 |title=''Billboard'' 28 August 1999 |date=28 August 1999 |access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> [[John Leckie]] was brought in alongside Reeve to produce the band's first album, ''[[Showbiz (Muse album)|Showbiz]]'' (1999). The album showcased Muse's aggressive yet melancholic musical style, with lyrics about relationships and their difficulties trying to establish themselves in their hometown.<ref>''Showbiz''. Kerrang Review, 1999</ref>

[[File:Muse at Roskilde Festival 2000.jpg|thumb|left|Muse performing at [[Roskilde Festival]] in Denmark, July 2000]]
During the production of their second album, ''Origin of Symmetry'' (2001), Muse experimented with instrumentation such as a [[church organ]], [[Mellotron]], animal bones, and an expanded drum kit. There was more of Bellamy's falsetto, [[arpeggio|arpeggiated]] guitar, and piano playing. Bellamy cites guitar influences such as [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[Tom Morello]] (of [[Rage Against the Machine]]), the latter evident in the more [[riff]]-based songs in ''Origin of Symmetry'' and in Bellamy's use of guitar [[Pitch shift|pitch-shifting effects]]. The album features a cover of [[Anthony Newley]] and [[Leslie Bricusse]]'s "[[Feeling Good]]",<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/06242003-nme_article.php |title=NME article |work=NME |access-date=19 January 2008 |date=June 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202095535/http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/06242003-nme_article.php |archive-date=2 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> voted in various polls one of the greatest cover versions of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.totalguitar.co.uk/page/totalguitar?entry=tg_s_best_covers_ever |title=TG's Best Covers EVER! |date=23 June 2008 |magazine=[[Total Guitar]] |access-date=16 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/53090 |title=Muse beat The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash to win best cover song of all time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104211343/http://www.nme.com/news/muse/53090 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |website=NME |date=22 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29791820 |title=Pet Shop Boys' Always On My Mind tops cover version vote |date=27 October 2014 |work=BBC News |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> It was released as a [[double A-side]] single, "[[Hyper Music/Feeling Good]]".

''Origin of Symmetry'' received positive reviews. ''NME'' gave it 9/10 and wrote: "It's amazing for such a young band to load up with a heritage that includes the darker visions of [[Kurt Cobain|Cobain]] and [[Kafka]], [[Mahler]] and [[the Tiger Lillies]], [[David Cronenberg|Cronenberg]] and [[Arnold Schoenberg|Schoenberg]], and make a sexy, populist album."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/muse/5220 |title=Origin of Symmetry – Review |last=Morton |first=Roger |website=NME |date=12 September 2005 |access-date=4 May 2008}}</ref> Maverick, Muse's American label, did not consider Bellamy's vocals "radio-friendly" and asked Muse to rerecord "Plug in Baby" for the US release.<ref name="New Music Monthly-2003" /> Muse refused and left Maverick. ''Origin of Symmetry'' was not released in the US until September 2005, after Muse signed to Warner Bros.<ref name="Marchese-2009">{{Cite magazine |last=Marchese |first=David |date=September 2009 |title=Pomp and Circumstance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wIe3FI6TI0C&pg=PA53 |access-date=28 September 2014 |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref><ref name="New Music Monthly-2003">{{Cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KisEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA37 |title=Dark Matter |publisher=CMJ |magazine=New Music Monthly |year=2003 |issue=123/124 |access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref>

''Origin of Symmetry'' has made appearances on lists of the greatest rock albums of the 2000s, both poll-based and on publication lists. In 2006, it placed at number 74 on ''Q'' magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of All-Time,<ref name="Q Magazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.timepieces.nl/Top100's/2006Qreaders.html|title=Q Greatest Albums of All Time|access-date=12 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020204335/http://www.timepieces.nl/Top100's/2006Qreaders.html|archive-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> while in February 2008, the album placed at number 28 on a list of the Best British Albums of All Time determined by the magazine's readers. ''Kerrang!'' placed the album at number 20 in its 100 Best British Rock Albums Ever! List and at number 13 on its 50 Best Albums of the 21st Century list.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Muse Message Board Lists|magazine=Kerrang!|url=http://board.muse.mu/archive/index.php/t-63823.html|access-date=2012-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329012431/http://board.muse.mu/archive/index.php/t-63823.html|archive-date=29 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 10 November 2001 the band appeared on BBC's ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]'' and performed "[[Hyper Music/Feeling Good|Hyper Music]]" and "[[Feeling Good]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06mdl3j|title=BBC Two - Later... with Jools Holland, Muse - Feeling Good (Later Archive 2001)|date=28 September 2018|website=BBC}}</ref>

In 2002, Muse released the first live DVD, ''[[Hullabaloo Soundtrack#DVD|Hullabaloo]]'', featuring footage recorded during Muse's two gigs at [[Le Zenith]] in Paris in 2001, and a documentary film of the band on tour. A double album, ''Hullabaloo Soundtrack'', was released at the same time, containing a compilation of [[B-side]]s and a disc of recordings of songs from the Le Zenith performances. A double-A side single was also released featuring the new songs "[[In Your World]]" and "[[Dead Star/In Your World|Dead Star]]".

In 2002, Muse threatened [[Celine Dion]] with legal action when she planned to name her Las Vegas show "Muse", as Muse had worldwide performing rights to the name. Muse refused an offer from Dion of $50,000 for the rights, as they feared it could harm their chances of breaking into the US market. Bellamy said: "We don't want to turn up there with people thinking we're Celine Dion's backing band."<ref name="celine">{{cite news |date=18 October 2002 |title=Band muses on Dion name victory |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2339585.stm |access-date=19 January 2008}}</ref>

=== 2003–2008: ''Absolution'' and ''Black Holes and Revelations'' ===
{{Main|Absolution (Muse album)|Black Holes and Revelations|HAARP (album)}}
[[File:MuseToronto2004-1.JPG|thumb|upright|right|Wolstenholme performing at the [[Mod Club Theatre]], Toronto in 2004. The international ''Absolution'' tour included the band's first shows in North America since 1999.]]

Muse's third album, ''Absolution'', produced by [[Rich Costey]], Paul Reeve and John Cornfield was released on 15 September 2003. It debuted at number one in the UK<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57886/lily-allen-muse-soar-to-no-1-on-uk-charts |title=Lily Allen, Muse Soar To No.&nbsp;1 On U.K. Charts |date=10 July 2006 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> and produced Muse's first top-ten hit, "[[Time Is Running Out (Muse song)|Time Is Running Out]]", and three top-twenty hits: "[[Hysteria (Muse song)|Hysteria]]", "[[Sing for Absolution]]" and "[[Butterflies and Hurricanes]]". ''Absolution'' was eventually certified [[RIAA certification|gold]] in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=muse#search_section |title=Gold & Platinum Search Results |website=[[RIAA]] |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> Muse undertook a year-long international tour in support of the album, visiting Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and France. On the 2004 US leg of the tour, Bellamy injured himself onstage during the opening show in Atlanta;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3625153.stm |title=Muse singer hurt during US show |date=14 April 2004 |access-date=27 January 2008 |work=BBC News}}</ref> the tour resumed after Bellamy received stitches.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/3307124/We-take-a-juicer-on-tour.html |title=We take a juicer on tour |website=Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327173242/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/3307124/We-take-a-juicer-on-tour.html |archive-date=27 March 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref>

In June 2004, Muse headlined the [[Glastonbury Festival]], which they later described as "the best gig of our lives".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtv.tv/mtv.tv/dynamo/shells/other_music.jhtml?article=80134066 |title=Artist of the week |date=June 2004 |website=MTV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215062626/http://www.mtv.tv/mtv.tv/dynamo/shells/other_music.jhtml?article=80134066 |archive-date=15 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/28961 |title=Muse: Road To Wembley Part 4 – Glastonbury, triumph and tragedy |date=14 June 2007 |website=NME |location=UK |access-date=27 January 2008}}</ref> Howard's father, William Howard, who attended the festival to watch the band, died from a heart attack shortly after the performance. Bellamy said: "It was the biggest feeling of achievement we've ever had after coming offstage. It was almost surreal that an hour later his dad died. It was almost not believable. We spent about a week sort of just with Dom trying to support him. I think he was happy that at least his dad got to see him at probably what was the finest moment so far of the band's life."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.microcuts.net/uk/biography/ |title=muse: biography |publisher=microcuts.net |access-date=4 August 2007}}</ref>

Muse won two MTV Europe awards, including "Best Alternative Act", and a Q Award for "Best Live Act",<ref>''Billboard'', 4 December 2004'</ref><ref name="MSE" /> and received an award for "Best British Live Act" at the [[BRIT Awards#2005 awards|Brit Awards]].<ref name="MSE">''International Who's Who in Popular Music 2008'' p.561 Taylor and Francis, 2008</ref> On 2 July 2005, they participated in the [[Live 8]] concert in [[Live 8 concert, Paris|Paris]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.live8live.com/theconcerts/ |title=LIVE 8 Concerts – Live 8 |date=2 July 2005 |publisher=Live8live.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401073017/http://www.live8live.com/theconcerts/ |archive-date=1 April 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=3 September 2010 }}</ref> In 2003, the band successfully sued [[Nestlé]] for using their cover "Feeling Good" for a [[Nescafé]] advertisement without permission and donated the money won from the lawsuit to [[Oxfam]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gigwise.com/photos/76197/11/muse-call-35m-lawsuit-complete-nonsense |title=Muse call $3.5 million lawsuit complete nonsense |website=Gigwise |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129175426/http://www.gigwise.com/photos/76197/11/muse-call-35m-lawsuit-complete-nonsense |archive-date=29 January 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> An unofficial DVD biography, ''Manic Depression'', was released in April 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Manic-Depression-Muse/dp/B0007WQHJE |title=Manic depression |website=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] |date=19 April 2005 |access-date=2 April 2008}}</ref>

Muse released another live DVD on 12 December 2005, ''[[Absolution Tour]]'', containing edited and remastered highlights from their Glastonbury performance unseen footage from their performances at London [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court]], [[Wembley Arena]], and the [[Wiltern Theatre]] in Los Angeles.

{{see also|Black Holes and Revelations Tour}}
[[File:Muse playing Starlight at Leeds Festival 2006.jpg|thumb|left|225px|Muse playing "[[Starlight (Muse song)|Starlight]]" at [[Reading and Leeds Festivals]] on 28 August 2006]]

In 2006, Muse released their fourth album, ''Black Holes and Revelations'', co-produced once again with Rich Costey. The album's title and themes reflect the band's interest in science fiction.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.popworld.com/pages/muse_interview |title=Kate Moss? We briefly met once |website=Popworld |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224080238/http://www.popworld.com/pages/muse_interview |archive-date=24 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/muse-black-holes-revelations-2495683520.html |title=Muse: Black Holes & Revelations |last=Raper |first=Dan |date=18 July 2006 |website=Pop Matters |access-date=24 January 2008}}</ref> The album charted at number&nbsp;one in the UK, much of Europe, and Australia.<ref name="black holes charts">{{Cite web |url=https://acharts.co/album/14489 |title=Black Holes and Revelations by Muse |website=αCharts |access-date=27 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |date=2006 |title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]] |location=London |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |date=1993 |title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]] |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=St Ives, N.S.W.}}</ref> In the US, it reached number nine on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="black holes charts" />

Before the release of the new album, Muse made several promotional TV appearances starting on 13 May 2006 at [[BBC]] [[Radio 1's Big Weekend]]. The [[Black Holes and Revelations Tour]] started before the release of their album and initially consisted mostly of festival appearances, including a headline slot at the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals]] in August 2006.<ref name="2006 dates">{{Cite web |url=http://muse.mu/tour-dates/archive/2006/ |title=Tour Dates Archive: 2006 |website=Muse |access-date=28 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134130/http://muse.mu/tour-dates/archive/2006/ |archive-date=28 May 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The band's main touring itinerary started with a tour of North America from late July to early August 2006. After the last of the summer festivals, a tour of Europe began, including a large arena tour of the UK.<ref name="2006 dates" /> Muse recruited an additional touring member, [[Morgan Nicholls]], on keyboards, percussion and guitar. He performed with them until 2022.<ref name="Trendell-2022">{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=2022-05-11 |title=Muse recruit Bring Me the Horizon collaborator Dan Lancaster for live band |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-recruit-bring-me-the-horizon-collaborator-dan-lancaster-for-live-band-3223091 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

''Black Holes and Revelations'' was nominated for the 2006 [[Mercury Music Prize]], but lost to [[Arctic Monkeys]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/arctic-monkeys-523-1356678 |title=Arctic Monkeys win 2006 Mercury Music Prize |date=5 September 2006 |website=NME |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> It earned a [[Platinum Europe Award]] after selling one million copies in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/platinum-europe-awards-2006.pdf |title=2006 IFPI Platinum Europe Awards |date=2006 |publisher=[[IFPI]] |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194941/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/platinum-europe-awards-2006.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first single from the album, "[[Supermassive Black Hole (song)|Supermassive Black Hole]]", was released as a download in May 2006. In August 2006, Muse recorded a live session at [[Abbey Road Studios]] for the ''[[Live from Abbey Road]]'' television show. The second single, "[[Starlight (Muse song)|Starlight]]", was released in September 2006. "[[Knights of Cydonia]]" was released in the US as a radio-only single in June 2006 and in the UK in November 2006. The fourth single, "[[Invincible (Muse song)|Invincible]]", was released in April 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/26647|title=Muse confirm new single|website=[[NME]]|access-date=26 July 2007}}</ref> Another single, "[[Map of the Problematique]]", was released for download only in June 2007, following the band's performance at Wembley Stadium.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=http://muse.mu/news,map-of-the-problematique-digital-single_892.htm |title=Map Of The Problematique - Digital Single |date=9 June 2007 |publisher=Muse |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224141144/http://muse.mu/news,map-of-the-problematique-digital-single_892.htm |archive-date=24 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Muse rip.jpg|thumb|right|Muse at the [[Rock im Park]], Germany in October 2007]]

Muse spent November and much of December 2006 touring Europe with British band [[Noisettes]] as the supporting act. The tour continued in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia in early 2007 before returning to England for the summer.<ref name="2007 dates">{{Cite web |url=http://muse.mu/tour-dates/archive/2007/ |title=Tour Dates Archive: 2007 |website=Muse |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528214832/http://muse.mu/tour-dates/archive/2007/ |archive-date=28 May 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the [[2007 BRIT Awards|2007 Brit Awards]] in February, Muse received their second award for Best British Live Act.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/2007 |title=The BRITs: 2007 |website=BRIT Awards |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-date=7 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807024429/http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They became the first act to sell out the newly rebuilt [[Wembley Stadium]] when they performed two dates there in June 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2007/06/18/muse_wembley_review_feature.shtml |title=Muse wow Wembley |last=Wood |first=Emily |date=18 June 2007 |work=BBC}}</ref> Both concerts were recorded for a DVD/CD, ''[[HAARP (album)|HAARP]]'', released in early 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://muse.mu/news,haarp-cddvd-out-march-17th_936.htm |title=HAARP - CD/DVD - Out March 17th! |date=2 February 2008 |website=Muse |access-date=3 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004023/http://muse.mu/news,haarp-cddvd-out-march-17th_936.htm |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2018, ''HAARP'' was named the 40th-greatest live album of all time by ''[[NME]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2015 |title=The 50 Greatest Live Albums Ever |url=https://www.nme.com/list/the-50-greatest-live-albums-ever-1313 |access-date=27 May 2018 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref>

The tour continued across Europe in July 2007 before returning to the US in August, where Muse played to a sold-out crowd at [[Madison Square Garden]], New York City.<ref name="msg">{{Cite web |url=http://www.therockradio.com/2007/05/muse-headlining-madison-square-garden.html |title=Muse headlining Madison Square Garden |date=4 May 2007 |publisher=The Rock Radio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927022956/http://www.therockradio.com/2007/05/muse-headlining-madison-square-garden.html |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=12 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.axs.com/muse-are-bringing-their-mesmerizing-performance-to-your-town-16835 |first=Terrance |last=Pryor |title=Muse are bringing their mesmerizing performance to your town |website=AXS |date=15 August 2014 |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> They headlined the second night of the [[Austin City Limits Music Festival]] on 15 September, and performed at the October [[Vegoose]] in Las Vegas with bands including [[Rage Against the Machine]], [[Daft Punk]] and [[Queens of the Stone Age]].<ref name="msg" /> Muse continued touring in Eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, Australia, and New Zealand in 2007<ref name="2007 dates" /> before going to South Africa, Portugal, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Ireland, and the UK in 2008.<ref name="2008 dates">{{Cite web |url=http://muse.mu/tour-dates/archive/2008/ |title=Tour Dates Archive: 2008 |website=Muse |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134128/http://muse.mu/tour-dates/archive/2008/ |archive-date=28 May 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 12 April, they played a concert at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], London in aid of the [[Teenage Cancer Trust]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Royal Albert Hall 2008|access-date =23 February 2008|date = 18 February 2008|publisher=[[Teenage Cancer Trust]]|url = http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/royal-albert-hall/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070527143900/http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/royal-albert-hall/| archive-date = 27 May 2007}}</ref>

Muse performed at [[Rock in Rio|Rock in Rio Lisboa]] on 6 June 2008, alongside bands including [[Kaiser Chiefs]], [[the Offspring]] and [[Linkin Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Rock in Rio Lisboa: Muse ao vivo [texto+fotos]|access-date= 6 June 2008|publisher= Blitz Portugal|url= http://blitz.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&fokey=bz.stories/24712|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080607131415/http://blitz.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&fokey=bz.stories%2F24712|archive-date = 7 June 2008|df= dmy-all
}}</ref> They also performed in [[Marlay Park]], Dublin, on 13 August.<ref>{{cite news|title = Fans not a-Mused as top band to leave out Belfast|access-date =17 April 2008|date = 14 April 2008|work=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]|url = http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/article13875854.ece}}</ref> A few days later, Muse headlined the 2008 [[V Festival]], playing in Chelmsford on Saturday 16 August and Staffordshire on Sunday 17 August.<ref>{{cite web|title = V Festival Announcement!|access-date =23 February 2008|date = 12 February 2008|publisher=Muse.mu|url = http://muse.mu/news/article/338/v-festival-announcement/}}</ref> On 25 September, Bellamy, Howard and Wolstenholme received an [[Honorary Doctorate]] of Arts from the [[University of Plymouth]] for their contributions to music.<ref>{{cite web|title = Muse Receive Honorary Degrees|access-date =6 August 2009|date = 28 September 2008|publisher=Starpulse.com|url = http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/09/28/muse_receive_honorary_degrees_}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Muse receive honorary degrees|access-date =6 August 2009|date = 29 September 2008|work=NME |location=UK|url = https://www.nme.com/news/muse/40081}}</ref>

=== 2009–2013: ''The Resistance'' and ''The 2nd Law''===
{{Main|The Resistance (album)|The 2nd Law|Live at Rome Olympic Stadium}}
[[File:MuseNIA.JPG|thumb|right|Muse performing "[[The Resistance (album)|Resistance]]" at the [[National Indoor Arena]], Birmingham, England on 10 November 2009.]]

During the recording of Muse's fifth studio album, ''The Resistance'', Wolstenholme checked into [[Drug rehabilitation|rehab]] to deal with his [[alcoholism]], which was threatening the band's future. Howard said: "I've always believed in band integrity and sticking together. There's something about the fact we all grew up together. We've been together for 18 years now, which is over half our lives."<ref>{{cite web|title = Muse: 'We like pushing it as far as we can'|url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/30/muse-2nd-law-tour-interview|website= The Guardian|access-date = 8 October 2015|first = Dorian|last = Lynskey|date = 29 September 2012}}</ref>

''The Resistance'' was released in September 2009, the first album produced by Muse,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/feb/12/muse-diss-rick-rubin|title=Muse slate producer Rick Rubin at awards ceremony|last=Lindvall|first=Helienne|date=12 February 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 April 2010 | location=London}}</ref> with engineering by [[Adrian Bushby]] and mixing by [[Mark Stent]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Muse – The Resistance Album Review| url=http://www.musicloversgroup.com/muse-the-resistance-album-review/|website=Musicloversgroup.com}}</ref> It topped album charts in 19 countries, became the band's third [[UK Album Chart|number one album]] in the UK,<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267326/muse-score-third-uk-no-1-album |title=Muse Score Third UK. No.&nbsp;1 Album |last=Sexton |first=Paul |date=21 September 2009 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=24 April 2010}}</ref> and reached number three on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2011499568_muse02.html|title=Muse, Silversun Pickups: Big music, built for KeyArena|last=Horowitz|first=Joanna|date=1 April 2010|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=22 April 2010}}</ref> Reviews were mostly positive, with praise for its ambition, classical influences and the three-part "[[Exogenesis: Symphony]]".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nGoIniELKvcC&pg=PT56 |title=Billboard 3 October 2009|date=3 October 2009|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> ''The Resistance'' beat its predecessor ''Black Holes and Revelations'' in album sales in its debut week in the UK with approximately 148,000 copies sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/47473 |title=NME website |work=NME |location=UK |access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref> The first single, "[[Uprising (song)|Uprising]]", was released seven days earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://muse.mu/news/article/421/first-single--uprising/|title = First Single = Uprising!}}</ref> On 13 September, Muse performed "Uprising" at the [[2009 MTV Video Music Awards]] in New York City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621405/muse-hit-street-vma-performance.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612190925/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621405/muse-hit-street-vma-performance.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 June 2013|title=Muse Hit The Street For VMA Performance|work=MTV News|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Flickr - moses namkung - Muse-2.jpg|thumb|left|Bellamy performing at the [[Oracle Arena]], [[Oakland, California]], on 11 December 2009]]

[[The Resistance Tour]] began with [[A Seaside Rendezvous]] in Muse's hometown of Teignmouth, Devon, in September 2009. It included headline slots the following year at festivals including Coachella,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spinnermusic.co.uk/2010/04/18/muse-rock-coachella/|title=Muse Bring Big Rock Back to Coachella – Spinner UK|date=18 April 2010|publisher=Spinnermusic.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728101441/http://www.spinnermusic.co.uk/2010/04/18/muse-rock-coachella/|archive-date=28 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref> Glastonbury,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/49545|title=Muse and Stevie Wonder set to headline Glastonbury 2010|date=2 February 2010|work=NME|location=UK|access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref> [[Oxegen]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/57310/Oxegen-2010-Set-To-Start-With-Eminem-Muse-Arcade-Fire|title=Oxegen 2010 Set To Start With Eminem, Muse, Arcade Fire|date=9 July 2010|work=Gigwise|access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref> Hovefestivalen,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hovefestival.com/Default.aspx?articleID=1972|title=Hovefestivalen|publisher=Hovefestivalen|access-date=12 July 2016}} {{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[T in the Park 2010|T in the Park]], [[Austin City Limits Music Festival|Austin City Limits]] and the Australian [[Big Day Out]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigdayout.com/lineup/artist.php?ArtistId=74|title=BIG DAY OUT 2010 – Music Festival – Auckland, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth|publisher=Bigdayout.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111055940/http://www.bigdayout.com/lineup/artist.php?ArtistId=74|archive-date=11 January 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> Between September and November, Muse toured North America.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/muse-announces-fall-shows-in-north-america-1950513.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425052928/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/muse-announces-fall-shows-in-north-america-1950513.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 April 2010|title=Muse announces fall shows in North America|date=21 April 2010|work=The Independent|access-date=22 April 2010|location=London}}</ref>

Muse provided the lead single for the film ''[[The Twilight Saga: Eclipse]]'', "[[Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)]]", released on 17 May 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37406/muses-neutron-star-collision-be-first-single-the-twilight-saga-eclipse-soundtrack |title=Muse's Neutron Star Collision to Be First Single from The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack |publisher=Dreadcentral.com |access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref> In June, Muse headlined [[Glastonbury Festival]] for the second time. After U2 canceled their headline slot following their singer [[Bono]]'s back injury, their guitarist, the [[The Edge|Edge]], joined Muse to play the U2 track "[[Where the Streets Have No Name]]".<ref>Beaumont, Mark (Sunday 27 June 2010) [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jun/27/muse-glastonbury-2010-review Muse at Glastonbury 2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618014446/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jun/27/muse-glastonbury-2010-review |date=18 June 2012 }} ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref>

For their live performances, Muse received the O2 [[Silver Clef Award]] in London on 2 July 2010,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/muse-to-receive-prestigious-o2-silver-clef-award-1937288.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/muse-to-receive-prestigious-o2-silver-clef-award-1937288.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Muse to receive prestigious O2 Silver Clef Award|work=The Independent|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> presented by [[Roger Meddows Taylor|Roger Taylor]] and [[Brian May]] of [[Queen (band)|Queen]]. Taylor described the trio as "probably the greatest live act in the world today".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957515/muse-honored-at-o2-silver-clef-awards|title=Muse Honored at O2 Silver Clef Awards|date=14 September 2009|magazine=Billboard|access-date=3 September 2010}}</ref> On 12 September 2010, Muse won an [[MTV Video Music Award]] in the category of Best Special Effects, for the "Uprising" video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.live4ever.uk.com/2010/09/lady-gaga-muse-30-seconds-to-mars-triumph-at-2010-vma-awards/|title=Lady Gaga, Muse, 30 Seconds To Mars Triumph At 2010 VMA Awards|work=Live4ever Media |date=13 September 2010|publisher=Live4ever.uk.com|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> On 21 November, Muse won an [[American Music Award]] for Favorite Artist in the Alternative Rock Music Category.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/muse-wins-american-music-award-favorite-artist-alternative-rock-music-category-1357814.htm |title=Muse Wins American Music Award for Favorite Artist in the Alternative Rock Music Category |work=Marketwire |publisher=Market Wired |access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref> On 2 December, Muse were nominated for three awards for the [[53rd Grammy Awards]] on 13 February 2011, for which they won the [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album]] for ''The Resistance''.<ref name="gawrd">{{cite web|url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657891/muse-grammy-awards.jhtml|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110217000655/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657891/muse-grammy-awards.jhtml|url-status = dead|archive-date = 17 February 2011|title = Muse Bask In First Grammy Win, Make Plans For Kid-Friendly Album|work = MTV News|access-date = 28 September 2014}}</ref>

Based on having the largest airplay and sales in the US, Muse were named the ''Billboard'' [[Alternative Songs]] and [[Rock Songs]] artist for 2010 with "Uprising", "Resistance" and "Undisclosed Desires" achieving 1st, 6th and 49th places on the year-end Alternative Song chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/hot-alternative-songs|title=Best of 2010, Alternative Songs|date=31 December 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts-year-end?year%3D2010# |title=Music Charts, Most Popular Music, Music by Genre & Top Music Charts &#124; Billboard |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=7 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121190919/http://www.billboard.com/charts-year-end?year=2010 |archive-date=21 January 2013}} ''Billboard'' Retrieved 19 December 2010</ref> On 30 July 2011, Muse supported Rage Against the Machine at their only 2011 gig at the L.A. Rising festival. On 13 August, Muse headlined the [[Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival]] in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661776/outside-lands-festival-lineup-muse.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415015822/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661776/outside-lands-festival-lineup-muse.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 April 2011|title=Muse, Arcade Fire, Phish To Headline Outside Lands Festival|work=MTV News|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> They headlined the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals]] in August 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2011|title=Reading Festival 2011|date=28 November 2013|access-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102805/https://www.readingfestival.com/history/reading-festival-2011|archive-date=23 December 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> To celebrate the tenth anniversary of their album ''Origin of Symmetry'' (2001), Muse performed all eleven tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/55776|title=Muse to play 'Origin of Symmetry' in full at Reading And Leeds Festivals|work=NME |location=UK }}</ref> Muse also headlined [[Lollapalooza]] in [[Chicago]]'s [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]] in August 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/eminem-muse-foo-fighters-headline-97892|title=Eminem, Muse, Foo Fighters to Headline Lollapalooza 2011|date=9 February 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref>

In an April 2012 interview, Bellamy said Muse's next album would include influences from acts such as [[French house]] duo [[Justice (band)|Justice]] and UK [[electronic rock]] group [[Does It Offend You, Yeah?]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/artists/2012/06/07/new-muse-album-set-for-september|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719084333/http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/artists/2012/06/07/new-muse-album-set-for-september |url-status=dead |title="New Muse album set for September"|archive-date=19 July 2012}}</ref> On 6 June 2012, Muse released a trailer for their next album, ''The 2nd Law'', with a countdown on the band's website. The trailer, which included [[dubstep]] elements, was met with mixed reactions.<ref>{{cite web| title = Fans react to Muse's dubstep-tinged trailer for new album 'The 2nd Law'| work = [[NME]]| date = 6 June 2012| url = https://www.nme.com/news/muse/64168| access-date =6 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Montgomery| first = James| title = Muse Move Toward Dubstep in Apocalyptic The 2nd Law Trailer| publisher = MTV| date = 6 June 2012| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1686756/muse-second-law-trailer-dubstep.jhtml| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120629010445/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1686756/muse-second-law-trailer-dubstep.jhtml| url-status = dead| archive-date = 29 June 2012| access-date =6 June 2012}}</ref> On 7 June, Muse announced a European Arena tour, the first leg of [[The 2nd Law Tour]]. The leg included dates in France, Spain and the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://muse.mu/news/article/781/uk--european-tour-announced/ |title=MUSE: NEWS – UK & European Tour Announced |publisher=Muse.mu |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=1 October 2012}}</ref> The first single from the album, "[[Survival (Muse song)|Survival]]", was the official song of the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012 Summer Olympics]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18607319|title=Muse unveil official Olympic song|newspaper=BBC News|date=28 June 2012|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> and Muse performed it at the Olympics [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/london-2012/9470803/Olympics-closing-ceremony-playlist.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/london-2012/9470803/Olympics-closing-ceremony-playlist.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Olympics closing ceremony:playlist|publisher=The Daily Telegraph (United Kingdom)|date=12 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Group - 11251065036.jpg|thumb|Muse performing in Melbourne in December 2013 during [[the 2nd Law World Tour]]]]
Muse revealed the ''2nd Law'' tracklist on 13 July 2012.<ref>{{cite web| title = The 2nd Law Tracklisting Unveiled| work = Muse| date = 13 July 2012| url = http://muse.mu/news/article/788/the-2nd-law--tracklisting-unveiled/ | access-date =13 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Muse reveal The 2nd Law tracklisting| work = Rekwired| date = 13 July 2012| url = http://rekwired.com/news/muse-reveal-the-2nd-law-tracklisting/| access-date = 13 July 2012| archive-date = 21 October 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131021101105/http://rekwired.com/news/muse-reveal-the-2nd-law-tracklisting/| url-status = usurped}}</ref> The second single, "[[Madness (Muse song)|Madness]]", was released on 20 August 2012, with a music video on 5 September. Muse played at the [[The Roundhouse|Roundhouse]] on 30 September as part of the [[iTunes Festival]]. ''The 2nd Law'' was released worldwide on 1 October, and on 2 October 2012 in the US; it reached number one in the [[UK Albums Chart]], and number two on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/66512|title=Muse beat Mumford & Sons to claim UK Number One album slot|date=7 October 2012|work=NME.COM|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-mumfordandsons-charts-idUSBRE8991FZ20121010|title=Mumford & Sons keep Muse from topping Billboard chart|work=Reuters|date=10 October 2012|access-date=28 September 2014|last1=Sinha-Roy|first1=Piya}}</ref> The song "[[Madness (Muse song)|Madness]]" earned a nomination in the [[Best Rock Song]] category and the album itself was nominated for the [[Best Rock Album]] at the [[55th Grammy Awards]], 2013. The band performed the album's opening song, "[[Supremacy (song)|Supremacy]]", with an orchestra at the [[2013 Brit Awards]] on 20 February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/68368|title=Muse to perform 'Supremacy' with full orchestra and choir at Brit Awards|date=26 January 2013|work=NME.COM|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> The album was a nominee for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] at the [[2013 Grammy Awards]]. The song "Madness" was also nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eonline.com/news/368952/55th-annual-grammy-awards-complete-list-of-nominees | title=55th Annual Grammy Awards: Complete List of Nominees | publisher=[[E!]] | date=5 December 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015 | author=Nessif, Bruna}}</ref> The album listed at number 46 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of the top 50 albums of 2012, saying "In an era of diminished expectations, Muse make stadium-crushing songs that mix the legacies of [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[King Crimson]], [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[Radiohead]] while making almost every other current band seem tiny."<ref name="RS Muse">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/muse-the-2nd-law-19691231 | title=Muse, 'The 2nd Law' – 50 Best Albums of 2012 | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=5 December 2012 | access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref>

Muse released their fourth live album, ''[[Live at Rome Olympic Stadium]]'', on 29 November 2013 on CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray formats. In November 2013, the film had theatrical screenings in 20 cities worldwide. The album contains the band's performance at [[Rome]]'s [[Stadio Olimpico]] on 6 July 2013, in front of over 60,000 people; it was the first concert filmed in [[4K resolution|4K]] format.<ref name="Rome">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/muse-singer-matt-bellamy-live-dvd-completes-an-upside-down-journey-20131202 |title=Muse Singer Matt Bellamy: Live DVD Completes an 'Upside-Down Journey' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016043855/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/muse-singer-matt-bellamy-live-dvd-completes-an-upside-down-journey-20131202 |archive-date=16 October 2016 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2 December 2013 |access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref> The concert was a part of the Unsustainable Tour, Muse's mid-2013 tour of Europe.<ref name="Rome"/>

=== 2014–2021: ''Drones'' and ''Simulation Theory'' ===
{{Main|Drones (Muse album)|Simulation Theory (album)|Origin of Muse}}
[[File:Phil Guest - 25957169210.jpg|thumb|right|Muse on stage at [[The O2 Arena|the O<sub>2</sub> Arena]] in London in April 2016 as part of the [[Drones World Tour]]]]
Muse began writing their seventh album soon after the Rome concert. The band felt that the electronic side of their music was becoming too dominant, and wanted to return to a simpler rock sound.<ref name="Rolling Stone2">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/muse-singer-matt-bellamy-live-dvd-completes-an-upside-down-journey-20131202|title=Muse Singer Matt Bellamy: Live DVD Completes an 'Upside-Down Journey'|last=Greene|first=Andy|date=2 December 2013|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=7 February 2015}}</ref><ref name="www.bassplayer.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/chris-wolstenholme-and-muse-return-to-their-hard-rock-roots/54021|title=Chris Wolstenholme and Muse Return to Their Hard Rock Roots|website=www.bassplayer.com|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref> After self-producing their previous two albums, the band hired producer [[Robert John "Mutt" Lange]] so they could focus on performance and spend less time mixing and reviewing takes.<ref name="www.bassplayer.com"/> Recording took place in the Vancouver [[The Warehouse Studio|Warehouse Studio]] from October 2014 to April 2015.<ref name="Dom Howard Instagram">{{cite web|url=https://instagram.com/p/06j7UVyMRh/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/domhoward77/953232279059612769 |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=Dom Howard Instagram|date=1 April 2015|publisher=[[Instagram]]|access-date=6 April 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Rich Costey Instagram">{{cite web|url=https://instagram.com/p/06qwJGrv33/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/06qwJGrv33 |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=Rich Costey Instagram|date=1 April 2015|publisher=[[Instagram]]|access-date=6 April 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Muse announced their seventh album, ''[[Drones (Muse album)|Drones]]'', on 11 March 2015. The following day, they released a [[lyric video]] for "[[Psycho (Muse song)|Psycho]]" on their [[YouTube]] channel,<ref name="Psycho Lyric Video">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLRqzTp6Rk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/UqLRqzTp6Rk| archive-date=2021-10-28|title=Muse - Psycho [Official Lyric Video]|date=12 March 2015|publisher=YouTube|access-date=12 March 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and made the song available for instant download with the album pre-order. Another single, "[[Dead Inside (Muse song)|Dead Inside]]", was released on 23 March.<ref name="NME Drones3">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/83437|title=Muse announce new album 'Drones' for June and confirm live dates beginning Sunday|last=Britton|first=Luke Morgan|date=11 March 2015|magazine=[[NME]]|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref>

From 15 March to 16 May, Muse embarked on a short tour in small venues throughout the UK and the US, the Psycho Tour.<ref name="NME Drones3"/> Live performances of new songs from these concerts are included on the DVD accompanying the album along with bonus studio footage.<ref name="Drones DVD2">{{cite web|url=http://store.muse.mu/uk/tbc-cd-dvd-1.html|title=Drones CD & DVD|date=12 March 2015|website=store.muse.mu/uk|publisher=Warner Music|access-date=16 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113950/http://store.muse.mu/uk/tbc-cd-dvd-1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 18 May 2015, Muse released a lyric video for "Mercy" on their YouTube channel, and made the song available for instant download with the album pre-order.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inveterate.co.uk/music/muse-stream-new-single-mercy-taken-from-seventh-studio-album-drones/145963/|title=Muse: Stream New Single 'Mercy' Taken From Seventh Studio Album 'Drones'|date=18 May 2015|publisher=Inveterate|access-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520112647/http://www.inveterate.co.uk/music/muse-stream-new-single-mercy-taken-from-seventh-studio-album-drones/145963/|archive-date=20 May 2015}}</ref>

''Drones'' was released on 8 June 2015.<ref name="NME Drones3"/> A [[concept album]] about the dehumanisation of modern warfare,<ref name="Gigwise">{{cite news|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/97841/muse-new-album-drones-title-confirmed-on-instagram|title=Muse appear to confirm Drones as new album title with cryptic photos|last=Davidson|first=Amy|date=5 February 2015|work=[[Gigwise]]|access-date=5 February 2015}}</ref> it returned to a simpler rock sound with less elaborate production and genre experimentation.<ref name="www.bassplayer.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/music/news/2015/5/muse-drones-album-review-by-jane-gazzo/|title=Muse Drones Album Interview And Review By Jane Gazzo|date=5 June 2015|publisher=Triple M|access-date=10 June 2015|archive-date=11 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611013358/http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/music/news/2015/5/muse-drones-album-review-by-jane-gazzo/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/04/muse-drones-review-the-bands-most-focused-work-in-a-decade|title=Muse: Drones review – the band's most focused work in a decade|author=Gwilym Mumford|work=The Guardian|date=4 June 2015|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> It topped the album charts in the UK, the US, Australia and most major markets.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33126878 "Muse land fifth UK number one album"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919120909/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33126878 |date=19 September 2016 }}. BBC. Retrieved 17 June 2015</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|title=Muse Earns Its First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/muse-first-no-1-album-billboard-200-chart/|magazine=Billboard|date=17 June 2015|access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.noise11.com/news/aria-albums-muse-debuts-at-no-1-20150613 "ARIA Album charts: Muse album debuts at No. 1"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107050737/http://www.noise11.com/news/aria-albums-muse-debuts-at-no-1-20150613 |date=7 November 2016 }}. Noise 11. Retrieved 17 June 2015</ref> Muse headlined [[Lollapalooza]] Berlin on 13 September 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Muse to headline Lollapalooza Berlin|url=http://www.neverenoughnotes.co.uk/2015/06/muse-to-headline-lollapalooza-berlin/|access-date=2 June 2015|work=Never Enough Notes|publisher=Never Enough Notes|date=2 June 2015|ref=Never Enough Notes|archive-date=6 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706000341/http://www.neverenoughnotes.co.uk/2015/06/muse-to-headline-lollapalooza-berlin/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 15 February 2016, ''Drones'' won the [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album]] at the [[58th Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=31|website=Grammy.com|title=58th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees|access-date=15 February 2016}}</ref> On 24 June, Muse headlined the [[Glastonbury Festival]] for a third time, becoming the first act to have headlined each day of the festival (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36627630 |title=Muse play bombastic Glastonbury set |first=Mark |last=Savage |work=BBC News |date=25 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907043009/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36627630 |archive-date=7 September 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref> On 30 November 2016, Muse were announced to headline Reading and Leeds 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingfestival.com/news/muse-are-your-first-randl17-headliners-plus-major-lazer-bastille-architects-and-more|title=MUSE ARE YOUR FIRST #RANDL17 HEADLINERS!|publisher=Reading festival|access-date=17 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220163341/http://www.readingfestival.com/news/muse-are-your-first-randl17-headliners-plus-major-lazer-bastille-architects-and-more|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2017, Muse toured North America, supported by [[Thirty Seconds to Mars]] and [[PVRIS]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://muse.mu/news,2017-north-american-tour_2763.html |title=Muse to tour with 30 Seconds to Mars |website=muse.mu |date=27 February 2017 |access-date=14 May 2018 }} {{Dead link|date=January 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 18 May, they released "[[Dig Down]]", the first single from their eighth album.<ref name="Dig Down">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-announce-new-single-dig-2069869|title=Muse announce new single 'Dig Down'|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|date=11 May 2017|access-date=11 May 2017|magazine=[[NME]]}}</ref> In November, they performed at the [[BlizzCon]] festival.<ref name="Muse Live at BlizzCon 2017!">{{cite web |url=https://blizzcon.com/en-us/news/21098851/muse-live-at-blizzcon-2017 |title=Muse Live at BlizzCon 2017! |date=5 October 2017 |access-date=5 October 2017 |archive-date=6 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006013123/https://blizzcon.com/en-us/news/21098851/muse-live-at-blizzcon-2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "[[Thought Contagion]]", the second single, was released on 15 February 2018,<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/watch-new-muse-video-for-thought-contagion-w516730 |title=Matt Bellamy on Muse's Rousing, Political New Song 'Thought Contagion' |date=15 February 2018 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> accompanied by an 1980s-styled music video.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2018-02-16/muse-release-neon-tinged-video-for-new-single-thought-contagion|title=Muse release neon-tinged video for new single Thought Contagionwork=Prog|last=Munro|first=Scott|date=16 February 2018|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/muse-new-song-video-thought-contagion-8099960/|title=Muse Share Infectious New Song & Video 'Thought Contagion'|last=Braca|first=Nina|date=15 February 2018|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref> In June, Muse opened the [[Rock in Rio|Rock In Rio]] festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/festivals-blog/2343243-2343243 |website=nme.com |title=Muse's sonic spectacular opens Lisbon's Rock In Rio 2018|date=24 June 2018 | access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref> On 24 February, they played a show at [[La Cigale]] in France with a setlist voted for fans online,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-rarities-b-sides-fan-voted-setlist-la-cigale-paris-watch-video-2249121 |website=NME |title=Muse play rarity-packed Paris show with setlist voted for by fans |date=26 February 2018 |access-date=14 May 2018}}</ref> followed by a show at [[Shepherd's Bush Empire]], London, in which they played mainly older material and B-sides.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gittins |first=Ian |date=2017-08-20 |title=Muse review – band unleash thunderstorm in a matchbox |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/20/muse-review-shepherds-bush-empire-london |access-date=2023-09-24 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> A concert video, ''[[Muse: Drones World Tour]]'', was released in cinemas worldwide on 12 July 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/the-news/muse-to-release-drones-world-tour-film-in-cinemas-for-one-night-only/ |website=Kerrang! |title=Muse to Release Drones World Tour Film in Cinemas – for one night only|date=26 April 2018 | access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref>

[[File:MuseBristol 050619-118 (48035812973).jpg|thumb|Muse performing in Bristol in June 2019]]
On 19 July 2018, Muse released the third single from their upcoming album, "Something Human",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muses-matt-bellamy-shares-bands-first-acoustic-track-something-human-2354004 |website=NME |title= Muse's Matt Bellamy shares new acoustic track Something Human |date=13 July 2018 | access-date=14 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azAEHCQgcUI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/azAEHCQgcUI| archive-date=2021-10-28|title=MUSE - Something Human [Official Music Video]|last=Muse|date=19 July 2018|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> followed by "The Dark Side" on 30 August<ref name="Simulation Theory">{{cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=30 August 2018 |title=Muse unveil new single 'The Dark Side' and announce new album 'Simulation Theory' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-unveil-new-single-dark-side-announce-new-album-simulation-theory-2372513 |access-date=31 August 2018 |work=NME}}</ref> and "Pressure" on 27 September.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2eKImKZviw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/h2eKImKZviw| archive-date=2021-10-28|title=MUSE - Pressure [Official Music Video]|last=Muse|date=2018-09-29|website=YouTube|access-date=2018-09-30}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Muse released their eighth studio album, ''[[Simulation Theory (album)|Simulation Theory]]'', with a focus on 80s-inspired synthesisers, on 9 November.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Empire |first=Kitty |date=2018-11-11 |title=Muse: Simulation Theory review – riffing hard on the 80s |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/11/muse-simulation-theory-review-kitty-empire |access-date=2023-09-24 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> The [[Simulation Theory World Tour]] began in Houston on 3 February 2019 and concluded on 15 October in Lima.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sd-me-muse-announce-simulation-tour-20181104-story.html|title=Muse announces 'Simulation Theory' 2019 world tour: Here are all the dates, cities|last=Varga|first=George|work=sandiegouniontribune.com|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eventsnitch.com/blog/muse-simulation-theory-tour-coming-to-an-en|title=Muse – Simulation Theory tour coming to an end|date=23 August 2019|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref> A film based on the album and tour, ''[[Muse – Simulation Theory]]'', combining concert footage and narrative scenes, was released in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-11|title=Muse announce 'Simulation Theory' movie IMAX experience and new box set|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-announce-simulation-theory-imax-experience-and-new-box-set-2725411|access-date=2020-09-13|website=NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In December 2019, Muse released ''[[Origin of Muse]]'', a box set comprising remastered versions of ''Showbiz'' and ''Origin of Symmetry'' plus previously unreleased material.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/muse-showbiz-origin-of-muse-box-set-881374/|title=Muse Mark 20th Anniversary of 'Showbiz' With 'Origin of Muse' Box Set|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=7 September 2019|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref> For the 20th anniversary of ''Origin of Symmetry'' in June 2021, Muse released a remixed and remastered version, ''Origin of Symmetry: XX Anniversary RemiXX''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-20|title=Muse announce 20th anniversary ''Origin Of Symmetry'' remix album|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-announce-20th-anniversary-origin-of-symmetry-remix-album-with-new-version-of-citizen-erased-2944718|access-date=2021-05-20|website=[[NME]]|language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== 2022–present: ''Will of the People'' ===
[[File:MuseHammsmith100522 (58 of 76) (52089635929).jpg|thumb|Muse performing in May 2022]]
{{Main|Will of the People (album)}}
On 13 January 2022, Muse released the single "[[Won't Stand Down]]", which marked a return to their heavier early sound.<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Trendell|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-announce-new-single-wont-stand-down-album-3132589|title=Muse announce new single 'Won't Stand Down'|website=NME|date=7 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="Owen">{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Owen|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/muse-wont-stand-down|title=Muse release pummeling new single, Won't Stand Down|work=Guitar World|date=13 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref> On 9 March, Muse posted a 35-second clip across various social media platforms depicting large busts of the band members being torn down.<ref>{{Citation |title=MUSE | date=9 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzHnwHzp9o4 |language=en |access-date=2022-03-09}}</ref> Muse released their ninth album, ''[[Will of the People (album)|Will of the People]]'', on 26 August 2022. It was promoted with the singles "[[Compliance (song)|Compliance]]", "[[Will of the People (song)|Will of the People]]", "[[Kill or Be Killed (song)|Kill or Be Killed]]" and "[[You Make Me Feel Like It's Halloween]]".<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Willman| url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/muse-will-people-new-album-return-1235207984/|title=Muse to Return After Four Years With 'Will of the People' Album; 'Compliance' Video Out Now|website=Variety|date=17 March 2022| access-date=17 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad|title=Muse Start the Revolution With Video for Defiant 'Will of the People' Title Track |url=https://loudwire.com/muse-will-of-the-people-title-track-video-lyrics/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=Loudwire |date=June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The final single "[[Ghosts (How Can I Move On)]]" was published as a collaborative version with Italian singer-songwriter [[Elisa (Italian singer)|Elisa]] on 25 November 2022.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Shutler |first=Ali |date=27 November 2022 |title=Muse share updated version of 'Ghosts (How Can I Move On)' featuring Italian pop star Elisa |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-share-updated-version-of-ghosts-how-can-i-move-on-featuring-italian-pop-star-elisa-3356298 |access-date=8 October 2025 |website=[[NME]] |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Will of the People World Tour]] began in April 2022. The touring member [[Morgan Nicholls]] was replaced by [[Dan Lancaster]] on additional keys, percussion and guitar.<ref name="Trendell-2022" /> On 17 November 2023, Muse released a 20th-anniversary reissue of ''Absolution'', featuring bonus tracks, live recordings and demos.<ref name="XX">{{cite news |last1=Trendell |first1=Andrew |date=15 September 2023 |title=Muse announce ''Absolution'' 20th anniversary deluxe reissue |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-announce-absolution-20th-anniversary-deluxe-reissue-vinyl-artwork-tracklist-buy-3498650 |access-date=15 September 2023 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref> Muse appeared on the song "1685" from the 2024 album ''[[Telos (Zedd album)|Telos]]'' by the electronic producer [[Zedd]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deville |first=Chris |date=2024-08-30 |title=Zedd's new album ''Telos'' features Jeff Buckley "Dream Brother" remix: listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2278311/zedd-has-a-jeff-buckley-edm-remix-on-his-new-album/music/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=[[Stereogum]] |language=en}}</ref> In August 2024, Wolstenholme announced a solo project, Chromes, and released the singles "Imaginary World" and "The Good Life".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lavis-Quinlin |first=Jennifer |date=14 August 2024 |title=Review: Muse's Chris Wolstenholme debuts fantastic new project Chromes with 'The Good Life' & 'Imaginary World' double single |url=https://www.theaureview.com/music/review-chromes-the-good-life-imaginary-world-2024-double-singles/ |access-date=17 October 2024 |work=[[The AU Review]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Muse began a European tour on 12 June 2025, and released the single "[[Unravelling (Muse song)|Unravelling]]" on 20 June.<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Brannigan|url=https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/muse-premiere-new-single-unravelling|title=Watch Muse premiere new single Unravelling on the opening night of their European tour|work=Louder Sound|date=13 June 2025|access-date=13 June 2025}}</ref>

==Musical style==
[[File:MuseO2140919-64 (48736139637).jpg|thumb|Bellamy performing with the band in September 2019]]
Described as a band that fuse [[alternative rock]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3335815/muse-announce-new-album-drones-june-release-date/ |title=Muse Announce New Album 'Drones' For June Release Date | work=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|date=12 March 2015|author=Barkan, Jonathan| access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-matt-bellamy-malibu-house-20160531-snap-story.html| work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | last=Leitereg | first=Neil | date=31 May 2016 | title =Muse frontman Matt Bellamy picks up another home in Malibu|access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/06/28/is-muses-song-for-the-olympics-the-most-ridiculous-piece-of-music-2012-has-to-offer/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918021909/https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/06/28/is-muses-song-for-the-olympics-the-most-ridiculous-piece-of-music-2012-has-to-offer/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=18 September 2017 | title=Is Muse's Song For The Olympics The Most Ridiculous Piece Of Music 2012 Has To Offer? | work=[[The Village Voice]] | author=Johnston, Martha | date=28 July 2012 | access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref> [[progressive rock]],<ref>{{cite news| url=http://thequietus.com/articles/18182-muse-drones-review | title=Muse - Drones | work=[[The Quietus]] | date=23 June 2015 | access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/10-best-selling-prog-artists-of-the-21st-century-so-far-1423019| title=10 Best Selling Prog Artists Of The 21st Century So Far|work=[[NME]] | date=2 September 2015 | access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Vulture genres Larry">{{cite web|last=Fitzmaurice|first=Larry|title=How Muse Became One of the World's Biggest Rock Bands|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/how-muse-became-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-rock-bands.html|work=Vulture|date=8 November 2018|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> [[space rock]],<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/muse_to_release_new_album_drones | title=Muse to release new album, 'Drones' | magazine=[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]] | date=5 February 2015 | access-date=30 March 2015 | author=Sharp, Tyler}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/10081379/Muse-Emirates-Stadium-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/10081379/Muse-Emirates-Stadium-review.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Muse, Emirates Stadium, review | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | date=26 May 2013 | access-date=30 March 2015 | author=Hall, James}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/7252 | title=Muse : Paris: Bercy: Tuesday November 18 | magazine=[[NME]] | date=12 September 2005 | access-date=30 March 2015}}</ref> [[hard rock]],<ref name="Pitchfork genres">{{cite web |author=Ubl |first=Sam |date=5 July 2006 |title=Muse - Black Holes and Revelations |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9168-black-holes-and-revelations/ |access-date=17 March 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/muse-absolution-2495992976.html|title=Muse Absolution| work=Pop Matters|date=19 May 2004|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> [[art rock]],<ref name="DiGravina">{{cite web|first=Tim|last=DiGravina|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/absolution-mw0000384478|title=AllMusic Review by Tim DiGravina|publisher=All Music|access-date=12 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="Farrar">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/muse-the-2nd-law-warner-bros/|title=Muse, 'The 2nd Law' (Warner Bros.)|magazine=Spin|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=12 July 2016|author=Farrar, Justin F.}}</ref> [[electronic rock]],<ref name="Owen"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Amanda |date=June 23, 2025 |title=Muse - Unravelling |url=https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2025/06/music/tracks-muse-unravelling/ |access-date=August 8, 2025 |website=EUPHORIA. |language=en-US}}</ref> [[progressive metal]],<ref name="thecrimson genres">{{cite news|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/10/1/muse-second-law-review/|title=Muse Rides Electric Energy Through Overambitious Release|newspaper=The Harvard Crimson|date=1 October 2012|access-date=12 July 2016|author=Palmedo, Tree A.}}</ref> [[indie rock]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-celebration-of-endings-mw0003377615 |title=A Celebration of Endings - Biffy Clyro |last=Collar |first=Matt |publisher=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=5 September 2022}}</ref> and [[Pop music|pop]],<ref name="Vulture genres Larry"/> Muse also mix sounds from genres such as [[electronica]]<ref name="BBC genres">{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Savage|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43126988|title=Muse: 'The guitar is no longer a lead instrument'|publisher=BBC|date=20 February 2018|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> and [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]],<ref name="BBC genres"/> with forms such as [[classical music]] and [[rock opera]].<ref name="rocksound">{{cite web|url = http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/muse-the-resistance|publisher = rocksound.tv|title = Muse – 'The Resistance'|access-date = 12 May 2008|archive-date = 22 September 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120922093515/http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/muse-the-resistance|url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2002, Bellamy described Muse as a "trashy three-piece".<ref name="Muse interview on BBC 2002">{{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Xrn4jCzzk|publisher=YouTube|title = Muse interview on BBC 2002|date=26 January 2007 |access-date =26 May 2011}}</ref> He said supporting the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] on their 1999 ''[[Californication (album)|Californication]]'' tour inspired Muse to become less reserved and "up their game" in their performances.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Jonathan Horsley |date=2022-08-26 |title=Matt Bellamy says opening for the Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers was the making of Muse as a live band |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/muse-rhcp-flea-matt-bellamy-foo-fighters |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref> Bellamy said [[Lady Gaga]] was an influence on Muse's showmanship and stage costumes, "crossing that line between what is fantasy and what is reality".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=2022-08-25 |title=Muse's Matt Bellamy recalls attending one of Lady Gaga's early career shows: 'I have always been a little monster' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/muses-matt-bellamy-lady-gaga-fan-1234581434/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Early in their career, Muse were often likened to [[Radiohead]].<ref name="Marchese-2009" /> ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' wrote that Bellamy's voice "often slips into high, mournful tones" similar to the Radiohead singer, [[Thom Yorke]].<ref name="Marchese-2009" /> [[John Leckie]], who produced Muse's first two albums and also produced Radiohead's second album, ''[[The Bends (album)|The Bends]]'' (1995), dismissed the comparisons, saying: "In the late 90s, any British band that sang passionately and played guitar was going to get compared to Radiohead." He said he chose to produce Muse after ''The Bends'' because he "intentionally looked for something different".<ref name="Marchese-2009" /> Asked in 2009, Bellamy said he did not hear the similarity, saying Muse were "past [the comparisons] in most places".<ref name="Marchese-2009" /> Reviewing their fourth album, ''Black Holes and Revelations'' (2006), ''Spin, [[Stylus Magazine]] and Observer Music Monthly'' wrote that Muse had transcended comparisons to Radiohead.<ref name="observer">{{cite news |last=Perry |first=Andrew |date=18 June 2006 |title=Muse, ''Black Holes and Revelations'' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jun/18/17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112064912/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0%2C%2C1797231%2C00.html |archive-date=12 January 2008 |access-date=21 July 2008 |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |location=London}}</ref><ref name="rr">{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Barry |date=14 July 2006 |title=Muse - Black Holes and Revelations - Review |url=https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/muse/black-holes-and-revelations.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717043743/https://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/muse/black-holes-and-revelations.htm |archive-date=2006-07-17 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=[[Stylus Magazine]]}}</ref><ref name="Spin">{{cite journal |last=Raftery |first=Brian |date=August 2006 |title=Confessions of a Drama Queen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EUm4Cp2ZFOEC&pg=PA81 |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |location=New York |volume=22 |issue=8 |page=81 |access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref>

In 2006, ''Pitchfork'' described Muse's music as "firmly ol' skool at heart: proggy hard rock that forgoes any pretensions to restraint ... their songs use full-stacked guitars and thunderous drums to evoke God's footsteps".<ref name="Pitchfork genres" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Muse - Absolution|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/absolution-mw0000384478|website=Allmusic|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] described their sound as a "fusion of progressive rock, [[glam rock|glam]], electronica, and Radiohead-influenced experimentation".<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p142116/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title = Muse > Biography|work=AllMusic|first=Heather|last=Phares|access-date =31 March 2015}}</ref> On Muse's association with progressive rock, Howard said: "I associate [progressive rock] with 10-minute guitar solos, but I guess we kind of come into the category. A lot of bands are quite ambitious with their music, mixing lots of different styles – and when I see that I think it's great."<ref>{{cite news | url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8266922.stm | title= It's back... Prog rock assaults album charts | first=Tim | last=Masters | work=BBC News | date=23 September 2009}}</ref> 

''[[The Guardian]]'' described Muse as "fearlessly flamboyant".<ref name="Lynskey-2012">{{cite news |last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |date=29 September 2012 |title=Muse: 'We like pushing it as far as we can' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/30/muse-2nd-law-tour-interview |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Howard said he loved the "excess" of their music and that he liked "pushing it as far as we can", citing the choir of "Survival" as an example. Wolstenholme said: "You can go on writing traditional pop-rock songs and get stale or try something new. There are risks either way."<ref name="Lynskey-2012" /> The Queen guitarist, [[Brian May]], praised Muse in 2009, calling them "extraordinary musicians" who "let their madness show through, always a good thing in an artist".<ref>{{cite news |last=Masters |first=Tim |date=13 October 2009 |title=Queen star May hails Muse album |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8304176.stm |access-date=3 September 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref>  

Bellamy said that some missed the humour of their music, saying they "often crack up in the studio ... We are aware that at any point we are one step away from a [[Spinal Tap (band)|Spinal Tap]] moment."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Culshaw |first=Peter |date=18 November 2009 |title=Muse interview |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/6599450/Muse-interview.html |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=[[Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> According to ''The Telegraph'', Muse attracted criticism from "more serious-minded rock critics, who prize the virtue of authenticity above all others. Muse sit at the other end of the spectrum to the blue-collar aesthetic of [[Bruce Springsteen]] or [[Manu Chao]]."<ref name=":0" /> In ''[[NME]]'', Anthony Thorton wrote Muse descended from acclaimed rock acts such as [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Roxy Music]] and [[David Bowie]], but their "power and ambition" was unfairly dismissed by critics seeking "authenticity".<ref name="NMEr">{{cite journal |last=Thornton |first=Anthony |date=30 June 2006 |title=Muse: Black Holes & Revelations |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/muse/7970 |url-status=dead |journal=[[NME]] |location=London |issn=0028-6362 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926182919/http://www.nme.com/reviews/muse/7970 |archive-date=26 September 2013 |access-date=23 September 2011}}</ref> Bellamy said he saw Muse as part of a tradition of "slightly mad, eccentric English" bands such as Genesis, Queen and Depeche Mode.<ref name=":0" /> 

[[File:Muse - Supremacy - Roma.jpg|thumb|250px|Muse performing "[[Supremacy (song)|Supremacy]]" at [[Stadio Olimpico]], [[Rome]] on 6 July 2013 during [[The 2nd Law Tour|The Unsustainable Tour]]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' stated the band possess "stadium-crushing songs".<ref name="RS Muse"/>]]

For their second album, ''[[Origin of Symmetry]]'' (2001), Muse aimed to craft a "heavier", more aggressive sound.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/2000/09/ |title=muse : archives &#124; microcuts.net &#124; September 2000 |publisher=microcuts.net |access-date=19 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917084649/http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/2000/09/ |archive-date=17 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=June 2022}} Their third album, ''[[Absolution (Muse album)|Absolution]]'' (2003), features prominent string arrangements and drew influences from artists such as [[Queen (band)|Queen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tntdownunder.com/article/49972/interview-with-muse.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214114231/http://www.tntdownunder.com/article/49972/interview-with-muse.html |title=Interview with Muse |last=Delaney |first=Colin |work=[[TNT (magazine)|TNT]] |date=9 August 2007 |access-date=8 November 2011 |archive-date=14 February 2012}}</ref> Their fourth album, ''[[Black Holes and Revelations]]'' (2006) was influenced by artists including [[Depeche Mode]] and [[Lightning Bolt (band)|Lightning Bolt]], as well as Asian and European music such as [[Naples|Naples music]]. The band listened to radio stations from the Middle East during the album's recording sessions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/music/features/muse_0706.htm |work=musicOMH |title=Muse – Intergalacticists Stride Our World |access-date=12 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107034101/http://www.musicomh.com/music/features/muse_0706.htm |archive-date=7 November 2008 }}</ref>

Muse's sixth album, ''[[The 2nd Law]]'' (2012) has a broader range of influences, ranging from [[funk]] and [[film scores]] to electronica and [[dubstep]]. ''The 2nd Law'' is influenced by rock acts such as Queen and [[Led Zeppelin]] (on "[[Supremacy (song)|Supremacy]]") as well as dubstep producer [[Skrillex]] and [[Nero (band)|Nero]] (on "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/07/25/muse-reveals-skrillex-as-major-influence-on-new-album-the-2nd-law/|title=Muse Reveals Skrillex As Major Influence on New Album 'The 2nd Law'|publisher=MTV|access-date=17 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010085226/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/07/25/muse-reveals-skrillex-as-major-influence-on-new-album-the-2nd-law|archive-date=10 October 2012}}</ref> and "[[Follow Me (Muse song)|Follow Me]]", with the latter being co-produced by Nero), [[Michael Jackson]], [[Stevie Wonder]] (on "Panic Station" which features musicians who performed on Stevie Wonder's "[[Superstition (song)|Superstition]]"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_8c7cNxVvc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118140841/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_8c7cNxVvc |url-status=dead |title=- YouTube|archive-date=18 November 2015|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref>) and [[Hans Zimmer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/65524|title=Muse reveal 'The Dark Knight Rises' composer Hans Zimmer is a key influence on 'The 2nd Law'|work=NME|access-date=15 August 2012}}</ref> The album features two songs with lyrics written and sung by Wolstenholme, who wrote about his battle with [[alcoholism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/muse/65148|title=Muse's Chris Wolstenholme on alcohol battle: 'I had to stop or die'|work=NME|date=26 July 2012|access-date=17 September 2012}}</ref> It features extensive electronic instrumentation, including [[modular synthesisers]] and the French Connection, a synthesiser controller similar to the [[Ondes Martenot|ondes martenot]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.emusician.com/artists/muse|title=Muse|work=EMusician|access-date=2018-12-03|language=en-us}}</ref> According to the ''Guardian'', Muse's critical standing declined following ''Black Holes and Revelations'' (2006), with "hit-and-miss albums" damaging "what was previously a bulletproof reputation for top-notch anthem-making".<ref name="Mills-2023">{{Cite news |last=Mills |first=Matt |date=2023-06-16 |title=Muse review – sublimely ridiculous rock'n'roll camp |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/16/muse-review-sublimely-ridiculous-rocknroll-camp |access-date=2025-05-17 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Musicianship===
Many Muse songs are recognisable by Bellamy's vocal [[vibrato]], [[falsetto]], and [[melisma|melismatic phrasing]], influenced by [[Jeff Buckley]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/aug/17/artsfeatures.muse |title=Matt Bellamy Interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305030612/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/aug/17/artsfeatures.muse |archive-date=5 March 2016 |website=The Guardian |date=17 August 2001 |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> As a pianist, Bellamy often uses [[arpeggio]]s. Bellamy's compositions often suggest or quote late [[classical music|classical]] and [[Romantic music|romantic era]] composers such as [[Sergei Rachmaninov]] (in "[[Space Dementia (song)|Space Dementia]]" and "[[Butterflies and Hurricanes]]"), [[Camille Saint-Saëns]] (in "I Belong to You (+Mon Cœur S'ouvre a ta Voix)") and [[Frédéric Chopin]] (in "[[United States of Eurasia]]").<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/6599450/Muse-interview.html |title=Muse Interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222235607/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/6599450/Muse-interview.html |archive-date=22 February 2016 |website=Telegraph |date=18 November 2009 |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> As a guitarist, Bellamy often uses [[arpeggiator]] and [[Pitch shift|pitch-shift]] effects to create a more "electronic" sound, citing [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[Tom Morello]] as influences.<ref name="bellamy">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/muses_matt_bellamy_talks.html |title=Muse's Matt Bellamy Talks |date=25 December 2003 |publisher=Ultimate-Guitar.com (possibly reprinted from Total Guitar (UK Magazine)) |access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> His guitar playing is also influenced by [[Latin music (genre)|Latin]] and [[music of spain|Spanish guitar]] music; Bellamy said: "I just think that music is really passionate...It has so much feel and flair to it. I’ve spent important times of my life in Spain and Greece, and various deep things happened there – falling in love, stuff like that. So maybe that rubbed off somewhere."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/18/muse-matt-bellamy-rocks-backpages-uncut-interview-stephen-dalton-january-2000 |title=Muse's Matt Bellamy: 'We're not a bunch of boys who've got everything, whinging about nothing' |website=The Guardian |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref>

Wolstenholme's [[bassline]]s provide a motif for many Muse songs; the band combines bass guitar with [[Effects unit|effects]] and synthesisers to create overdriven [[fuzz bass]] tones.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/too-much-is-never-enough-muses-chris-wolstenholme-reinvents-art-rock-bass-for-the-21st-century/25917 |title=Too Much Is Never Enough: Muse's Chris Wolstenholme Reinvents Art-Rock Bass For The 21st Century |last=BassPlayer.com |first=Electric & Acoustic Bass Gear, Lessons, News, Video, Tabs and Chords - |access-date=19 February 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> Bellamy and Wolstenholme use touch-screen controllers, often built into their instruments, to control synthesisers and effects including [[Kaoss Pad]]s and [[DigiTech Whammy|Digitech Whammy]] pedals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/article/3948-muse-gear-guide-matt-bellamy-s-fx-pedals.html |title=Muse Gear Guide - Matt Bellamy's FX Pedals |publisher=Dolphin Music |date=1 October 2009 |access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref>

===Lyrics===
Most earlier Muse songs lyrically dealt with introspective themes, including relationships, social alienation, and difficulties they had encountered while trying to establish themselves in their hometown. However, with the band's progress, their song concepts have become more ambitious, addressing issues such as the fear of the evolution of technology in their ''Origin of Symmetry'' (2001) album. They deal mainly with the [[apocalypse]] in ''Absolution'' (2003) and with catastrophic war in ''Black Holes and Revelations'' (2006). ''The Resistance'' (2009) focused on themes of government oppression, uprising, love, and [[panspermia]]. The album was inspired by ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'' by [[George Orwell]]. Their sixth studio album, ''The 2nd Law'' (2012), relates to economics, thermodynamics, and apocalyptic themes. Their 2015 album, ''Drones'', is a concept album that uses autonomous killing drones as a metaphor for brainwashing and loss of empathy.{{Cn|date=November 2024}}  The ''Guardian'' wrote that Muse incorporate "calls for revolution just vague enough that both the left and right could rally behind them".<ref name="Mills-2023" />

Books that have influenced Muse's lyrics include ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-10000720 |title=New Muse album 'inspired' by 1984 |last=Cochrane |first=Greg |date=8 April 2009 |website=BBC News |access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> ''[[Confessions of an Economic Hitman]]'' by [[John Perkins (author)|John Perkins]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_78ucyED8E | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218023144/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_78ucyED8E| archive-date=2013-02-18|title=Interview with Matthew Bellamy |publisher=Youtube.com |access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> ''[[Hyperspace (book)|Hyperspace]]'' by [[Michio Kaku]],<ref>The Making of Origin of Symmetry. [[Xfm]]. 8 November 2011</ref> ''[[The 12th Planet]]'' by [[Zecharia Sitchin]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/muse-the-band-who-fell-to-earth-6167112.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206031454/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/muse-the-band-who-fell-to-earth-6167112.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 February 2012 |title=Muse: The band who fell to earth |work=The Independent |access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> ''Rule by Secrecy'' by [[Jim Marrs]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Muse-ruled-by-secrecy-lyrics|title=Muse – Ruled by Secrecy|website=Genius.com}}</ref> and ''Trance Formation of America'' by [[Cathy O'Brien (conspiracy theorist)|Cathy O'Brien]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://genius.com/6775035 |title=Behold my trance formation |website=Genius |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

==Band members==
'''Official members'''
* [[Matt Bellamy]] – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards
* [[Dominic Howard]] – drums, percussion
* [[Chris Wolstenholme]] – bass, backing vocals

'''Touring musicians'''
* [[Dan Lancaster]] – keyboards, guitars, percussion, backing vocals (2022–present)

'''Former touring musicians'''
* [[Morgan Nicholls]] – keyboards, guitars, percussion, backing vocals, bass (2004,<ref>{{Cite web |last=NME |date=2004-08-19 |title=GIVE HIM A HAND! |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-436-1358027 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> 2006–2022)
* [[Daniel Newell]] – trumpet (2006–2008)
* [[Alessandro Cortini]] – keyboards, synthesisers (2009, substitute)
<gallery caption="">
File:Muse - 2018153224418 2018-06-02 Rock am Ring - 1D X MK II - 2039 - AK8I6239.jpg|[[Matt Bellamy]]
File:Muse - 2018153223827 2018-06-02 Rock am Ring - 1D X MK II - 1029 - B70I2336.jpg|[[Dominic Howard]]
File:Muse - 2018153224303 2018-06-02 Rock am Ring - 1D X MK II - 1099 - B70I2406.jpg|[[Chris Wolstenholme]]
</gallery>

==Discography==
{{Main|Muse discography|List of songs recorded by Muse}}
* ''[[Showbiz (Muse album)|Showbiz]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Origin of Symmetry]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Absolution (album)|Absolution]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Black Holes and Revelations]]'' (2006)
* ''[[The Resistance (album)|The Resistance]]'' (2009)
* ''[[The 2nd Law]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Drones (Muse album)|Drones]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Simulation Theory (album)|Simulation Theory]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Will of the People (album)|Will of the People]]'' (2022)

==Concert tours==
* Showbiz Tour (1998–2000)
* Origin of Symmetry Tour (2000–2002)
* Absolution Tour (2003–2004)
* US Campus Invasion Tour 2005 (2005)
* [[Black Holes and Revelations Tour]] (2006–2008)
* [[The Resistance Tour]] (2009–2011)
* [[The 2nd Law World Tour]] (2012–2014)
* Psycho Tour (2015)
* [[Drones World Tour]] (2015–2016)
* North American Tour <small>(with [[Thirty Seconds to Mars]] and [[Pvris]])</small> (2017)
* [[Simulation Theory World Tour]] (2019)
* [[Will of the People World Tour]] (2022–2023)

==See also==
* [[List of awards and nominations received by Muse]]
* [[List of songs recorded by Muse|List of Muse songs]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q22151|c=category:Muse (musical group)|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|wikt=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{discogs artist|1003|Muse}}

{{Muse|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Muse|Awards for Muse]]
|list =
{{American Music Award for Favorite Alternative Artist}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Album}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Alternative}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Live Act}}
{{MTV EMA for Best UK & Ireland Act}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muse}}
[[Category:Muse (band)| ]]
[[Category:English art rock groups]]
[[Category:Brit Award winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:English alternative rock groups]]
[[Category:English electronic rock musical groups]]
[[Category:English hard rock musical groups]]
[[Category:English progressive rock groups]]
[[Category:Kerrang! Awards winners]]
[[Category:NME Awards winners]]
[[Category:English musical trios]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1994]]
[[Category:Maverick Records artists]]
[[Category:Warner Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Devon]]
[[Category:Ivor Novello Award winners]]
[[Category:English space rock musical groups]]
[[Category:British political music groups]]
[[Category:MTV Europe Music Award winners]]
[[Category:MTV Video Music Award winners]]
[[Category:BT Digital Music Awards winners]]