Ongoing History Daily: Muse facts

November 27, 2025 Alan Cross 0 Comments 1112 Views

Here are some facts about Muse you can use to impress your friends.

(1) Matt Bellamy’s father was in a group called The Tornados. In 1964, they became the first UK band to ever have a #1 hit in the US with an instrumental entitled “Telstar.”

(2) Early names for Muse included Gothic Plague, Fixed Penalty, and Rocket Baby Dolls, the last of which was taken from the title of a Japanese adult film.

(3) Singer Matt Bellamy didn’t want to be a rock star when he was young. His ambition was to be a great classical musician or a member of some hardcore jazz band playing either piano or the clarinet.

And (4), in the early days of the band, they bought a PA system with grant money from The Prince’s Trust, the charity run by the now-King Charles. Matt likes to say they still owe the king £250.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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