Select (November 1999)

Fear not these West Country boys; they own more to Radiohead than Rootjoose. Ask the average Joe what their first experience of air travel was and chances are it'll be a woeful tale of bad food, screaming children and conditions akin to a cramped veal lorry. Ask Muse, however, and it's a whole different kettle of complimentary drinks. It wasn't just Business class, it was upper Class, exclaims singer, guitarist and class A songwriter Matt Bellamy, still incredulous at the memory.We had an eight-course meal, our own masseuse, hairdresser and even an on-board beutician. Then when we arrived in America there was a giant stretch limo waiting on the tarmac to pick us up. Such lavish outpourings of money came not by way of illegal activity or trust fund dipping, it came courtesy of Madonna's Maverick records. So eager were they to sign the three Devonshire 20-year olds (also including the bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard) that along with the five star travel treatment, they also organised tickets for the Miramax Oscar party Gwyneth Paltrow and Judi Dench in the same room and set up a Viper room gig with Korn, the Deftones and most of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in rapturous attendance. Listen to the Muse output so far - two EPs plus forthcoming album 'Showbiz' and any surprise at such lavish attention quickly evaporates. A curious blend of Radiohead, Placebo and early Nirvana, they lay on the dramatics like seasoned hams while seething with barely concealed lyrical anger. I don't want you to adore me, dont want you to ignore mespits 'Muscle Museum',when it pleases you." All this is a far cry from their inception half a decade ago. Following individual stints in Teignmouth Secondary bands like Fixed Penalty, Carnage Mayhem and Gothic Plague band states Dom proudly. Muse began as a Senseless Things and Mega City Four covers combo before a school talent contest brought some surprise attention. I won this competition playing boogie woogie piano," laughs Matt, who still uses his ivory-tickling skills to good effect. Dennis Smith, the owner of Sawmills studio recording home of Oasis) heard about this and said he was interested in the band. He gave us some recording time and everything went from there. Next thing they knew, Muse were putting limited edition EPs out on Dangerous Records, winning last year's In The City band competition and playing showcases to label bosses where the jangling of jewellery made even more noise than the applause. Now, with 80 songs up their monochrome sleeves and international labels clogging up their phone lines, record labels are being collected like swimming badges. We were signed to a Japanese label just yesterday which brings us up to five," Chris beams, sipping at his fine English pint of bitter.Next year we're looking at a world tour of toilet venues. Refreshing ego-free jokes aside, the Muse schedule for the next two years is a very hefty beast. America, Australia, Japan, Germany, France - the list is as long as Matt's fringe. Everybody wants a piece of Muse ass. When we signed to Maverick, they told us that to make , we'd have to spend at least eight months a year in America," Matt states cheerfully. But a year ago I was a painter and decorator earning shit money painting shit colours. Now, I may be wrong, but a record deal seems like a much better way of making a living. The rhythm section nod their heads in agreement before Matt offers one last philosophical nugget. There's nothing scary about oppurtunity. Select

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