HAARP (album) explained

HAARP
Type:live
Longtype:and Video
Artist:Muse
Cover:Haarp.jpg
Released:17 March 2008
Recorded:
  • 16 June 2007 (CD)
  • 17 June 2007 (DVD)
Venue:Wembley Stadium (London)
Genre:
Label:
Producer:Muse
Prev Title:Black Holes and Revelations
Prev Year:2006
Next Title:The Resistance
Next Year:2009

HAARP is a live album and video by English rock band Muse, released on 17 March 2008 in the United Kingdom[1] and 1 April 2008 in the United States.[2] The CD documents the band's performance at London's Wembley Stadium, as part of their Black Holes and Revelations Tour, on 16 June 2007, while the DVD contains 20 tracks from the performance on 17 June. The total number of audiences watching the band's shows on 16 and 17 June 2007 was 180,000 (150,000 seated and 30,000 standing). It was named the 40th greatest live album of all time by NME in 2010.[3]

Set design

For their performances at Wembley, Muse had the stadium decked out with massive props to dress it as the Ionospheric Research Instrument of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), a US government-funded ionospheric research program in Gakona, Alaska which uses high frequency radio waves to cause changes in the ionosphere.[4] and stated in a 2006 interview "Some people think it's designed to tap into the ionosphere to control the weather. Others think it's there to diffuse UFO beams, or to send out microwaves to control our thoughts". In 2008 they explained to Virgin Radio "All these sort of antennas, cables, screens and stuff are based on the same sort of layout as the HAARP layout".

Release and promotion

In the build-up to the release of the recordings, the band released a number of web-format clips from the DVD. The full performance of "Unintended" was added to the band's official website on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2007,[5] dubbed as a "little taste of things to come".[6] On 11 January 2008, a microsite at www.he-3.mu was announced,[7] featuring a grid of six boxes representing thumbnails of short clips from the DVD. By 17 March, all six clips were filled, featuring short clips from "Knights of Cydonia", "Supermassive Black Hole", "Feeling Good", "New Born", "Blackout" and the outro riffs of "Stockholm Syndrome". "Feeling Good" was also released in full to radio and television stations shortly afterwards, although it was not advertised on the official website.[8] Vue cinemas held special screenings of the concert in high definition on 11 March 2008 at select cinemas.[9]

A special edition of HAARP was released in addition to the regular CD/DVD, which features additional backstage footage and bonus postcards showing pictures of the three band members.[10] The HAARP microsite is available for visitors to download iPod- and iPod Touch-/iPhone-formatted videos and mp3s of "Knights of Cydonia", "Supermassive Black Hole", "Unintended" and "Plug in Baby" featured on the DVD for free. Included is a bonus video of "Micro Cuts" and an mp3 of "Soldier's Poem" from the performance on 16 June.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Matthew Bellamy, except where otherwise noted.

Notes
  • 1. "Knights of Cydonia" incorporates elements of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", written by John Williams
  • 2. "Map of the Problematique" incorporates elements of "Maggie's Farm" as performed by Rage Against the Machine, originally written and performed by Bob Dylan
  • 3. "New Born" incorporates elements of "Microphone Fiend" as performed by Rage Against the Machine, originally written and performed by Eric B. & Rakim and containing elements of "School Boy Crush", written by Hamish Stuart, Steve Ferrone, Alan Gorrie, Roger Ball, Molly Duncan and Onnie McIntyre and originally performed by the Average White Band
  • 4. "Stockholm Syndrome" incorporates elements of "Township Rebellion" originally written and performed by Rage Against the Machine and "Endless, Nameless" written and performed by Nirvana, as well as a rudimentary version of the main riff of their future song "Psycho"
  • 5. An easter egg features on the DVD. If the 'Gallery' screen is displayed, the left button on the remote control can be clicked to highlight Dominic Howard's trousers. If the enter button is pressed whilst the trousers are highlighted, a screen will come up advertising the band's website.[11]

    Personnel

    Muse

    Additional musicians

    Additional personnel

    Charts and certifications

    Year-end charts

    Chart (2008)Position
    Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] 85
    Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[13] 50
    French Albums (SNEP)[14] 70
    UK Albums (OCC)[15] 161

    Certifications

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: H.A.A.R.P – CD/DVD – Out March 17th! . . 1 February 2008 . 3 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080205060202/http://muse.mu/index.php?sec=news-334 . 5 February 2008.
    2. Web site: H.A.A.R.P CD/DVD Release for U.S . . 22 February 2008 . 22 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080303164742/http://muse.mu/index.php?sec=news-340 . 3 March 2008.
    3. The 50 greatest live albums of all time . 40 – Muse – 'Haarp . 9 March 2011 . . IPC Media . United Kingdom . 0028-6362 . 24 September 2011.
    4. Web site: Muse's Matt Bellamy: 'September 11 is clearly an inside job' . Mike . Diver . 13 October 2006 . . 24 September 2011 . 10 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121010192234/http://drownedinsound.com/news/1211224-muses-matt-bellamy--september-11-is-clearly-an-inside-job . dead .
    5. Web site: A Christmas Present From Muse... . Muselive.com . 24 December 2007 . 3 February 2008 .
    6. Web site: Unintended From Wembley in Downloads Section! . . 10 January 2008 . 3 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080115085629/http://muse.mu/index.php?sec=news-329 . 15 January 2008.
    7. Web site: A taste of things to come! . . 11 January 2008 . 3 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080120140707/http://www.muse.mu/index.php?sec=news-330 . 20 January 2008.
    8. Web site: Extended Teaser Online! . Muselive.com . 1 February 2008 . 3 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080207151418/http://www.muselive.com/index.php?m=single&id=3639 . 7 February 2008 . dead.
    9. Web site: Wembley Stadium in HD at Vue Cinemas . Muselive.com . 23 February 2008 . 23 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714133522/http://www.muselive.com/forums.php?m=posts&q=29654 . 14 July 2011 . dead .
    10. Web site: Play.com (UK): Muse – H.A.A.R.P: Live at Wembley 2007 (Special Edition CD & DVD): CD – Free Delivery . Play.com . 17 March 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080331013234/http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/5180959/H-A-A-R-P-Live-At-Wembley-2007/Product.html . 31 March 2008.
    11. Web site: HAARP Easter Eggs . eeggs.com . 24 September 2011.
    12. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2008. Ultratop. 16 September 2021.
    13. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2008. Ultratop. 16 September 2021.
    14. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2008. SNEP. fr. 16 September 2021.
    15. Web site: 2008 Year-End UK Charts. Chart Plus. Official Charts Company. 16 September 2021.

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