Muse Refuse To Lip Sync

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Muse performed their new single “Uprising” on an Italian TV show recently and were told they had to lip sync the performance, so the band gave them what they wanted. Lead singer and guitarist “Matthew Bellamy” decided to fake the drums while the real drummer “Dominic Howard” took on vocal duties. Bassist Christopher Wolstenholme “played” the guitar and Keyboards.

Check out the hilarious performance above.

94 thoughts on “Muse Refuse To Lip Sync”

    • actually it’s often hard or even impossible to properly record a live performance in a tv studio not equiped for it.
      it probably wouldn’t have done the song any good
      so instead of bitching about having to lip synch muse should have just understood that it’s fucking common practice to lip synch on tv shows.
      doesn’t say anything about the band
      it’s purely for technical reasons.

      If I were the producer I would have said
      sure go ahead play live
      we don’t have a PA or decent amps but go right ahead
      we’ll just hover this boom mic over your heads and the sound will turn out fine (it wouldn’t ofcourse would sound like crap)

      • actually, it’s more common for live singing on talk shows. get your facts right. and how do you know that they weren’t ‘equipped’ to produce a live show? are you friends with this producers of this tv show? you speak italian? great. lei ha bisogno degli amici. fool.

      • Alright. Honestly, I think this was hilarious as crap. One, if you’re the producer of a TV show you shouldn’t even consider having a band play if you don’t have the equipment for it. Shame on them. Two, bands tend to be close knit groups of friends. Do you honestly think they gave a crap either way? There was probably zero “bitching” about it, they probably just talked about it and decided(amongst themselves) that if the producer/s don’t want them to play live and FAKE it; why not fake playing each other’s instruments as well? They took a crappy situation and made it BETTER. Everyone else thinks its funny as shit. It’s the TRUTH> As much as I hate to say it “join the band wagon” on this one.

      • I agree with what you’re saying(zwenkwiel), but Muse was asked to do a live performance for them, not the other way around. So if you’re not equipped to broadcast a live performance, then don’t pretend to. Its stupid.
        As an artist I’d really hate to do a gig like that, and I feel it WOULD say something about my band if we were prepared to lip sync just so we could be on t.v.

        Anyway, not trying to argue, it’s just my point of view.

      • That is such bull. My grandfather recorded awesome stereo reel to reels in the FIFTIES with a broadcast quality Ampex in all manner of places. The studio just didn’t want to go to the trouble for a live setup.

        The real fault lies with the band’s manager, who should have known what they were getting into.

      • Actually bands shouldn’t have to bend to the will of others. They obviously have a good enough sound system if they invite bands to perform on their show. I think it’s fucking hilarious and you’re just a dumbass for even opening your mouth. Think twice next time

      • See, this would be the case with MOST bands, since they usually don’t sound quite as good LIVE. Except… MUSE is actually BETTER LIVE than the recorded stuff they have. It’s amazing really…

      • How about if a show really wants a highly desired band to play on their show they should fork over the extra cash to get more equipment. If they can’t handle the expenses of such a thing then I don’t think they deserve to host someone as awesome as Muse. I thought the way Muse handled it was absolutely terrific and that will show others that Muse is no sell-out band. Sorry if that offends you but thats just my opinion.

      • Actually you’re completely wrong. How’d you think TV shows cope with microphones and fold backs you thick sod?

        TV shows are padded with acoustic treating to the nines – and the seating position is that of an ampi-theatre, which is great for sound.

        They don’t have a PA or amps? How’d they use mic’s you retard? Honest to god you must be as stupid as you are ugly.

        Plus if they need amp’s, they’ll run them wirelessly like Muse do live, keeping the heads backstage and not bothering with cabs.

        And I am right, because I work in the industry myself mate – professional sound engineer and producer. So go talk crap elsewhere you stupid gimp.

      • Dude… do you have any idea how many TV shows Muse has played on?

        I don’t care what anyone says, this video is awesome, and I don’t even like Muse that much.

        Calm down buddy

      • zwenk, you must be retarded. A TV studio without enough equipment to mic a band, where are you, north korea?

        SM58s for the vox, 57s for the guitar cabs, snare, and toms, one kick mic, and a couple cheap condensers over the kit and you’re sitting pretty.

        I’m just a *lighting guy* and I’ve got all that gear in my shop. There’s no excuse.

    • Alright. Honestly, I think this was hilarious as crap. One, if you’re the producer of a TV show you shouldn’t even consider having a band play if you don’t have the equipment for it. Shame on them. Two, bands tend to be close knit groups of friends. Do you honestly think they gave a crap either way? There was probably zero “bitching” about it, they probably just talked about it and decided(amongst themselves) that if the producer/s don’t want them to play live and FAKE it; why not fake playing each other’s instruments as well? They took a crappy situation and made it BETTER. Everyone else thinks its funny as shit. It’s the TRUTH> As much as I hate to say it “join the band wagon” on this one.

  14. That is absolutely hilarious. The show’s producers were being jerks, so they decided to have some fun with it. How often do bands ever get to pull off a stunt like that and still sound good? At the same time, why would any producers bother to bring in live entertainment if they’re not going to let them perform live? It defeats the purpose.

  20. is it me or is there a trend here> Flyfreak must be the most negitive commenter on TL, 90% of all comments on all issues are negitive. Tell me Flyfreak what band do you actually enjoy or show respect !

  23. I love it! After being dissapointed in Muse’s new album (which I never thought I would say because I absolutely love them!) It is good to see that they are at least supporting the lyrics they are singing… I mean how appropriate is this song for the situation.
    This gave me a good laugh, I like that they don’t have to take themselves so seriously all the time. :)

  30. Notice how they never show the cymbals crashing or else use psychedelic visual effects to cover it up; it would be an easy give away if the timing was off. I wonder if the cheering audience was aware of the situation, or if they even knew the difference. It was obviously a publicity stunt, or else they didn’t need to go on the show. Makes me think of how Jim Morrison said “high” live on the Ed Sullivan show in spite of what he was told. Way to promote counter-culture..

  34. This was hilarious. Muse loved doing it. It gave them something to amuse themselves whilst not playing and they probably don’t get to do it very often. The Italians probably didn’t know any different. They wouldn’t be hearing the real thing if the guys just mimed with their normal instruments anyway so it doesn’t make any difference.

  36. Muse actually has a history of doing shit like this.
    In a past live performance, they were told that, even though their music is clean, that cursing is prohibited. So what do they do? They switch an entire verse with the f-bomb because they were insulted by producers and manager!
    Rock on, Muse. Rock on!
    (PS- I love Matt’s flailing at the end xD)

    • The whole thing is funny! They’re all hardcore faking instruments the whole performance; did you not see the obviously fake drumming and guitar playing? The fake bass playing was harder to catch because the camera mostly focused on the “lead singer”‘s face, but if you know anything about what it takes to produce those sounds, you’ll know that Muse were rocking their switch. Also their faces are great – they’re so clearly having a laugh. There’s not a “funny part”. The entire video is hilarious.

  46. This makes me laugh so much, a band that has won awards for being the “best live act” asked to mime, I’m glad it happened though, the result is superb xD! Love ‘em!

  49. I want to thank for a successful birthday outing tonight. I want to thank Sommer for keeping it real and breaking my heart like a piece of stale bread. I think I could have had sex tonight. The death of the beginning and the birth of the eternal well of everlasting water full from the fountain and this is in my/your heads. The end.

  52. Stfu Rvfrstyxx, Muse were just making light of it, not making a huge statement :P I though this was fair hilarious really… probably the most entertaining version of this song ever performed… well ‘performed’.

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