Simulation Theory World Tour
World
Concert tour nameSimulation Theory World Tour
ArtistMuse
AlbumSimulation Theory
Start date22 February 2019
End date15 October 2019
Number of legs4
Number of shows
  • 21 in North America
  • 30 in Europe
  • 1 in Asia
  • 7 in Latin America
  • 59 total
Attendance1,308,531 (55 shows)[citation needed]
Gross$102.3 million (55 shows)[citation needed]
Last tourDrones World Tour
(2015–16)
This tourSimulation Theory World Tour
(2019)
Next tourWill of the People World Tour
(2022–23)

The Simulation Theory World Tour[1] was a world concert tour by English rock band Muse, in support of their eighth studio album, Simulation Theory (2018). The tour began in Houston, Texas on 22 February 2019 and ended in Lima, Peru on 15 October 2019.[2] Numerous acts appeared as the opening act, including Tom Morello, Walk the Moon, Nothing But Thieves and SWMRS.[3]

The tour grossed $102.3 million, with more than 1.3 million tickets sold, based on 55 reported dates.[4]

Muse – Simulation Theory, a film containing live footage from the shows at The O2 Arena in London from 14 to 15 September 2019, as well as additional filmed scenes, was released on 17 August 2020 in IMAX cinemas worldwide with a digital download release on 21 August.[5]

Background

The Simulation Theory World Tour featured a new enhanced experience package that allowed access to an exclusive mixed reality pre-show party, powered by Microsoft. This included three original virtual reality games, inspired by tracks from Simulation Theory. Additional enhanced experience perks included a premium concert ticket, show-specific poster, interactive photo experience with props and memorabilia from the band's latest videos, and more.[6]

Staging and Production

The staging was similar to The Unsustainable Tour of 2013, with a few differences. It consisted of a main stage, two stage wings and a long catwalk to the B-Stage, where certain songs were played from throughout the show. Behind the stage there was a large LED screen displaying various visuals. During the Metal Medley near the end of the show, a large inflatable puppet skeleton called "Murph", similar to ones seen in the music video for "The Dark Side", was featured as if it were towering over the stage. The show also featured 14 dancers performing throughout the show during certain songs – some again linking to the music videos for the album.[7]

The show loosely told the story of being caged in simulations with the world battling back and defeating them with the "creator" at the end of the show. This narrative was expanded upon in the Simulation Theory film with additional scenes.

Setlist

  1. "Algorithm" (Alternate Reality version)
  2. "Pressure"
  3. "Drill Sergeant" + "Psycho"
  4. "Break It to Me"
  5. "Uprising"
  6. "Propaganda"
  7. "Plug in Baby"
  8. "Pray (High Valyrian)" (Matthew Bellamy cover)
  9. "The Dark Side"
  10. "Supermassive Black Hole"
  11. "Thought Contagion"
  12. "Interlude" + "Hysteria"
  13. "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable"
  14. "Dig Down" (Acoustic Gospel Version)
  15. "Madness"
  16. "Mercy"
  17. "Time is Running Out"
  18. "Houston Jam" (drum and bass jam, with "Futurism", "Unnatural Selection" and "Micro Cuts" riffs)
  19. "Take a Bow"
  20. "Prelude" + "Starlight"

Encore

  2. "Algorithm"
  3. "Metal Medley" (Extracts from "Stockholm Syndrome", "Assassin", "Reapers", "The Handler", "New Born")
  4. "Man with a Harmonica" + "Knights of Cydonia"

Personnel

  • Matt Bellamy - lead vocals, guitars, piano, synthesizers on "Algorithm"
  • Chris Wolstenholme - bass, backing vocals, guitar on "Dig Down (Acoustic Gospel Version)", percussion on "Pray (High Valyrian)", harmonica on "Man with a Harmonica"
  • Dominic Howard - electric & acoustic drums, percussion, backing vocals on "Supermassive Black Hole", synthesizers on "Take a Bow"
  • Morgan Nicholls - keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals, percussion including cabasa on "Supermassive Black Hole", guitar on "Uprising", "Thought Contagion", "Mercy", & "Starlight"

Shows

List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, opening act, tickets sold, number of available tickets and amount of gross revenue
Date[8]CityCountryVenueOpening actAttendance[9]Revenue[10]
Leg 1 — North America[11]
22 February 2019HoustonUnited StatesToyota CenterWalk the Moon7,092$538,042
24 February 2019DallasAmerican Airlines Center8,727$660,719
26 February 2019PhoenixTalking Stick Resort Arena7,706$604,356
28 February 2019Salt Lake CityVivint Smart Home Arena7,064$522,140
2 March 2019Las VegasMandalay Bay Events Center8,084$656,610
5 March 2019San DiegoPechanga Arena9,315$698,359
7 March 2019SacramentoGolden 1 Center5,781$468,832
9 March 2019OaklandOracle Arena11,242$960,794
11 March 2019InglewoodThe Forum12,662$1,096,514
23 March 2019AustinAustin 360 Amphitheater——
24 March 2019SunriseBB&T Center6,902$543,793
26 March 2019AtlantaState Farm Arena6,513$551,203
28 March 2019TorontoCanadaScotiabank Arena11,352$682,726
30 March 2019MontrealBell Centre15,930$968,738
31 March 2019Quebec CityVideotron Centre13,127$732,281
2 April 2019Washington, D.C.United StatesCapital One ArenaSWMRS11,271$868,582
4 April 2019DetroitLittle Caesars ArenaWalk the Moon11,168$541,958
7 April 2019PhiladelphiaWells Fargo CenterSWMRS10,557$708,322
8 April 2019New YorkMadison Square GardenWalk the Moon12,426$984,373
10 April 2019BostonTD Garden10,067$827,792
12 April 2019ChicagoUnited Center12,035$953,843
Leg 2 — Europe
26 May 2019PragueCzech RepublicLetňany AirportThe Atavists
Imodium		32,987 / 35,093$2,251,588
28 May 2019BudapestHungaryLászló Papp Sports ArenaDinosaur Pile-Up11,271 / 12,386$868,582
29 May 2019GrazAustriaStadthalle Graz14,365 / 14,658$1,029,318
1 June 2019LondonEnglandLondon StadiumTom Morello
Pale Waves		72,721 / 72,721$6,652,663
5 June 2019BristolAshton Gate Stadium23,579 / 23,579$2,068,648
8 June 2019[a]ManchesterEtihad Stadium43,128 / 43,128$3,732,041
12 June 2019RigaLatviaArena RigaKiefer Sutherland8,962 / 11,203$902,904
15 June 2019MoscowRussiaLuzhniki Stadium46,340 / 56,512$3,683,656
18 June 2019HelsinkiFinlandSuvilahtiKiefer Sutherland
The Amazons		15,979 / 15,979$1,407,586
22 June 2019KrakówPolandTauron ArenaAllusinlove[12]14,222 / 14,222$1,182,544
27 June 2019NijmegenNetherlandsGoffertparkSWMRS
Andy Burrows[13]		65,004 / 65,661$4,276,518
29 June 2019CologneGermanyRheinEnergieStadionAndy Burrows
The Amazons		40,400 / 42,526$3,113,013
30 June 2019[b]WerchterBelgiumWerchter Festivalpark
3 July 2019ZürichSwitzerlandHallenstadionSWMRS13,300 / 13,300$1,792,981
5 July 2019Saint-DenisFranceStade de FranceWeezer
Mini Mansions		131,321 / 147,552$12,225,296
6 July 2019SWMRS
Mini Mansions
9 July 2019MarseilleStade Vélodrome55,330 / 55,330$4,432,254
12 July 2019MilanItalySan SiroMini Mansions
The Amazons		89,619 / 103,010$6,158,308
13 July 2019Mini Mansions
Nic Cester
16 July 2019BordeauxFranceMatmut Atlantique38,613 / 38,613$3,063,978
20 July 2019RomeItalyStadio Olimpico50,385 / 50,385$3,506,064
24 July 2019LisbonPortugalPasseio Maritimo de AlgesMiles Kane
Mini Mansions		——
26 July 2019MadridSpainWanda MetropolitanoMini Mansions
Nic Cester		50,719 / 50,719$4,083,636
7 September 2019OsloNorwayTelenor ArenaDes Rocs[14]12,666 / 18,357$937,001
8 September 2019CopenhagenDenmarkRoyal Arena——
10 September 2019BerlinGermanyMercedes-Benz Arena12,500 / 13.441$1,055,850
12 September 2019AmsterdamNetherlandsZiggo Dome——
14 September 2019LondonEnglandThe O2 ArenaNothing But Thieves30,600 / 34,773$3,032,640
15 September 2019
17 September 2019BirminghamArena Birmingham13,191 / 13,741$1,192,030
Leg 3 — Asia
21 September 2019SingaporeMarina Bay Street CircuitGwen Stefani
Fatboy Slim
Leg 4 — Latin America
2 October 2019Mexico CityMexicoForo SolThe Ruse94,400 / 122,597$4,968,447
3 October 2019
6 October 2019[c]Rio de JaneiroBrazilBarra Olympic Park
9 October 2019São PauloGinásio do Ibirapuera[d]Kaiser Chiefs8,480 / 8,480$452,603
11 October 2019Buenos AiresArgentinaHipódromo de PalermoAirbag
Kaiser Chiefs		14,378 / 17,973$660,211
13 October 2019SantiagoChilePista AtleticaKaiser Chiefs15,701 / 18,692$1,114,378
15 October 2019LimaPeruJockey Club del Peru18,154 / 24,868$1,447,698
Total[15]1,308,531[citation needed]$102,357,939 (55 shows)[citation needed]

Notes

  1. ^ Due to a medical emergency, Pale Waves were forced to cut their set short. As a result both Tom Morello and Muse were delayed.[citation needed]
  2. ^ The concert on 30 June 2019 at Werchter Festival Park in Werchter was part of Rock Werchter festival.[16]
  3. ^ The concert on 6 October 2019 at Barra Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro was part of Rock in Rio festival.[17]
  4. ^ The concert in São Paulo on 9 October 2019 was originally scheduled in the Allianz Parque but it was moved to the Ginásio do Ibirapuera for undisclosed reasons.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Upcoming Events". Muse. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  2. ^ "NEWS – 2019 Simulation Theory World Tour". Muse. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  3. ^ Snitch, Event. "Muse – Simulation Theory tour coming to an end – Tickets, Show Details & Reviews for Concerts, Sports & more – Event Snitch". Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Muse — Simulation Theory Tour". Touring Data. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  5. ^ "Muse Simulation Theory Film". 11 August 2020.
  6. ^ "2019 Simulation Theory World Tour". Muse Official Website. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Simulation Theory World Tour – MuseWiki: Supermassive wiki for the band Muse". www.musewiki.org. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  8. ^ published, Richard Bienstock (2018-11-06). "Muse Announce 'Simulation Theory' World Tour Dates". Guitar World. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  9. ^ "Muse — Simulation Theory Tour". Touring Data. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
  10. ^ "Muse — Simulation Theory Tour". Touring Data. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
  11. ^ "Muse Official Website 2019 Simulation Theory World Tour". Muse Official Website. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  12. ^ "Krakow Support". Muse Official Website. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Mojo Concerts – Muse". Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  14. ^ "September Support". Muse Official Website. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  15. ^ "Muse". Pollstar. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Muse à l'affiche de Rock Werchter 2019" (in French). RTBF. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  17. ^ Oliviera, Luccas (30 October 2018). "Rock in Rio 2019: Muse, Imagine Dragons, Nickelback e Paralamas encerram a próxima edição do festival" (in Portuguese). O Globo. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Show do Muse em São Paulo muda do Allianz Parque para o Ginásio do Ibirapuera" [Muse concert in São Paulo is moved from Allianz Parque to Ibirapuera Gymnasium] (in Portuguese). Uol. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2020.