Muse frontman Matt Bellamy has reflected on the 2000s guitar rock landscape and his band’s place within it during a recent interview with NME.Speaking around the release of Muse’s tenth studio album, ‘The Wow!

Signal’, Bellamy revisited the era when Britpop was fading, nu-metal was dominant in the US, and bands like The Strokes and The White Stripes were ushering in a garage-rock revival.

He suggested that Muse never truly fit into any of those dominant trends, which he now sees as a blessing, as it allowed the band to build a lasting audience without being tied to a passing fashion.

This sense of longevity was reinforced during a recent appearance at Coachella, where Bellamy unexpectedly met Jack White and Albert Hammond Jr backstage.

Reflecting on the encounter, he joked about their shared survival from that era, exclaiming that it was striking to realise they were still active and relevant decades later, describing themselves as “the guitarists from the 2000s”.

Bellamy also discussed musical differences between the artists, noting that Jack White’s approach to guitar solos is more technically driven, whereas he himself has often de-emphasised solos in Muse’s music.

He acknowledged White’s superior lead guitar skills while maintaining his own identity as a vocalist and songwriter rather than a purely technical guitarist.Beyond nostalgia, Bellamy also touched on Muse’s future ambitions, including an elaborate 2026 arena tour concept involving a spaceship stage design.He mentioned that the band still has significant creative life ahead, estimating at least another decade of activity.

The interview also referenced personal challenges he has faced, alongside guidance he has received from figures such as Chris Martin and Mick Jagger, which helped shape his current outlook.Overall, the piece highlights both reflection on a defining musical era and confidence in Muse’s continuing evolution.