Muse’s Matt Bellamy: “We’re taking a step towards losing empathy”

After unveiling the band’s new ‘Dead Inside’ single, last night saw Muse’s Matt Bellamy discussing the thinking behind new album ‘Drones’, in conversation with Annie Mac.

Speaking on BBC Radio 1, the frontman says the idea of drones represents a “modern metaphor, for what it is to lose empathy.”

Elaborating, he said: “I think that through modern technology, and obviously through drone warfare in particular, it’s possible to actually do quite horrific things by remote control, at a great distance, without actually feeling any of the consequences, or even feeling responsible in some way.”

He went on to claim that “we’re right on that edge” of “losing empathy.”

“And the next step in drones is gonna be autonomous drones, which actually make ‘kill’ decisions themselves, where no humans are involved,” he said.

Speaking about Muse’s recent UK tour of intimate venues, he said ‘Psycho’ received the best reaction from a crowd to a new song that he’s ever experienced. “It’s just one of those cheap house riffs. Ours sounds like a cross between a donkey and a mule, whatever it is,” he said. “It’s just one of those cheap riffs that everybody gets straight away and it’s really cool.”

Listen to ‘Dead Inside’ below. ‘Drones’ is out 8th June.