Matthew Bellamy
| Matt Bellamy | |
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Bellamy performing with Muse at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, on 11 December 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew James Bellamy |
| Born |
9 June 1978 Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England |
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| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Muse |
| Website | muse |
Matthew James "Matt" Bellamy (born 9 June 1978) is an English musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist and principal songwriter of rock band Muse. He is often recognised for his eccentric stage persona, wide tenor vocal range, and piano and guitar abilities.
Matt Bellamy's father, George Bellamy, was rhythm guitarist in the 1960s pop group The Tornados, who were the first British band to have a United States number one song, with "Telstar". "Knights of Cydonia", a single from Muse's fourth album Black Holes and Revelations, is often cited as a tribute to that song, with its space rock sound and accompanying video depicting a cowboy's quest through an alien landscape. Bellamy's mother, Marilyn, was born in Belfast, and moved to England in the 1970s. On her first day in England she met George, who was at the time working as a taxi driver in London. They later moved to Cambridge, where Matthew's older brother Paul was born, followed a couple of years later by Matthew. In the mid-1980s, the family moved to Teignmouth, Devon. After the divorce of Bellamy's parents, he lived with his mother and brother. Bellamy started playing the piano at the age of 6 and guitar when he was 11. His first musical performance was in June 1991, aged 12, playing piano in front of his school at Teignmouth Community College.
Muse's origins can be traced to Teignmouth, Devon at Teignmouth Community School, where Bellamy had been in a number of bands previously; including Carnage Mayhem and Gothic Plague with drummer Dominic Howard. When members of Gothic Plague left because of other interests, Bellamy and Howard asked Wolstenholme to join. In 1994, using the name Rocket Baby Dolls, they won the school's "Battle of the Bands" which led them to take the band more seriously. They decided to change their name to a more "professional" one, and Muse was born. The band consisted (and still consists) of Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Dominic Howard (percussion). Muse struggled to establish itself during their early years, but have since gone on to enjoy worldwide success. Muse blends alternative, art rock, experimental rock, progressive rock, classical music, electronica and many other styles. The band is also well known for its energetic and visually dazzling live performances. On 16–17 June 2007, Muse became the first band to sell out the newly built Wembley Stadium in London.
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