Matt Bellamy Looks Back on the 2000s Rock Scene: "We're Still Here!"

Muse frontman Matt Bellamy has reflected on the guitar driven rock scene of the 2000s while sharing memories of recently catching up with Jack White and Albert Hammond Jr.

Bellamy recently sat down with NME to discuss Muse’s 10th studio album, “The Wow! Signal,” which arrived last Friday, June 26.

During the conversation, Bellamy was asked about Muse’s place in the music world when the band first emerged in the late 1990s before finding worldwide success throughout the 2000s.

“There were three things going on back then: the end of Britpop, nu metal in America, and then the new exciting thing was The Strokes, The White Stripes, that retro rock ‘n’ roll thing,” Bellamy recalled.

“We didn’t fit in with any of those things and that, in hindsight, was a blessing really.”

He continued, “The fact that we somehow found an audience without being part of a trend is amazing, and I think that’s why we’re still here. We are the definition of alternative, and I’m very, very happy about that.

“We’ve never been in fashion enough that when the limelight moves away from you, you’re just finished.”

Bellamy also reflected on his experience at this year’s Coachella, where he reunited backstage with fellow 2000s rock musicians Jack White and Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes. He had attended the California festival to make a surprise appearance during Anyma’s performance.

“I was at Coachella the other week and I bumped into Jack White and Albert [Hammond Jr] from The Strokes,” he told NME, admitting he was amazed that all three artists are still thriving in 2026.

“I was just backstage chatting to them and I went, ‘Fuck, we’re still here!’” Bellamy said. “We were like, ‘We’re the guitarists from the 2000s! We did it!’ It was so cool. Maybe there was a bit of a scene back then, but it was defined by being a little bit alternative to the mainstream.”

Bellamy added that he remains grateful Muse never comfortably fit into the dominant musical trends of the time.

When asked whether the trio had joked about creating “a crazy modern shredding version of the Travelling Wilburys,” Bellamy laughed off the idea. “Ha! No, because they would embarrass me with how good they are!”

Asked if White could outperform him on guitar, Bellamy replied, “I think so. He’s a real lead guitarist. In every song, he’s doing pretty busy solos. Solos were something I was trying to push down a little bit.

“I feel like when we first came up, the guitar solo was already an embarrassing thing to do. If anything, I would say that Jack White brought it back. I’m a singer as well, so I’ve never been totally driven by being technical on the guitar.”

He added, “There might be a couple of things that I can do, but if it comes to blues then he’s going to kill me!”

Bellamy later posted a photo on Instagram featuring himself alongside White and Hammond Jr during their Coachella reunion.

Elsewhere in the interview, Bellamy shared details about Muse’s ambitious plans for their 2026 UK and European arena tour. “We’re trying to build a spaceship, as you do,” he said.

“The quote came in and it’s more expensive than some of these houses [in Primrose Hill], and that’s saying something around here.”

Bellamy also discussed how “The Wow! Signal” explores his personal struggles and inner conflicts. He also revealed advice he received from Coldplay’s Chris Martin and The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, while expressing confidence that Muse still “got another good 10 years left in us.” The full interview is available through NME.

After completing their North American tour alongside Bloc Party and other acts this summer, Muse will begin the UK leg of their tour with two performances at Manchester’s Co op Live on November 12 and 13. The band will then head to London for two arena shows at The O2 on November 15 and 16. Remaining tickets are available now.

Muse officially launched their latest era with an intimate performance at Brixton Academy in April, where they debuted the new song “Cryogen,” which has since been released as a single, and also performed “Be With You” live for the first time.

In a four star review, NME described “The Wow! Signal” as Muse’s “best album in 20 years,” praising it as “undoubtedly their most consistent and satisfying album since ‘Black Holes & Revelations’.”