On April 1, 2008, British trio Muse released HAARP, a CD/DVD combination of their live performances at London’s Wembley Stadium in June 2007. With the sounds of 75,000 energetic fans, the sold out performances translated well to digital media.
The band consists of front man Matthew Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme. HAARP also features their tour partners/additional musicians: Morgan Nicholls and Dan Newell. The track “Invincible,” as well as others throughout the performance, provide simple yet multifaceted and empowering lyrics: “You will be all right/ because there’s no one like you in the universe.” Common themes throughout this package, as well as their past work, are conspiracy, struggles with government control and thought-provoking reflections.
H.A.A.R.P. is an acronym for High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, which is a U.S. program designed to study the ionosphere and its effects on communication. This title is a reflection of frontman Bellamy’s fascination with conspiracy theories, and his interest in knowing more about this program.
The intro fanfare is taken from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Opus, “The March of the Knights.” In the DVD, the full effect of the intro piece is seen with the trio rising out of a trap door and proceeding with deliberation to the stage to begin their concert. This flare for the dramatic is a special talent of Muse; this performance and others have caused them to have the reputation of spectacular live performances.
The CD alone lasts almost 72 minutes, providing listeners with the alternative progressive rock that has become the core of Muse’s musical identity. They began forming the band in 1992, although it began under the name Rocket Baby Dolls. In 1994, with a Gothic/glam image, the group won a local battle of the bands contest, trashing their gear in the process. “It was supposed to be a protest, a statement,” Bellamy said, “so, when we actually won, it was a real shock. A massive shock. After that, we started taking ourselves seriously.” Not long after this surprise victory, they renamed the group Muse.
HAARP is their seventh album to date since their first (Showbiz) in 1999. HAARP delivers all the energy and beauty of Muse’s talent, with all the hardness of the rock world they belong to. With this super charged and dazzling performance, HAARP is sure to highlight and extend the reign of Muse as a model of talent in the arena of progressive alternative rock.