Muse On The Twilight New Moon & Eclipse Soundtracks

Whether they wanted to or not, Muse have pretty much established themselves as the resident “Twilight” band. After being frequently shouted out by author Stephenie Meyer, the British rockers’ “Supermassive Black Hole” was featured on the soundtrack to the first film. It surprised absolutely no one that they were asked to record a song for the second flick in the franchise, “New Moon,” but the band is pretty flattered to be the only artists to appear on both discs.

“It might be something to do with Stephenie Meyer and that she loves us,” drummer Dominic Howard told MTV News. “We met her quite awhile ago in Phoenix — it was before ‘Twilight’ came out. She’s a very nice lady and talked about how she listens to our music as she writes her books. This is all way before it turned into this huge success that it is, before everyone went vampire nuts.”

But now that everyone has gone “vampire nuts,” Howard says they’re happy to benefit from the extra exposure. “I think our music has reached out to whole loads of new people that haven’t heard us before,” he said. “It’s great to know that people are discovering our music. It’s a nice side project to be involved in.”

Muse originally recorded the piano ballad “I Belong to You” for their latest album, The Resistance. But just as that album came out, the brain trust behind the “Twilight” flicks asked them to rework the track for “New Moon.”

“I know the director [Chris Weitz] really, really liked that track,” Howard said. “He really wanted to get it into a scene somewhere, but they wanted a slightly different vibe of what was already recorded for the album.”

So, they headed back into the studio, and Howard said he’s quite pleased with the results. “It’s a bit more rock in some ways,” he said. “We rocked it up a bit and put some guitars on it and did an alternative mix.”

Although Muse will soon be heading out on a tour, Howard said they might be able to fit the film’s premiere into their schedules. “I think we got invited to the premiere, which might be in London the day before one of our shows in London,” he said. “I liked the first one. I thought it was quite cool. I thought it was quite raw as well.”

Muse are apparently fully embracing their status as the “Twilight” band. They’ve already had their track “Supermassive Black Hole” on the first film’s soundtrack, and come Friday, Twilighters can get their hands on the “New Moon” soundtrack, which features the group’s remixed track “I Belong to You.”

Now it looks like there’s a good chance the British rockers will be back for even more vampy fun on the “Eclipse” soundtrack. “It’s great to have the feeling of being a new band again in so many people’s eyes or minds … we might even do something for the third one,” drummer Dominic Howard told MTV News. “How about that for a scoop?”

Nothing is set in stone yet, but Howard noted that besides being a favorite of “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer, they also have an in with “Eclipse” director David Slade.

“[Slade is] kind of a friend of ours ’cause he directed about three or four of our videos for the second album, and he’s a really great video director,” Howard explained. “I know he did that really great kind of sick horror [film '30 Days of Night'] which was a bit of a vampire/zombie vibe, wasn’t it? So I think he’s a great director, and he’s quite a funny character as well. So, yeah, we might do something for him as well.”

Although Muse have no problems selling albums without the assistance of “Twilight,” Howard notes that they’re not going to pass up the chance to work on music for the hugely popular franchise. “That’s not the sole reason why people know about us, because this is now our fifth album,” he said. “But it’s a nice side project to be involved with.”

Muse In Children In Need Concert

Paul McCartney will headline a gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall in aid of Children In Need this November.

Muse, Lily Allen, Dizzee Rascal, Snow Patrol, Leona Lewis and Shirley Bassey are also on the bill for the November 12 show, which has been organised by Take That’s Gary Barlow

Speaking at the launch of the gig, Children In Need presenter Terry Wogan said the gig will help to make 2009 “a really special year for Children In Need“, reports BBC News.

Tickets for the gig will be allocated by ballot, with fans able to buy a maximum of two per person. Registration is open now at Seetickets.com/childreninneed/, and runs until noon (BST) on October 20. Fans who register their details will be notified if they have been successful by email.

The show is also set to be broadcast on BBC1 the weekend before Children In Need, which takes place on November 20.

To check the availability of Children In Need tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

Muse Need Your Help!

Muse have asked fans to submit pictures of themselves to be incorporated into their forthcoming Resistance live tour.

In a message on their website the band said: “Want to see your face on stage with the band? Muse would like to use your portraits as part of their amazing new live visuals.”

They’ve asked fans who want to get involved to send “a passport style portrait of you against a plain background” in order to be considered for selection.

The UK leg of the Resistance tour begins on 4 November in Sheffield.

Photo submissions

People under 13 who want to submit a photograph need to do so with the permission of a parent or guardian.

Submissions can be made via an email address on Muse’s official website, located at www.muse.mu

Muse’s Matt Bellamy recently lent his support to Lily Allen’s views surrounding illegal file-sharing by sending the singer a email published on Allen’s blog.

Queen Star Hails Muse Album

Queen guitarist Brian May has praised the Queen-influenced sound that Muse have incorporated into their recent number one album, The Resistance.

“I love it, I think it’s great stuff,” May told the BBC.

“I think they’re very good boys and extremely talented, and like us they have their tongue in cheek a lot of the time,” May said.

One key track on the new Muse album – United States of Eurasia – has drawn comparisons to classic Queen.

Last month, Muse drummer Dom Howard said: “I guess people have thought it sounds a bit like Queen, particularly that big chord and the big harmonies.

“When we did that in the studio we laughed a lot because it was so uplifting. It’s a real chest out, hand in the air moment in the song.”

May, who gained a doctorate in astronomy in 2007, said he had met Muse a couple of times in the early part of their career.

“They said they liked us and that we’ve been an influence, which is obviously nice for someone like me to hear,” said May.

He described the track United States of Eurasia as “brilliantly done”.

“They are extraordinary musicians,” May added. “Real virtuosos – much more than I am.

“I like the way they let their madness show through, always a good thing in an artist.”

Game plans

May also said he was delighted that he was being portrayed as a figure in a Lego Rock Band game – due out next month.

“It’s the ultimate accolade, to be portayed in Lego,” he said. “My dreams are all fulfilled now.”

And he said there was talk “going on behind the scenes” about a dedicated Queen Rock Band game – like The Beatles version that came out last month.

“Yes we’re into it, I think it may happen,” he said.

Meanwhile, May is preparing for the launch next week of a book he has co-written – A Village Lost and Found – a collection of 3D photographs from the 1850s.

Glenn Beck – An Idiot?

Fox News presenter Glenn Beck’s declaration that Muse had asked him to stop praising the band was entirely false, it has been revealed.

As previously reported, Beck had praised the band on Twitter and during his radio programme in September, before telling listeners that the band’s representatives had been in touch with him asking if he would “retract my endorsement”.

Beck, who is known for his strong conservative views, is still under fire after he called President Obama “a racist” in July.

Speaking about the presenter’s comments about Muse, Christopher Balfe, the president and COO of Beck’s company Mercury Radio Arts, admitted that the whole thing had been a ruse, reports MTV.

“After raving about Muse for four minutes, Glenn made a joke about their representatives emailing him to stop,” Balfe said. “While it is entirely possible that Muse does not like having Glenn as a fan, he was making a joke and their representatives never reached out to him.”

Despite Beck suggesting on several occasions that he believes Muse share his strong libertarian views on western power, the band’s spokesperson said they would be making no comment about the issue.

Muse Confirm ‘New Moon’ Track

Matt Bellamy has confirmed that Muse have been approached to provide a song for the New Moon soundtrack.

The rockers, who have been widely linked to the Twilight sequel, revealed to MTV News that they had discussed recording a new version of a song from their album The Resistance.

“I spoke to the director yesterday and he wants the track ‘I Belong To You’, the sort of vaudeville piano track,” explained Bellamy.

“He wants a rendition of that but the only thing with the new film is they want the songs to be exclusive to the film. So he’s asking if I mind doing, or if we mind doing an alternative version of it.”

He added: “I think it’s alright – if it was one of the main tracks on the album I would never do it. But it’s actually one of the weirder tracks on the album. [It's] one of the ‘can’t believe we got away with it’ kind of tracks.

“I think it might be worth giving it a go because it’s a track that might not get played live very often… one of the obscure tracks off the album so it might give that track some life that it wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Death Cab For Cutie recently revealed their contribution to the highly-anticipated soundtrack, a track called ‘Meet Me On The Equinox’.

Muse At Number 1

Rock band Muse have entered the UK album chart at number one, ending the reign of wartime singer Dame Vera Lynn after just one week.

Their new release The Resistance also beat Peter Andre into third place, followed by fresh entries by rap star Jay-Z, David Gray and Pixie Lott.

In the singles chart, London-born singer Taio Cruz entered at number one with Break Your Heart.

Madonna had to settle for third spot with her latest song Celebration.

Musical blend

It was the only other new song inside the top 10, while Colombian star Shakira’s latest single She Wolf rose 20 places to number five.

Muse, who hail from Devon, outsold the next top three albums combined, according to the Official UK Charts Company.

UK TOP FIVE SINGLES 1 Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart 2 David Guetta ft. Akon – Sexy Chick 3 Madonna – Celebration 4 Jay-Z – Run This Town 5 Shakira – She Wolf Source: Official UK Charts Company

It is their third chart-topping collection following Black Holes and Revelations from 2006 and Absolution (2003).

Their new album blends their stadium rock sound with opera and classical music, which they are set to back up with an ambitious live show.

Cruz has already lent his skills to other artists, and scored two number one singles as a songwriter with Will Young’s Your Game and Never Leave You by Tinchy Stryder.

He is currently also working on Cheryl Cole’s forthcoming album.

Bellamy’s Answer to Allen’s File Share Rant

Muse lead singer Matt Bellamy has responded to comments made by Lily Allen earlier this week [15 September] surrounding illegal file-sharing.

In an email to the singer, Bellamy explains that he feels “file-sharing is the norm” and that ISPs [internet service providers] should be taxed for allowing users the broadband space to download files illegally.

The Teignmouth singer also suggests that the pair meet government Business Secretary Lord Mandelson “as he is on this issue at the moment”.

In a blog Lily Allen had suggested that illegal file-sharing was a “disaster” and was having a “dangerous effect” on British music.

Further detail

In his email to Allen published on her MySpace blog, Bellamy explains that “file-sharing is now the norm. This cannot be changed without an attack on perceived civil liberties which will never go down well”.

He goes on to explain: “The problem is that the ISPs making the extreme profits (due to millions of broadband subscriptions) are not being taxed by the copyright owners correctly and this is a legislation issue.”

“Radio stations and TV stations etc have to pay the copyright owners (both recording and publishing) a fee for using material they do not own.

“ISPs should have to pay in the same way with a collection agency like PRS doing the monitoring and calculations based on encoded (but freely downloaded) data.

“Broadband makes the internet essentially the new broadcaster. This is the point which is being missed.”

He also suggests that people who download more should be taxed more saying “usage should also be priced accordingly”.

Muse’s fifth studio album The Resistance was released this week.

Seaside Muse

Muse are extremely pleased to be able to confirm two live events at The Den, Teignmouth this September. The two shows will take place on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th September 2009. Tickets will be £37.50 plus booking fee and postage, will be limited to 4 per order and will go on general sale on Friday 21st August from the links and phone lines below.

www.gigsandtours.com
www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Credit card hotline: 0871 2200 260 / 0844 826 2826

Coach transport packages will be available from Gigs & Tours for a limited number of tickets. These will be departing from the following cities:

Bristol
Birmingham
Manchester
London
Southampton
Nottingham
Oxford

Tickets will also be available from a local box office in Teignmouth. Full details of this box office location and date/time of opening will be made available in local press only.

Finally, there will be a muse.mu members pre-sale from 09:00 GMT Wednesday 19th August. This pre-sale is restricted to currently registered members only. A unique code has been posted in your member profile in the ‘Edit My Profile’ section. Please follow the instructions in this section for access to the pre-sale on Wednesday morning.

See you at the seaside!

Muse To Play Devon Homecoming Gigs?

Muse look set to play two homecoming shows in Devon, according to their local paper.

The band are strongly tipped to return to Teignmouth, where they formed, to play the town’s The Den venue on September 4 and 5.

According to Southdevon.co.uk, “secret talks” are underway to bring Muse home.

The paper says promoters SJM have applied to Teignbridge Council for a licence for a “music concert”. The capacity for each gig is believed to be 10,000, and local residents are expected to get priority for the tickets.

However Teignmouth councillor Terry Falcão refused to confirm any plans, telling the paper: “I cannot discuss any proposals that may or may not have been made.”

Muse release new album ‘The Resistance’ on September 14.