Formed:
1997 London, U.K.Members:
Guy Berryman - Bass
Jonny Buckland - Guitar
Will Champion - Drums
Chris Martin - Guitars, Piano, Vocals
Quote From Vocalist Chris Martin:
"We're trying to get to the very highest level. We want to be better than Mozart. That doesn't mean we are, but that's what we're trying for. To me, there's no point in trying for anything less."
Trivia Fact:
Chris Martin appears as a zombie in the 2004 horror comedy film Shaun Of the Dead.Early Days:
The four future members of Coldplay met as college students in London and became almost instant friends; the band grew out of their friendship. An early EP of only 500 copies got them a performance slot in the Manchester In the City music festival in 1998.Success with "Yellow":
Following the Manchester performance, connections with one talent scout led to another and ultimately a recording contract with Parlophone Records. A 1999 limited edition release titled The Blue Room received very positive press coverage. Two more EPs, Shiver and Yellow, followed in early 2000. The single "Yellow" soon became a worldwide smash hit single.
Coldplay's first full-length album, Parachutes, was released in the U.S. in November 2000. "Yellow" was a massive U.S. hit single by the spring of 2001, and Parachutes won a Grammy Award in early 2002 for Best Alternative Music album.
Coldplay Breakup Rumors:
Rumors of a breakup followed the band in 2001, but by the fall, they were back in the studio. Their second album, A Rush Of Blood To the Head, appeared in August 2002. It debuted at #5 on the U.S. album charts and earned two Grammy Awards, including a second Best Alternative Music award.
Breakup rumors again appeared following the success of A Rush Of Blood To the Head, and vocalist Chris Martin received intense media focus, particularly after his marriage to actress Gwyneth Paltrow in December 2003. Despite rumors to the contrary, the group stayed together and were back in the studio by the summer of 2004.
'X&Y':
In June 2005, Coldplay released their third studio album, X&Y. Fueled by the single "Speed of Sound," it debuted at #1 in 22 different countries and became the biggest selling album worldwide in 2005. Supporting the album, Coldplay went on a year-long world concert tour and made an appearance at Live 8.
In 2006, Coldplay took home the Brit Awards for Best Album and Best Single.Viva La Vida:
In December 2006, Coldplay announced that they had begun work on a fourth studio album. They spent the next year recording Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends with legendary producer Brian Eno. In late April 2008, the single "Violet Hill" was made available to fans for a week for free digital download. It was quickly followed by the single "Viva La Vida" available for purchase via iTunes. The band's supporting concert tour began in June 2008, coinciding with their album's release.
