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Pre-Lolla, Muse Bassist Relaxes With the Fire

By Kim Bellware in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 5, 2011 4:00PM

The Chicago Fire had an unexpected ringer with them during their training session yesterday at Toyota Park. Bassist Chris Wolstenholme, from Lollapalooza headlining act Muse came to Bridgeview to run with the team and play a few pickup games before the fest. Wolstenholme, a self-admitted soccer fan, told the Men in Red that he's definitely the best footy player in Muse, later clarifying "I'm the only one."

According to the Fire, Wolstenholme and the rest of the band search out a soccer game prior to most of their shows and go for a run with the local team. Wolstenholme said that while in Europe he doesn't visit many of the Premier league fields due to his loyalty to his hometown squad, Rotherham United. Instead, he visits "all the crappy League 2 grounds." He wasn't asked specifically, but we imagine he found the grounds for the Fire pretty nice.

In the video below, you can see Wolstenholme making a few one-touch passes with the squad. He said he hasn't played "properly" in years, but some of his passes aren't half bad. Then again, after the Fire's 1-1 draw against the Philidelphia Union Wednesday, he might find sticking to music less frustrating than playing for the Fire. We kid!

The Fire are back in action this Sunday against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Vancouver, with the next home game coming agaist D.C. United August 16.

Muse headlines Lollapalooza tonight.