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• Coldplay are supporters of Amnesty International, and singer Chris Martin is also noted as one of the most visible celebrity advocates for fair trade, supporting Oxfam's “Make Trade Fair” campaign.
• The band had two other names, Pectoralz and Starfish, before settling on the now famous Coldplay.
• Chris Martin is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and the couple has two children, Apple and Moses.
• Chris Martin is ambidextrous. He writes with his left hand, plays guitar the orthodox way, and draws with his right hand.
• Lead guitarist Jonny Buckland is the godfather of Martin's daughter Apple.
• Buckland studied astronomy and mathematics at University College London, where drummer Will Champion also studied anthropology.
• Bass player Guy Berryman is rumored to be the U.K.'s fourth richest man under the age of 30.
After surfacing in 2000 with the breakthrough single "Yellow," Coldplay quickly became one of the biggest bands of the new millennium, honing a mix of introspective Brit-pop and anthemic rock that landed the British quartet a near-permanent residence on record charts worldwide. The group's emergence was perfectly timed; Radiohead had just released the overly cerebral Kid A, while Oasis had ditched two founding members and embraced psychedelic experimentation on Standing on the Shoulders of Giants. U.K. audiences were hungry for a fresh-faced rock band with big aspirations and an even bigger… Read more
After surfacing in 2000 with the breakthrough single "Yellow," Coldplay quickly became one of the biggest bands of the new millennium, honing a mix of introspective Brit-pop and anthemic rock that landed the British quartet a near-permanent residence on record charts worldwide. The group's emergence was perfectly timed; Radiohead had just released the overly cerebral Kid A, while Oasis had ditched two founding members and embraced psychedelic experimentation on Standing on the Shoulders of Giants. U.K. audiences were hungry for a fresh-faced rock band with big aspirations and an even bigger sound, and Coldplay were more than happy to take the reins. Parachutes went multi-platinum in several countries and earned the band their first Grammy, but Coldplay continued to grow into the 2000s, topping their debut album's success with higher record sales and an increased public profile.
Chris Martin (vocals/piano), Jon Buckland (guitar), Will Champion (drums), and Guy Berryman (bass) were all born into musical households. Martin, the eldest of five, began playing the piano as a young child and later took solace in the work of Tom Waits. Buckland, on the other hand, grew up with the heavy guitar sounds of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Scotland native Berryman preferred funk to indie rock, thereby leaving him to play bass, while multi-instrumentalist Champion didn't plan to be a drummer until he joined Coldplay's lineup. The bandmates came together in 1996 while attending the University College of London, and the Safety EP was issued shortly after their first gig at a Manchester festival for unsigned bands. The release only saw 500 pressings, as did the subsequent Brothers & Sisters EP. Nevertheless, it was enough to win the band a U.K. deal with Parlophone Records in April 1999, and the five-track Blue Room EP arrived that fall. With nods from the media, the foursome was hailed as the next Travis, thanks to their simplistic acoustics and charming personas.
Parlophone ushered Coldplay into Parr St. Studios in Liverpool, where they recorded the bulk of their debut album. Parachutes was released in July 2000 and became a swift hit on the strength of four U.K. singles, several of which enjoyed popularity in America as well. With "Yellow" climbing the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, Parachutes was released in the U.S. in November, where its sales soon rivaled -- and eventually surpassed -- those in the U.K.
Riding on the strength of their universally popular debut, Coldplay headed back into the studio in fall 2001 to work on a sophomore album. They emerged with A Rush of Blood to the Head, releasing the album worldwide in August 2002 and embarking on a global concert tour soon after. "The Scientist" enjoyed regular radio rotation, while both "Clocks" and "In My Place" won Grammy awards. The CD/DVD package Live 2003 was issued to highlight the group's popular tour, and Martin specifically earned a higher notch on the celebrity scale by marrying actress Gwyneth Paltrow in December 2003. Paltrow gave birth to the couple's first daughter, Apple Blythe Alison Martin, the following April.
Fatherhood didn't stop Martin from working, as Coldplay began recording material for a third album within weeks. Previously recorded material with longtime producer Ken Nelson was scrapped early on, while Danton Supple (Morrissey, the Cure) joined Coldplay to complete the recording of X&Y. "Speed of Sound" marked Coldplay's first single from their long-awaited third effort in spring 2005; the album followed in June, topping charts around the world and selling more than eight million copies during its first year.
Such success put Coldplay on the same commercial level as U2, and Coldplay retreated to the studio in late 2006 to work with famed producer Brian Eno (who had teamed up with U2 two decades prior for The Joshua Tree). Recording sessions with Eno were completed within one year, followed by several months of mixing and growing anticipation from the band's audience. Viva la Vida -- also known by its extended name, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends -- ultimately arrived in June 2008. Worldwide sales for the album had approached six million by November, when Coldplay released several new recordings (including a collaboration with hip-hop mogul Jay-Z) as part of the Prospekt's March EP. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
Coldplay's rise to stardom was quick after the release of their debut LP Parachutes (2000) spawned four UK Top 10 hits ("Shiver", "Yellow", "Trouble", and "Don't Panic"). It garnered the band numerous award nominations, eventually winning three prestigious awards; the Q Award for Best Album, the BRIT Award for Best British Album, and a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
Coldplay cemented their status as Britain's biggest new band with their next release, A Rush of Blood to the Head. It produced numerous Top 10 hits worldwide (notably "The Scientist" and "Clocks"), as well as winning the… Read more
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Coldplay's rise to stardom was quick after the release of their debut LP Parachutes (2000) spawned four UK Top 10 hits ("Shiver", "Yellow", "Trouble", and "Don't Panic"). It garnered the band numerous award nominations, eventually winning three prestigious awards; the Q Award for Best Album, the BRIT Award for Best British Album, and a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
Coldplay cemented their status as Britain's biggest new band with their next release, A Rush of Blood to the Head. It produced numerous Top 10 hits worldwide (notably "The Scientist" and "Clocks"), as well as winning the group three Grammy awards (Best Alternative Music Album, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "In My Place", and Record of the Year for "Clocks"), the BRIT Award for Best British Album, and the Q Award for Best Album. The band went on a global tour in support of the album, covering five continents and lasting more than a year. The Rush of Blood to the Head Tour saw Coldplay's shows grow in size and grandeur as the band began including stage effects, screens and elaborate lighting, showing that Coldplay were truly a big stadium act. Upon the heels of the success of A Rush of Blood to the Head and the subsequent tour, Coldplay became a reference point to describe many other bands' sound, as copyists flooded the market trying to cash in on their success.
Coldplay's third album, X&Y, was so highly anticipated that when the band happened to delay its release into the next fiscal year, it caused their label EMI to see a sharp drop in share prices. When X&Y was finally released in June 2005, it was to wide commercial success reaching No.1 in 18 markets around the world and achieving multi-platinum status in most. However, X&Y did not see the same critical success of the previous two, drawing mixed reviews and criticism from some.
Coldplay have become known for being politically liberal - frontman Chris Martin was opposed to the war in Iraq and with his American wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, actively campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Coldplay also vocally support and promote numerous charitable causes, including Amnesty International, Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign, and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Coldplay's fourth album, Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, was released in June 2008.
September, 1996: The members of the band meet at University College, London.
1997: The band begins performing gigs for local promoters at small London clubs.
1998: Coldplay self-releases 500 copies of the Safety EP.
Spring, 1999: After completing final exams in school, Coldplay signs to Parlophone Records for a five-album contract.
March, 1999: The band appears at Glastonbury and records its third EP, The Blue Room, which receives airplay on Radio 1.
April, 1999: Coldplay releases their first Fierce Panda EP, Brothers and Sisters.
March, 2000: Coldplay scores their first Top 40 single with "Shiver."
June, 2000: In a pivotal moment in Coldplay's history, the band embarks on its first headlining tour, including a triumphant return to Glastonbury, and releases its hit song, "Yellow."
July, 2000: Coldplay's first full-length album, Parachutes, debuts at #1 on the U.K. charts.
November, 2000: Parachutes is released in North America, eventually achieving double-platinum status.
August, 2002: Coldplay releases A Rush of Blood to the Head. The album spawns several popular singles, notably "In My Place," "Clocks," and "The Scientist".
2002-2003: The band tours for over a year, visiting five continents. During the extended tour, Coldplay records a live DVD and CD, Live 2003 at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion.
December, 2003: Coldplay is named by readers of Rolling Stone magazine as the best artist and the best band of the year.
June, 2005: Coldplay's third album, X&Y, is released in the U.K. and Europe, becoming the best-selling album of 2005 with worldwide sales of 8.3 million.
2005-2006: The Twisted Logic Tour includes festival dates like Coachella, Glastonbury, and the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
December, 2006: The band begins work on their fourth studio album with producer Brian Eno.
June 17, 2008: Coldplay releases the highly anticipated Viva la Vida.
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