In 2004, British alternative rock band Muse—whose album Absolution, released the previous year, marked their breakthrough with symphonic arrangements and apocalyptic motifs—headlined the third day of Pinkpop, Europe’s oldest annual festival in Landgraaf. Their electrifying set, brimming with Matt Bellamy’s dramatic guitar solos and theatrical flair, captured their shift from underground indie to arena-scale sound, where psychedelia merged with grunge. Undeterred by rainy weather, the performance lit up the crowd, showcasing the band’s charisma and knack for turning a festival stage into an epic narrative, a turning point in their European ascent.