An Interview With Muse Stage Crew

What’s it like to work behind the scenes at a Muse show? In this episode of The Muse Talk Podcast, Josh and Harry talk to Karl, a former member of the stage crew at Manchester Arena during The 2nd Law tour.The tour supported the 2012 album and ran from 2012 to 2014. Karl shares his stories from working on the crew side, including meeting Jason Baskin, Matt Bellamy’s guitar tech at the time.As a lifelong Muse fan with a real passion for the technical side of the band, Karl also digs into Matt’s guitar sound design, his guitars and his amps. The result is a two-hour, story-driven conversation about Muse, their live shows and what makes the band so special to us.Follow The Muse Talk Podcast on your listening platform of choice to stay up to date with new releases.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a day we’ll never forget! In this episode of The Muse Talk Podcast, Josh and Harry share their experience of the Manson Guitar Works showroom opening event at the company’s site in Ashburton.We were invited down to meet other fans of the brand and Manson guitar users, chat with the Manson Guitar Works team, and see some of Matt Bellamy’s older guitars on display. Notable guests, including Danny Sapko and Nolly Getgood, were there too.For a podcast that has been running for less than a year, being invited to an event like this was huge, and we also got to meet Matt himself. We spent some one-to-one time with him talking about a range of subjects, and you’ll have to listen to hear more.This is a one-take conversation for Muse fans, guitarists and Manson enthusiasts alike.To find out more about Manson Guitar Works, visit https://mansonguitarworks.com, and don’t forget to subscribe to The Muse Talk Podcast on your listening platform of choice.I left out chapters and any details of what Matt said, as requested. You mentioned “no extras”, so I kept the “under a year” line brief. I can remove it if you’d prefer. I can also suggest a title for the YouTube video if you’d like one.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matt Bellamy rig analysis continues with a look at his current setup for The Wow! Signal tour.Premier Guitar recently released a video featuring Matt’s guitar tech, giving fans an extensive look at the equipment Matt is currently using live with Muse. Using that video as the basis for this episode, Josh and Harry go through the pedalboard, amps, effects and guitars shown in the current rig, discussing what each piece of equipment does and how it could be being used.We also compare the current setup with Matt’s Drones-era rig, which remains surprisingly similar in many respects. The biggest change is the use of the latest Axe-FX III for amp modelling, giving us plenty to discuss when looking at how Matt’s current live sound is being created.Along the way, we explore some theories and speculation about how certain pieces of equipment are being used, while occasionally heading off on a few gear-related tangents.What do you think of Matt’s current Wow! Signal rig? Share your thoughts and theories with us.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matt Bellamy rig analysis series continues as Josh and Harry take an in-depth look at the equipment Matt used live during the Drones era of Muse.We break down his pedalboard, amps, pedals and guitars, identifying each piece of gear, explaining what it does and looking at how Matt used it as part of his live setup.The Drones era is a particularly interesting point in the evolution of Matt’s rig, as this is where his equipment and overall setup began to become much more solidified.Join us for another deep dive into Matt Bellamy’s live guitar equipment as we continue working our way through the different eras of Muse.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for a lighter side of Muse! In this episode of The Muse Talk Podcast, Josh and Harry look back at some of their personal favourite funny Muse moments from throughout the band’s career.From live performances and interviews to mimed performances and behind-the-scenes moments, we revisit some of the funniest, strangest and most memorable moments Muse have given us over the years.With five personal picks each, plus honourable mentions and a look at some particularly entertaining Matt Bellamy moments, this is a celebration of Muse’s sense of humour rather than a definitive list.What funny Muse moments have we missed? Let us know your favourites and share your suggestions with us!Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to build a guitar for Matt Bellamy?In this very special episode of The Muse Talk Podcast, Harry and Josh are joined by Tim Stark, Head Luthier at Manson Guitar Works, for an in-depth discussion about his career, guitar making and his experiences building guitars for one of the world's most distinctive guitarists.This is our first interview with someone from Manson Guitar Works, giving us a unique opportunity to explore the craftsmanship and creativity behind many of the guitars Matt Bellamy has used throughout Muse's career.Tim talks about his journey at Manson, his passion for building guitars, and what it's like when Matt arrives with an idea that needs to be turned into a working instrument. Over the years, those ideas have resulted in an incredible range of guitars that have pushed the boundaries of traditional guitar design.We discuss the stories behind some of Matt's most recognisable instruments, including the Glitterati, Bomber, M1D1, Double Neck, 007, Mirror, Tron and Laser, as well as several other guitars. Tim also shares previously unknown details about the creation process, including the origins of the Bomber's distinctive shape and some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from his time at Manson.The result is a two-hour, free-flowing conversation covering guitar design, craftsmanship, innovation, Muse's evolving sound and the extraordinary requirements that come with building instruments for Matt Bellamy.Whether you're a lifelong Muse fan, a guitarist fascinated by Matt's equipment, or simply interested in the art of guitar making, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.Have a question about Matt's guitars or Manson Guitar Works? Join the conversation and leave your questions and thoughts for Tim. We'd love to hear what you'd like to know.Follow The Muse Talk Podcast for more in-depth discussions about Muse, their music, gear, live performances and the people behind the band's incredible sound.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes a truly great Muse guitar tone?In this episode of The Muse Talk Podcast, Harry and Josh each reveal their Top 5 favourite Muse guitar tones, taking two very different approaches. Josh counts down his favourite live guitar tones, while Harry focuses on his favourite studio recordings, creating a combined list of ten incredible sounds from across Muse's career.Throughout the episode, we discuss the gear, effects, production, and performances behind each choice, exploring what makes these guitar tones stand out and why they've become fan favourites. We also include honourable mentions and a bonus discussion as we celebrate some of Matt Bellamy's most iconic guitar work.Before the countdown begins, we read comments from the Muse community and continue the conversation with listeners. Then, right at the end of the episode, we make a special announcement about an exciting guest who'll be joining us on the next episode of the podcast.We'd love to hear from you. What are your Top 5 favourite Muse guitar tones? Which songs would make your list, and do you prefer Muse's studio sound or their live performances? Join the discussion and let us know your picks.Follow The Muse Talk Podcast for in-depth discussions covering Muse's music, guitar gear, live performances, news, and everything happening in the world of the band.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few weeks on from its release, it's time to revisit The Wow! Signal.In this episode of The Muse Talk Podcast, Harry and Josh return to Muse's latest album after living with it for a while. With fresh perspectives and repeated listens behind us, we discuss how our views have developed, reflect on the album as a whole, and explore where it stands among the band's previous releases.Alongside our album discussion, we review the opening five shows of Muse's current US tour. We examine the setlists, discuss the balance between consistency and variation, and talk about the return of fan favourites such as Map of the Problematique and Stockholm Syndrome as the tour begins to take shape.To finish the episode, we bring back The Cool Wall for a special one-off edition, ranking the band's coordinated outfits from the current tour.We'd love to hear from you. What are your thoughts on The Wow! Signal now that you've had time to live with the album? Has your opinion changed since release? Join the conversation and let us know where you rank Muse's latest record.Follow The Muse Talk Podcast for in-depth discussions on Muse's music, live performances, news, gear, and everything happening in the world of the band.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks of anticipation, The Wow! Signal has finally been released in full, and Harry and Josh complete their comprehensive review of Muse's latest album.In this two-hour episode of The Muse Talk Podcast, we take an in-depth look at the five remaining tracks: The Dark Forest, Shimmering Scars, The Sickness In You & I, Hush (featuring Ellie Goulding), and Space Debris. We discuss each song in detail before reflecting on the album as a complete body of work.Throughout the album's release, we've covered each of the advance singles in dedicated episodes. This discussion brings everything together, concluding our full track-by-track review of The Wow! Signal and completing our coverage of every song on the record.Whether you've listened to the album once or had it on repeat since release day, join us as we explore Muse's newest chapter and share our thoughts on one of the band's most significant releases in years.We'd also love to hear your views. What are your favourite songs? Where does The Wow! Signal rank in Muse's discography? Let us know your review and join the conversation with fellow Muse fans.Follow The Muse Talk Podcast for in-depth discussions covering Muse's music, live performances, gear, news, and everything happening in the world of the band.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ticket prices for Muse's 2026 European tour have sparked plenty of discussion, and in this episode, Harry and Josh take an in-depth look at what fans can expect to pay to see the band live.Following earlier conversations about the cost of the intimate Brixton Academy show, we compare ticket prices across the newly announced European dates and discuss what rising prices could mean for fans hoping to attend. As live music continues to become more expensive, we explore how affordability may impact the Muse community while keeping the discussion balanced and grounded.We also break down Matt Bellamy's latest interview about The Wow Signal, discussing the biggest revelations about the upcoming album, the songs that have been mentioned, plans for the next stage production, and Muse's intention to spread touring across a 2–3 year period to create a more sustainable schedule.To round off the episode, we discuss the recent redesign of MuseWiki. We share our honest thoughts on the visual overhaul while recognising the incredible work that goes into maintaining one of the most valuable fan resources in the Muse community.Join us for another hour of news, analysis, and discussion as we explore the latest developments in the world of Muse.If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to follow The Muse Talk Podcast so you never miss future episodes covering Muse news, music, live performances, gear, and everything happening in the Muse community.Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@harrychrisrobin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.