Supermassive Black Hole

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Lore & Background

Matt Bellamy described the song as "the most different to anything we've ever done," citing influences ranging from the Beatles to Belgian bands like Millionaire, dEUS, Evil Superstars, and Soulwax. He noted these groups were pioneers in mixing R&B rhythms with alternative guitar, a style Muse adapted by adding elements of Prince and Kanye West. The track features a non-rock drumbeat with Rage Against the Machine-style riffs underneath, mixed with electronica to create something "different, slow, quite funky." Bellamy drew inspiration from clubbing in New York, aiming for a sound Franz Ferdinand might have achieved. A pivotal moment occurred during mixing when producer Rich Costey overruled the band's resistance to add a bridge, deeming the original version lackluster. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme then played a riff on a 4-string electric guitar from his hotel room, which became the song's iconic solo.

In Their Own Story

The music video for "Supermassive Black Hole" was directed by Floria Sigismondi and replicates a recurring dream she had involving dancers in full body suits filling a dark mirrored room. The visual narrative shows the band performing in a small furniture shop while wearing masks, intercut with images of dancers in Zentai suits. These dancers are eventually unzipped at the end to reveal beings made of space. Flashes of a black circle appear throughout, serving as a depiction of a supermassive black hole. Sigismondi has directed videos for other alternative acts such as Marilyn Manson and The Cure, but this video stands out for its surreal imagery where masks of faces or mirrors cover the performers in a dreamlike sequence.

Reader's Guide

The single was released on vinyl, CD, and DVD on 19 June 2006, with a digital download available a week prior. In the United States, it served as the third single from the album, released on 23 April 2007, eventually peaking at number six on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The B-side, "Crying Shame," was first performed live on 19 December 2004; its studio version omits a riff found in early performances and marks Bellamy's first use of profanity on a studio release. The song has appeared in numerous media properties, including the soundtracks for FIFA 07 and FIFA 23, and was released as downloadable content for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock alongside "Stockholm Syndrome" and "Exo-Politics." It featured in the Doctor Who episode "The Rebel Flesh," played during a scene in Twilight where the Cullens play baseball, and appeared in Black Mirror's "Mazey Day" and What We Do in the Shadows. The track was also used to wake up Space Shuttle Atlantis astronauts on 26 May 2010.

Did You Know?

• Producer Rich Costey overruled Muse to add a bridge featuring a guitar solo played by bassist Chris Wolstenholme.
• Chris Wolstenholme used a 4-string electric guitar from his hotel room to record the song's solo riff.
• The music video features dancers in Zentai suits who are unzipped at the end to reveal beings made of space.
• The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2015.
• Matt Bellamy cited Belgian bands Millionaire, dEUS, Evil Superstars, and Soulwax as key influences for mixing R&B rhythms with alternative guitar.