Muse | Hysteria
Muse’s “Hysteria” - how a soundcheck jam in Doncaster became the greatest bassline ever recorded, featuring Chris Wolstenholme’s machine-gun riff and Rich Costey’s futuristic Kyma production in 2003.
Story Behind “Hysteria”
The Soundcheck Riff That Became a Bassline Legend
It started during a soundcheck in Doncaster, England. Matt Bellamy was noodling around with a blues riff when Chris Wolstenholme heard something different. He grabbed his bass and transformed Bellamy’s guitar line into what he called a “machine-gun-like” sixteenths pattern—a relentless, hypnotic assault that would become one of rock’s most celebrated basslines.
Wolstenholme’s setup for the track was equally aggressive: he split his bass signal into three Marshall amps—one clean, two distorted—and blended all three with a synthesizer. The result was massive and mechanical. In 2025, Wolstenholme said “Hysteria” was his favorite Muse bassline. MusicRadar readers went further, voting it the greatest bass line of all time, narrowly edging out Rush’s “YYZ.”
From Tour Jam to Absolution Centerpiece
The song evolved throughout Muse’s Origin of Symmetry tour, with the band playing early versions live from April 2002 onward. Those early performances featured different lyrics—”Give me complete control” instead of the final “Last chance to lose control.” Matt Bellamy described the track simply: “Hysteria is a kinda fat bassline with a groovy straight beat on it. It’s one of the tracks that has quite a heavy groove goin’ on straight down the middle.”
Together with “The Small Print,” “Hysteria” was among the first songs written for Absolution. The band was at a pivotal moment—dropped by their American label Maverick over artistic differences, yet on the verge of their commercial breakthrough. That tension flows through every note of “Hysteria,” a song about obsession and desire spiraling out of control. As Bellamy explained, the song captures “the obsession of wanting to have something they can’t have...kind of being in love with something you can’t actually get yourself.”
“Hysteria” Recording and Production Details
Rich Costey and the Kyma Sound Design System
Muse recorded “Hysteria” at Air Studios in late 2002 and completed it at Livingston Studios in early 2003, both in London. Producer Rich Costey restructured the song after initial sessions, pushing the band toward a bigger, more aggressive sound. The key to “Hysteria’s” futuristic edge was Kyma, a sound design system that Costey used to process multiple tracks on Absolution. Bellamy said Kyma added an “outrageously hi-fi and bright and futuristic sound,” while Costey described it as “the sound of the record.”
The sessions bounced between Air Studios’ vintage Neve console and Livingston Studios’ SSL G-series console. Costey noted that “it made a big difference switching to that from the vintage Neve”—the SSL gave “Hysteria” the punchy, modern edge that made Wolstenholme’s bassline cut through so ferociously.
Three Amps, One Impossible Bassline
Wolstenholme’s bass tone on “Hysteria” has been dissected by countless players trying to recreate it. The three-amp setup—blending clean and distorted Marshall signals with synthesizer—created a sound that was simultaneously organic and electronic. The technical challenge of playing the sixteenth-note pattern for nearly four minutes straight makes “Hysteria” notoriously difficult to perform live. Bass players across forums and social media consistently cite it as one of the most physically demanding basslines in modern rock.
Matt Bellamy’s vocals were equally impressive. Rich Costey noted that Bellamy would nail his takes in three passes, with his first instinct almost always being exactly right. The vocal mics switched between different models depending on the song, but what remained constant was Bellamy’s confidence and range—”Hysteria” showcases both his falsetto and his full-throated rock delivery.
Notes About “Hysteria” by Muse
Release Date: December 1, 2003 (single), September 22, 2003 (album)
Duration: 3:47
Genre: Alternative Rock / Progressive Rock / Space Rock
Album: Absolution (3rd studio album, track 8)
Producer: Muse and Rich Costey
Label: Taste Media / Maverick Records
Chart Performance: #17 UK Singles Chart, #9 US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
Awards: Voted best Muse song by NME readers (2012), Bassline ranked #6 all-time by MusicRadar (2011), later voted #1 by MusicRadar readers
Notable Usage: Featured in video game Fortnite Festival, used as intro music for NHL’s Washington Capitals (2003)
Muse “Hysteria” Era Band Details
Album Details
Album: Absolution
Release Date: September 22, 2003
Label: Taste Media
Producers: Muse and Rich Costey (with additional production by John Cornfield and Paul Reeve)
Recording Studios: Grouse Lodge (County Westmeath, Ireland), Air Studios (London), Livingston Studios (London), Cello Studios (Hollywood)
Album Concept: Apocalyptic themes, classical influences, expanded sonic palette with orchestral elements
Critical Reception: Metacritic score of 72/100, reached #1 on UK Albums Chart, double platinum in UK
Band Members/Personnel
Matthew Bellamy - Lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming, string arrangements
Chris Wolstenholme - Bass, backing vocals (three Marshall amps setup with synthesizer blend)
Dominic Howard - Drums, percussion, programming
Rich Costey - Producer, mixer
John Cornfield - Additional production
Paul Reeve - Additional production, backing vocals
Production Notes
First album produced with Rich Costey, who became Muse’s longtime collaborator
Kyma sound design system used extensively for futuristic processing
Band faced label pressure after being dropped by Maverick in the US
Bellamy restructured “Hysteria” based on Costey’s feedback
Sessions marked by creative tension—”genuine sense of impending doom” according to Bellamy
Album featured orchestral elements on multiple tracks including “Butterflies and Hurricanes”
Demo and live version later appeared on Absolution XX (20th anniversary reissue)
Third most-played song in Muse’s concert history according to Setlist.fm
Interesting Facts About “Hysteria”
The Justin Theroux Music Video and Pink Floyd Homage
The European music video for “Hysteria” starred Justin Theroux in a disturbing narrative that drew direct inspiration from the hotel-trashing scene in Pink Floyd’s The Wall. Directed by Mat Kirkby, the video follows Theroux’s character awakening in a destroyed hotel room, piecing together through non-linear chronology that he’d stalked and met with a prostitute he was obsessed with. The encounter ends violently, creating one of Muse’s darkest visual statements.
The video never shows the band performing—a bold choice that let the obsessive narrative speak for itself. An alternate version was created for the US market featuring the band playing against a green screen with surreal projected imagery. This tamer version also aired in the UK before the watershed, as the European cut was deemed unsuitable for children. The European video’s unflinching portrayal of obsession and violence perfectly matched the song’s lyrical themes of desire spiraling into destruction.
The Bassline That Launched a Thousand Practice Sessions
“Hysteria” has become a rite of passage for bass players. The sixteenth-note pattern, sustained for nearly four minutes, demands both technical precision and physical endurance. Online bass communities are filled with players discussing fingering techniques, hand positioning, and whether to play it in the lower or higher register. Many report needing weeks of dedicated practice before they can play the song all the way through without mistakes.
The song’s influence extends beyond rock. In 2012, NME readers voted “Hysteria” the best Muse song ever, beating out fan favorites like “Knights of Cydonia” and “Plug In Baby.” The track has been played during every major Muse tour since Absolution, often opening sets or serving as a mid-show energy peak. According to Setlist.fm, it’s the third most-performed song in Muse’s entire catalog—testament to both its popularity and the band’s willingness to meet the physical challenge night after night.
Common Questions
Q: What is “Hysteria” by Muse about? A: The song explores obsessive desire for something or someone unattainable. Matt Bellamy described it as being “in love with something you can’t actually get yourself,” where the frustration becomes all-consuming. The lyrics chronicle someone losing control as they’re “endlessly caving in and turning inside out” from wanting something so badly it drives them to the edge.
Q: How did Muse create the bassline for “Hysteria”? A: Chris Wolstenholme transformed a blues-style guitar riff that Matt Bellamy played during a soundcheck in Doncaster into a “machine-gun-like” sixteenth-note bass pattern. He split his bass signal into three Marshall amps (one clean, two distorted) and blended the results with a synthesizer to create the massive, processed sound.
Q: Why is “Hysteria” considered so difficult to play on bass? A: The song requires playing sixteenth notes continuously for nearly four minutes, demanding exceptional stamina and precision. Bass players consistently rank it among the most physically challenging tracks in modern rock. Chris Wolstenholme himself has said it’s difficult to perform live, and the bassline was voted the greatest of all time by MusicRadar readers.
Q: What album is “Hysteria” on? A: “Hysteria” is track 8 on Muse’s third studio album Absolution, released on September 22, 2003. It was released as the third single in Europe and second in the US on December 1, 2003, reaching #17 on the UK Singles Chart and #9 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Q: Who produced “Hysteria” by Muse? A: Rich Costey co-produced “Hysteria” with Muse. This was the first album Costey worked on with the band, beginning a long collaborative relationship. Costey restructured the song based on his feedback and used the Kyma sound design system to give it a futuristic, hi-fi edge that became a defining characteristic of the Absolution sound.