Rich Costey

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Lore & Background

The creation of 'Hysteria' began in Doncaster, England, where bassist Chris Wolstenholme transformed a blues-style riff played by Matt Bellamy into a machine-gun-like pattern of sixteenth notes. To capture this unique sound, Wolstenholme split his signal across three Marshall amps—one clean and two distorted—blending the results with a synthesizer. The recording took place at Air Studios in London in 2003. This collaborative effort between the band and Costey resulted in a distorted bassline that MusicRadar readers and Guitar World would later vote among the greatest of all time, with specific rankings emerging years later: sixth-best by MusicRadar in 2011 and fourth-best by Guitar World in 2022.

In Their Own Story

In late 2002, inside Air Studios in London, Rich Costey worked closely with Muse to finalize the sound of 'Hysteria.' The track had evolved from a jam session into a complex piece requiring precise engineering. Costey provided crucial feedback that led Matt Bellamy to restructure the song's arrangement. The team utilized advanced processing tools, including the Kyma sound design system, to manipulate the bass signal which had been split through three distinct amplifiers. By early 2003, at Livingston Recording Studios, the production was completed. This era defined Costey's contribution to the band's catalog, resulting in a track that captured a soul-consuming obsession with a 'machine-gun-like' rhythmic drive that would become a defining element of their third album, Absolution.

Reader's Guide

Rich Costey's role with Muse is strictly that of an external producer and collaborator. On 'Hysteria,' he co-produced the track alongside the band members themselves. His technical input was vital in restructuring the song following his feedback, ensuring the final arrangement met the desired sonic impact. He did not perform on the track but facilitated its creation through production choices, such as managing the multi-amp bass setup and integrating synthesizer elements via the Kyma system. The result of this guidance is a record that balances raw distortion with precise sound design. His work on 'Hysteria' stands as a specific example of his ability to help Muse translate their experimental ideas into a cohesive, chart-reaching single that reached number 17 in the UK and number 9 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Did You Know?

• Rich Costey co-produced 'Hysteria' alongside Muse.
• 'Hysteria' was recorded at Air Studios in London in 2003.
• The bassline Costey helped produce was voted sixth-best of all time by MusicRadar readers in 2011.