Muse – Origin of Symmetry

Before switching to the rack-mounted Line 6 Echo Pro, Bellamy used the Line 6 DL4 as his main delay pedal for the Showbiz and Origin of Symmetry Tours.

Matthew Bellamy used the Line 6 POD 2.0 Guitar Multi Effects Processor for a distorted direct input guitar sound during the Showbiz and Origin of Symmetry tours. This is supported by an Instagram post by mattbellamygear, which highlights its use for both guitar and vocal distortion on these tours. The post provides an audio example from the Hullabaloo recording, emphasizing that the distorted sounds came solely from the POD, with no Marshall amp on that track. The setup included a four-button Line 6 footswitch for control, commonly seen during performances from this era.

A limited edition Fender Custom Shop item and one of Bellamy's first guitars. It was used extensively for both touring and recording throughout Showbiz and Origin of Symmetry, and remained in use during sessions through The Resistance.

Visible throughout Absolution Tour. It is also mentioned in this June 2005 Keyboard interview and this September 2006 Kawai News newsletter.

Keyboard, June 2005, "Innocence and Absolution"

Muse is a true power trio, and Matt Bellamy’s third of the stage is filled with his guitar and keyboard rig, the latter looming like a metal pyramid next to the drum riser. As he rocks out on his Kawai MP9500, MIDI-controlled lights in the front of the rig create a visual spectacle that matches his torrid keyboard playing. (...)

Onstage, you have two Roland JP-8000s, how do you run them?

We run the JPs through amps because the sound through a DI was just too clean and it didn’t really fit with the band. Live, my JP runs through a Fender DeVille; it’s pretty clean sounding, but going through those little speakers makes it less full-range, which makes it easier to mix.

(...) Do you use any effects on the keyboards onstage?

I run both keyboards through the DeVille, so I can switch between a clean and a distorted sound. I run a DI from the MP9500 as well. I always keep the clean channel going and mix the distortion in to add some edge to it. I used to use a Wurlitzer onstage, but I found the MP9500 has such a good variety of sounds. I can pretty much find anything I need in there. I use a lot of the multi-patches, so I’ll have the piano backed up with strings or whatnot. I use the “Dirty Wurly” sound on a song called “Feeling Good,” which we put on our second album. It’s an Anthony Newley song, but it was made famous by Nina Simone. She’s one of my favorite singers.

Kawai News #80, September 2006, "World-class Musicians Play MP8 on Stage in Japan"

Q2. When did you know Kawai?

A2. When Kawai introduced MP9500. After the recording for our 2nd album “Origin Of Symmetry” (2001), I looked around the music stores and got the MP9500. Its 4 band equalizing system helped my sound making very much. The touch and tones were really beautiful, and it seemed as if I had played a grand piano. After MP8 replaced MP9500, it became the best instrument to express MUSE’s music with its 192 note polyphony. Today I could show my best performance to the audience with MP8. I think none of other makers can produce a stage piano like MP8 except Kawai.

Featured in this September 2006 Kawai News newsletter.

Matthew Bellamy (MUSE)

-SUMMER SONIC 06’- at Chiba Marine Stadium Marine stage August 13th 2006

MUSE appeared on the stage at 18:00 for the semi final act. The stadium was filled up with over 50,000 people. The audiences were totally enchanted by their overwhelming sound and beautiful voices. When the 3rd song was started, Mr. Matthew(=Matt) Bellamy (Vo/G/Key) began to play MP8, which was covered with upright-shaped, white-polished cabinet case. The gold “KAWAI” logo on the upper panel of the piano was shown on the big screens with him, and it was very impressive.

After the concert, we Kawai had an interview with him, and he pleasantly answered to our questions. We could feel that Matt loves Kawai products very much in his words.

(...) Q2. When did you know Kawai?

A2. When Kawai introduced MP9500. After the recording for our 2nd album “Origin Of Symmetry” (2001), I looked around the music stores and got the MP9500. Its 4 band equalizing system helped my sound making very much. The touch and tones were really beautiful, and it seemed as if I had played a grand piano. After MP8 replaced MP9500, it became the best instrument to express MUSE’s music with its 192 note polyphony. Today I could show my best performance to the audience with MP8. I think none of other makers can produce a stage piano like MP8 except Kawai.

Q3. Could you give Kawai people a message?

A3. Kawai is a brilliant piano maker. Please keep the excellent works.

In this Reverb posting on the Official Muse Reverb Shop, a Yamaha Electric Piano P-80 Owned by Muse is being sold. Per the post,

This Yamaha Electric Piano P-80 is owned by Muse. Used By Matt On Stage During The Origin Of Symmetry Era Lots of wear - signs of heavy use.

Chris Wolstenholme used the Pedulla Rapture Bass during live performances from 1999 to 2007, and it was prominently featured in the recording of Muse's "Origin of Symmetry." This can be seen in the official music video for "Feeling Good" on the Muse YouTube channel.

Chris Wolstenholme used these bass strings during the Showbiz and Origin of Symmetry eras.

Used in the Origin Of Symmetry and Hullaboo Period

Used in OOS, Hullaboo, and Absolution