Matthew Bellamy

Gray

I think this guy is a musical genius, I think he has the perfect combination of skills required to be a brilliant performer.

He's young, can play a variety of instruments, he writes his own music and I saw him perform at Cokefest and I was blown away, I would say Muse was by far the best Act there if I wasn't such a huge Audio Slave/Chris Cornel fan.

Thats not even mentioning his skill on guitar which I could say would rival many of the greats IMO.

AlanRatcliffe

I'm ashamed to say I don't know him.

What's a good album/tracks to check out?

Gray

Cough Cough "MUSE"

Mr-M

He's the guitarist & Pianist & random noise-maker from the hugely popular (in the UK mostly) British New Prog Rock band, Muse. He is one of the guitarists that made the ZVEX Fuzz Factory as famous as it is along with popularising the KORG Kaoss Pad for use by guitarists (he has the KAOSS touch pads built into many of his custom-built Hugh Manson guitars).

He's absolutely astonishing live. A multi-instrumentalist, amazing showman. The originality of Muse's music and the use of effects and interesting sonic textures are what I like about them. I'm not saying he plays like Satch or one of those virtuosos, but he is nonetheless a solid player and entertaining because of the originality of what he plays.

Listen to "Invincible" & "Knights of Cydonia" off their last album "Black Holes and Revelations."
Also listen to "Hysteria" and "Time is Running Out" from the album "Absolution"

None of those tracks really showcase his piano playing, but they should give you a good idea of what Muse are about.

Their live DVD "HAARP" is also amazing and well worth checking out.

Don't know if it will be your cup of tea though, Alan.

Gray

The riff in Stockholm syndrom was voted as the best in the world in the biggest guitar survey in history.

I prefer "map to problemaique" though.

Might not be your particular type of music but its worth a listen.

AlanRatcliffe

Gray wrote: Cough Cough "MUSE"

Who? ? Seriously, I'm having a hard time with keeping up with the players from the '60s, so it's not surprising I miss one or two of the newer players too. I figure if they're good enough, I'll get to hear about them eventually - took me two or three years, but I eventually got to hear Porcupine Tree about a year ago and loved them. I have seen clips of Bellamy - I remember the KAOSS in the Manson guitar. I'll check him out properly.

Mr M wrote: He's the guitarist & Pianist & random noise-maker from the hugely popular (in the UK mostly) British New Prog Rock band, Muse.
Don't know if it will be your cup of tea though, Alan.

I love different players and am completely sold on noisemakers like Belew, Fripp, Eno, Stevens, Morello, Laswell, Wray, Eklundh, Glass, Torn and Lanois. Anyone who is stretching the instrument and trying to use new tones musically. Belew is one of my heroes - I used to chat to his engineer Ken (Kengineer) on occasion before he passed a few years ago. Love atmospheric stuff too (which is what I use guitar synth for) - my early Pink Floyd influence.

Gray

Porcupine Tree

Hands down. ?

Mr-M

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I love different players and am completely sold on noisemakers like Belew, Fripp, Eno, Stevens, Morello, Laswell, Wray, Eklundh, Glass, Torn and Lanois. Anyone who is stretching the instrument and trying to use new tones musically. Belew is one of my heroes - I used to chat to his engineer Ken (Kengineer) on occasion before he passed a few years ago. Love atmospheric stuff too (which is what I use guitar synth for) - my early Pink Floyd influence.

In that case I think you'll like it! He's got a lot of Tom Morello in his playing IMO, along with some Van Halen tapping, Hendrix, Rachmaninoff Piano and spurts of random noise. He uses Muse Receptors for some his effects too, which I think are really drool-worthy!