Muse Learn Rock Lessons as U2's Support Act

Muse have released several acclaimed albums, played huge festivals and sold out huge venues around the globe, so one could argue that they're among the biggest bands out there. Still, the UK trio is the first to admit that they still have a thing or two to learn, and thanks to an opening slot on U2's massive 360 tour, they found the perfect mentors in Bono and company.

"The U2 tour was amazing because we didn't know what to expect being a support band again," drummer Dominic Howard tells Spinner. "It's very different playing to a bunch of people that's not your crowd, especially if there are 50,000 of them like in those stadiums."

Even with their growing popularity in North America, thanks in part to their latest album, 'The Resistance,' Muse still found many of the U2 fans they played for weren't familiar with their repertoire. "I think we ended up winning over a bunch of U2 fans by the end of it," Howard says. "By the end of every show, once we left the stage, everyone was standing up in their chairs, cheering a lot and getting into it. We definitely saw a few faces, a bit confused, going 'what the hell's this?' By the end of it they were like 'oh, this is quite good.'"

While some big-name acts might rarely interact with their openers, U2 spent plenty of time with Muse, according to Howard. "They're all really sweet and nice people," he says. "We had a few drinks here and there. They're nice, enthusiastic and very complimentary about our band. They seemed to know the music, know the album and they spent a bit of time drawing parallels between what they've been doing for the last 25 years and where we're at now."

Howard says that Bono was particularly generous, doling out bits of wisdom. "Bono was very keen to pass on some good, positive advice. [He'd say], 'You enjoy it, stick with it. You're gonna have fun. You have to enjoy making music together. As long as you can do that, you can go as far and for long as you want to," Howard recalls. "He would often say how great it is being a support act, telling us stories of when they used to do it supporting the Stones and stuff like that. You go out, play for half an hour, it's easy, then you steal all their fans."

With Muse selling out shows for their upcoming headlinging tour of Asia, Australia and the U.S., it seems like the students are ready to become masters themselves.