Muse meets America

For years now, Muse has been huge in Europe, big in Australia, cherished in Japan -- places that appreciate elastic-to-falsetto vocals combined with orchestral arrangements and monster guitar riffs.

Formed in Devon, England, in 1994 -- when singer/guitarist/pianist Matthew Bellamy, bassist-keyboardist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard were teenagers -- Muse creates a sound that is big wherever it's heard. Even its mellow songs brim with energy.

The United States is getting up to speed on Muse mania, fueled by the band's reputation as one of the world's finer live acts. After appearing on all three "Twilight" soundtracks and scoring a hit with the anthemic, spin-class ready "Uprising" ["We will be vic-tor-iiioous"], off the 2009 album "The Resistance," Muse is headlining -- and even selling out -- arena shows in the United States.

On Tuesday, the band appears at Target Center. Wolstenholme, reached by phone last week, discussed Muse's career and sound.

Q It seems as if you really broke through in the United States.

A Yeah, I think when [2003 album] "Absolution" came out, that was really our first album in the States. The first record deal we ever signed was actually in America, with Maverick. And we did [1999 album] "Showbiz," and nothing really happened. I think [the label] wanted a big radio hit before they were willing to pay for us to go on tour.

Obviously, we know now that America is quite different from the rest of the world in the way radio works. But we always felt that in Europe and everywhere else where the band was doing well, it was through doing lots of touring, and going back [again and again] to places. We were always a bit dumbfounded, really, because we always felt there was no reason for that approach not to work in America.

Q You are now known as one of the best live bands around. Did it take a while to develop your live act?

A Yeah. The kinds of bands we grew up listening to were bands that always had good live followings -- Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine. ... We wanted to [attain] that kind of level of respect. I think the true heart and soul of any performer or band is what they do onstage, what they do for real. Anyone can be good in the studio.

In the early days, we were quite good players, but I guess we had confidence issues. We wouldn't move around all that much onstage. In the early days, particularly supporting bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters, we felt so out of our depth, because we were young kids, 19 or 20 years old, in front of 25,000 people every night. And it made us realize we had to up our game a little bit, you know? Almost become actors, if you like.

Q You have been compared a lot to Queen. How do you feel about that?

A I don't mind it. I mean, I love Queen. I think Queen are a great band. All of us are fans of Queen. I remember listening to a lot of Queen records when I was younger because that's what my mum and dad loved. And I think it was the same for Matt's parents. It was the kind of thing that was always on in the car when you were growing up. Those are the kinds of things that do influence you later in life.