Muse‘s Matt Bellamy has revealed that his dad being declared bankrupt during the early-90s recession has driven him to be successful.
The frontman was speaking in an interview with The Sun when he admitted that his parent’s divorce, coupled with financial hardship, made him appreciate the importance of family rather than material wealth, saying his feet remain still firmly planted in the ground.
He said: “Money and success haven’t really changed my beliefs or opinions over the years. When I was growing up my mum and dad split when I was 13 or 14 during the early-Nineties recession. At that time my dad went bankrupt and it played a huge part in it all at home.
“I experienced the sharp end of a tough time, living with a single parent, my mum, and she was really struggling to get a job. These are the things that form your views in life. They are established when you are growing up and being raised. That stuff doesn’t really go away, that stays with you.”
Admitting that his childhood experiences helped drive his success, he added: “In a way, that is what drove me to want to be successful. I never want to have to be in that situation again – ever. I have been lucky to experience a lot of the spoils that can happen in a rock band. But being with the three guys in this band from such a young age, we aren’t going to let any of the spoils change us.”
Meanwhile, Muse play the final date of their four UK stadium dates next week at Manchester’s Etihad Arena on June 1. You can read a full report and see the band’s setlist from their Coventry gig here. Muse will also perform live in front of 15,000 people at the premiere of World War Z in London next week (June 2).