This article documents and preserves known details, visual evidence, and archival photography relating to a Dickinson active stage monitor wedge built for, owned and used by Muse, and utilized onstage by Matt Bellamy during live performances between 2012 and late 2014.¹
Special Note: This Stage-Used Dickinson Custom Active Stage Monitor Wedge with Rolling Flight Case is available for purchase (please contact me for details).
Custom Dickinson Monitor Wedge on Stage at Shepherd’s Bush “War Child” Concert in 2013
The monitor wedge documented here was deployed by Muse during select arena performances and major international festival appearances between 2012 and late 2014. Verified onstage appearances include a 2012 arena performance in Prague, Czech Republic, the War Child 20th Anniversary performance at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London (February 2013), Lollapalooza Brazil (2014), and Coachella (2014). ²³⁴⁵
Visual documentation confirms that Dickinson amplification systems were deployed selectively during this period, rather than universally across all Muse performances, indicating intentional deployment based on stage design and performance requirements rather than fixed backline use.
The object documented here is a Dickinson Custom Active Stage Monitor Wedge, housed within its original custom rolling flight case. According to direct correspondence with Jon Dickinson, founder and builder at Dickinson Amps, only two examples of this monitor wedge design were produced, and they were constructed specifically for Muse.⁶ The units were built with integrated monitor speakers and were used by Matt Bellamy both as onstage monitors and as deliberate feedback-generation tools during live performances.
In subsequent correspondence, Dickinson clarified the developmental sequence of Muse’s Dickinson equipment, noting that Bellamy initially used a MkII combo for recording, followed by MkII combo speaker cabinets mounted on a rotating stand, before transitioning to the custom monitor wedges documented here.⁶ These wedges therefore represent the final iteration in Bellamy’s Dickinson stage-monitor evolution during this era.
The wedge retains its original internal speaker components and remains mounted in its touring flight case, exhibiting wear and markings consistent with extended professional stage use.
Historical Context
During the early 2010s, Muse employed a variety of bespoke amplification and monitoring solutions as part of their evolving live production environment. Dickinson Amps, a UK-based boutique builder, supplied custom equipment tailored to Bellamy’s performance requirements, including specialized monitoring configurations designed to integrate controlled feedback as a musical and theatrical element.
This period encompasses the The 2nd Law touring cycle and subsequent festival performances, a time characterized by increasingly sophisticated stage design and intentional interaction between performers and amplification systems. The monitor wedge documented here functioned not merely as reinforcement equipment, but as an integrated performance tool within Muse’s live sound architecture.
Touring Use, Documentation and Photo Match (2012-2014)
This wedge was generally on tour for many appearances throughout 2013 and all three 2014 appearances, though first appeared in late 2012.
Archival material from Dickinson Amplification dated November 29, 2012 documents the completion of two custom “MUSE monitors,” matching the distinctive chrome enclosures seen in subsequent live performances beginning November 22, 2012. Below is an archival screen capture from the official Dickinson website showing the two stage monitors brand new prior to deliver to the band (posted on the site in late 2012):
Confirmed documented notable appearances of this wedge include:
November 22, 2012 — O2 Arena at Prague, Czech Republic
Earliest confirmed documented onstage appearance identified to date.
February 18, 2013 — O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (War Child BRITs Show) at London, United Kingdom
War Child BRITs Show 20th Anniversary performance.
June 2, 2013 — Horse Guard’s Parade Ground (World War Z Premiere), at London, United Kingdom
World War Z premiere performance. [see coverage, photos and videos here at RockSubculture.com] Performance held in conjunction with the London premiere of World War Z.
A distinct dent visible on the upper-right front framing of the wedge in a photograph taken by the author during this performance remains present on the unit today, allowing a direct visual photo match between contemporaneous imagery and the object as currently preserved:
September 9, 2013 — Parque Olímpico Cidade do Rock (Rock in Rio) at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Major international festival appearance.
September 20, 2013 — MGM Grand Garden Arena (iHeart Music Festival) at Las Vegas, Nevada
Major international festival appearance.
October 4 & 11, 2013 — Zilker Metropolitan Park (Austin City Limits) at Austin, Texas
Major international festival appearance.
April 5, 2014 — Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Lollapalooza Brasil) at São Paulo, Brazil
Major international festival appearance.
April 12 & 19, 2014 — Empire Polo Field (Coachella Festival) at Indio, California
Latest confirmed documented onstage appearance identified to date.
No documented onstage use of this wedge has been identified after late 2014.
Physical Description
The Dickinson Custom Active Stage Monitor Wedge features a floor-standing wedge form factor with angled front baffle designed for stage-side placement. The enclosure houses integrated monitor speaker drivers and internal routing consistent with professional live sound monitoring applications.
According to Dickinson, the units were fabricated with custom modifications, including hand-cut rear access openings for connectors and/or control access.⁶
The accompanying rolling flight case was custom-built for transport and storage of the wedge. Interior foam is cut to the contour of the enclosure, and exterior touring labels, surface wear, and handling marks are consistent with multi-year international touring use.
The monitor retains its original internal speaker configuration and remains preserved in its touring state.
The rolling flight case remains in original touring configuration. The original caster wheels were replaced by the author after acquisition due to deterioration consistent with age and extended use. The replacement wheels are of the same style and function as the originals.
Provenance and Acquisition
This monitor wedge was acquired directly from the Official Muse Reverb Store in London following its decommissioning from the band’s touring inventory. The purchase included the original rolling flight case and intact internal speaker components.
Subsequent research included review of archival video footage, broadcast material, concert photography, and contemporary documentation in order to establish confirmed onstage appearances and define a conservative usage timeline.
Statement of Rarity
Direct correspondence with Jon Dickinson confirms that only two examples of this custom monitor wedge were produced for Muse.⁶ No catalog listing, model designation, or production variant exists for this design outside of those two units.
With documented multi-year onstage use by Matt Bellamy, manufacturer confirmation of limited production, preserved original components, and a visual screen match to specific performance photography, the wedge documented here represents one of only two known examples of bespoke stage-monitoring equipment purpose-built for Muse’s live performances during the early 2010s.
Muse | Matt Bellamy Stage-Used Dickinson Active Stage Monitor Wedge with Rolling Flight Case Photography
Video: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (War Child BRITs Show) London
Video: MGM Grand Garden Arena (iHeart Music Festival) at Las Vegas
Video: Horse Guard’s Parade Ground (World War Z Premiere) at London
Video: Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Lollapalooza Brasil) at São Paulo
Video: Zilker Metropolitan Park (Austin City Limits) at Austin, Texas
Video: Parque Olímpico Cidade do Rock (Rock in Rio) at Rio de Janeiro
Live Performance Screencapture Examples
Collector Summary
This Dickinson Custom Active Stage Monitor Wedge represents a convergence of limited-production fabrication, verified artist use, and documented appearance across major international performances between 2012 and late 2014.
Constructed specifically for Muse as part of Matt Bellamy’s evolving Dickinson stage-monitor configuration, and confirmed by the builder as one of only two produced, the wedge occupies a distinct position within the band’s early-2010s live production history. Preserved in its original touring flight case, with intact internal components and identifiable period wear consistent with documented appearances, it stands as a historically anchored artifact from a defined chapter of Muse’s performance era.
Serious collector inquiries regarding this object may be directed privately: [email protected]
Notes & References
- Muse, English rock band formed in 1994.
- Prague, Czech Republic arena performance, 2012; archival video documentation.
- War Child 20th Anniversary performance, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, February 2013.
- Lollapalooza Brazil, 2014; festival performance footage.
- Coachella, United States, 2014; festival performance imagery.
- Jon Dickinson, Dickinson Amps; direct correspondence with author, January 2026.
