HAARP (album)

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. 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

• Kerrang! -- 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, dubbed as a "little taste of things to come". On 11 January 2008, a microsite at www.he-3.mu was announced, 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. Vue cinemas held special screenings of the concert in high definition on 11 March 2008 at select cinemas.

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. 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.

Personnel

Muse

• Matthew Bellamy – lead vocals, guitar, piano, production, mixing
• Christopher Wolstenholme – bass, backing vocals, guitar on "Hoodoo", production, mixing
• Dominic Howard – drums, electronic drums and backing vocals on "Supermassive Black Hole", synthesiser on "Take a Bow", production, mixing Additional musicians
• Morgan Nicholls – keyboards, synthesisers, backing vocals, cabasa on "Supermassive Black Hole", bass on "Hoodoo", glockenspiel on "Soldier's Poem"
• Dan Newell – trumpet on "Knights of Cydonia" and "City of Delusion" Additional personnel
• Rich Costey – mixing
• Thomas Kirk – directing, editing, screen visuals
• Tommaso Colliva – assistant mixing
• Justin Gerrish – assistant mixing
• Vlado Meller – mastering
• Mark Santangelo – assistant mastering
• Ben Curzon – artwork
• Hans-Peter Van Velthoven – photography

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

References

1. (1 February 2008). "H.A.A.R.P – CD/DVD – Out March 17th!". [[Muse (band).
2. (22 February 2008). "H.A.A.R.P CD/DVD Release for U.S". [[Muse (band).
3. (9 March 2011). "The 50 greatest live albums of all time". IPC Media.
4. Diver, Mike. (13 October 2006). "Muse's Matt Bellamy: 'September 11 is clearly an inside job'". [[Drowned in Sound]].
5. Djamoos, Anton. (4 April 2008). "Muse – H.A.A.R.P.". [[AbsolutePunk.net]].
6. {{AllMusic. Andrew. Leahey
7. "Muse – HAARP". [[Melodic (magazine).
8. (20 March 2008). "Muse: HAARP". IPC Media.
9. Cohen, Ian. (16 April 2008). "Muse: H.A.A.R.P.". [[Pitchfork Media]].
10. (May 2008). [[Q (magazine). Q]]. Bauer Media Group
11. (24 December 2007). "A Christmas Present From Muse...". Muselive.com.
12. (10 January 2008). "Unintended From Wembley in Downloads Section!". [[Muse (band).
13. (11 January 2008). "A taste of things to come!". [[Muse (band).
14. (1 February 2008). "Extended Teaser Online!". Muselive.com.
15. (23 February 2008). "Wembley Stadium in HD at Vue Cinemas". Muselive.com.
16. "Play.com (UK): Muse – H.A.A.R.P: Live at Wembley 2007 (Special Edition CD & DVD): CD – Free Delivery". Play.com.
17. "HAARP Easter Eggs". eeggs.com.
18. "Jaaroverzichten 2008". Ultratop.
19. "Rapports Annuels 2008". Ultratop.
20. "Top de l'année Top Albums 2008". SNEP.
21. "2008 Year-End UK Charts". Chart Plus.