Photo: Wenn
Fall Out Boy have spoken out in defence of Muse headlining Download festival this weekend - advising them to just be themselves this weekend.
When Muse were first announced to headline the hard rock festival alongside Kiss and Slipknot, the news was met with a degree of controversy among many hard rock fans - arguing that the band were not a suitable enough fit for the largely metal event.
Another band who overcame a similar challenge are Fall Out Boy, who stormed the event when they performed last year. Speaking to Gigwise, FoB came out in support of Muse, being fans of the band having seen them live and met them on the road many times over the years.
"Just play - be Muse and play," said guitarist Joe Trohman, when Gigwise asked what advice the band would give. "I think the people who protest, the old metal guys who protest that they 'aren't metal', it's a very small faction - it's a small voice. They probably protested us too."
He added: "I think they'll do fine. They're a heavier band than we are and they've got tonnes of stoner rock riffs and stuff, they'll be fine with the metal heads. People just like to complain, that's what the internet is for."
Singer and guitarist Patrick Stump continued: "They're really nice guys and an excellent band. I would hate to play at the same time as them in that battle - the three-piece would destroy us.
"I think they should bring the robots from that desert video ('Knights Of Cydonia') to come and shoot lazers at everybody. Then, what are you going to say? Just play"
- BLOG: Read about why Muse are going to rule at Download
Watch Muse's video for 'Knights Of Cydonia' below
Another music insider that jumped to Muse's defence was former BBC Radio One DJ and rock champion, Zane Lowe.
"That's ridiculous," he told Gigwise. "I understatement that people have their tribes, their t-shirts, their groups of friends. We've been through this so many times before. We've been through this with Jay Z at Glastonbury, and it was the same with Chase & Status at Download. There was this backlash of 'Oh, you can't have electronic music'. Safe to say, they were one of the absolute highlights of the weekend. It was just chaos.
"It's good, it kicks it up - it's easy to get frustrated when people are like 'Stay in your lane', but never before have we existed in an era where there's such a broad freeway, so why can't we change lanes? Why can't Muse play Download? It's about the only festival they've never headlined, get it done."
He continued: "I've seen that band come on and do a riff masterclass. I've seen Matt Bellamy come on and say 'It's the end of 'Plug In Baby', I'm just gonna' play riffs for two minutes - you two cool with that?' He's just riffed, they follow up and it's like they're in a rehearsal room in front of 40,000 people. Those guys have got the onions and they will deliver, no question - they are a powerful live outfit. Anyone who's doubting that in that crowd will walk away at the end of it and deep own there will be element of respect."
This week sees the release of Muse's seventh album, Drones. Read our track-by-track guide and review to the record here, and stream Drones here.
This weekend's Download Festival at Donington Park will also see performances from Slipknot, Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Judas Priest, The Darkness, Slash and many more. See here for tickets and information.
