February 13, 200719 yr (February 13, 2007) The world famous British rock band Coldplay is now in Chile, but the three scheduled concerts in Santiago on February 14, 15, and 16 will largely be a privilege for Chile’s rich. The tickets, which start at US$80 for general admission and go up to US$160, remain out of reach for most Chileans in a country where the average monthly salary is only US$500 a month. Arriving in Chile Monday directly from London, Coldplay band members were quickly rushed into seclusion at Santiago’s Hyatt Hotel with their support staff of over 25 people. It is unknown if Gwyneth Paltrow, the Oscar-winning actress and wife of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, accompanied the band on their trip. The band’s arrival received widespread press in Chile. Fans gathered outside of the Hyatt to catch a glimpse of the band, and journalists did their best to get interviews from the hotel lobby. As Coldplay has not toured since July of last year, the band’s announcement that they will debut songs from their forthcoming album in Santiago only added to the frenzy. “We don’t know much about Chile, other than its pretty and the quickest way to get to Antarctica,” said Martin, adding that his band was happy to be in the country. Martin did say that he was a bit embarrassed about the high ticket prices. “We just found out how expensive they are and would like to say we are sorry. We didn’t know beforehand,” he said. “The tickets of course could not have been extremely cheap because we are playing smaller venues here, but the price is a little embarrassing. When you are a famous band, a lot of things happen that you don’t know about.” When asked what Coldplay would play at the concert, Martin told Chile’s El Mercurio daily that the set list was still up in the air. “It will be good material, whether it is old or new,” he said. “We don’t want to get too excited about the new songs, but rather play Yellow or Clocks (two of the band’s most famous songs). The fans that have tickets will have a great time, it will be familiar material.” When asked about the new disc, Martin said the topic was a bit premature. “We are going work with Brian Eno, but we’ll talk about that very soon,” he said. “Maybe there won’t even be another disc, we might just stay in Chile getting fat and drinking wine.” While the band mostly stayed in the hotel, a sound check was expected for Tuesday afternoon. The band was also reportedly at the famous Liguria restaurant in Providencia Monday night until 11 o’clock and said they were planning to visit Valparaiso on Tuesday. “We want to try to see the sea, take in a much history as possible, and get drunk,” added Martin. Coldplay had been expected to meet with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet as ambassadors for the NGO Oxfam, but no visit had been confirmed as of Tuesday afternoon. Bachelet previously met with U2 and Shakira when they were in town but is currently in the south of Chile on vacation. Press access to the band has been remarkably restricted. DG Medios, the company in charge of Coldplay’s Santiago concerts, repeatedly ignored The Santiago Times’ requests for information. Coldplay shot to fame in 2000 with the single “Yellow” and subsequent debut album “Parachutes.” Since then, the Brit band has emerged as one of the hottest groups in the world with their albums “A Rush of Blood to the Head” and “X&Y.” Coldplay has frequently supported international NGOs including Amnesty International and Oxfam. Martin said he had saved five tickets so that Oxfam members could pass out postcards at the three concerts in Santiago. The Latin American tour will also take the band to Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. Tickets for the Santiago concert still remain, but only those priced US$120 and US$160. The “cheap” seats quickly sold out. The three concerts are taking places at Santiago’s Espacio Riesco, and tickets can be purchased at http://www.ticketmaster.cl. SOURCE: EL MERCURIO, LA SEGUNDA By Nathan Crooks ([email protected])
February 13, 200719 yr Bigger bands usually have little control over tings like ticket prices, unless they're out of their record deals and manage their own affairs. It's too bad though. The best seats for Toronto were around $80 CAN.
February 14, 200719 yr Other newspapers, as La Tercera, told the same thing about the high prices. The cheapest ticket costs $40.000, and here in Chile that is a third of a regular salary, I mean, a family lives with that. Chris was amazed with the prices and started to give some tickets for free to the fans.
February 14, 200719 yr Good thing he addressed the situation. And to make up for it, I'm sure they won't dissappoint!
February 14, 200719 yr <P>The same happened here, in Brasil... I couldn't afford the tickets because they were way too expensive...</P> <P> </P> <P>Are you sure Chris gave tickets to fans? <IMG alt=0 src="http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/images/smilies1/shocked2.gif" border=0 smilieid="206"> </P> <P> </P> <P>Oh boy, I wish I could go...</P>
February 14, 200719 yr But here in Chile, I can give the benefit of doubt to the Producers, because Chris said some things like they wanted to play in the Estadio Nacional instead of Espacio Riesco because it was more popular. He also said that high prices was because of they like to do intime concerts.
February 14, 200719 yr Pretty sure. Rock and Pop radio informed that, and ColdplayChile crew was saying that some hours ago.
February 14, 200719 yr Chris seemed to mention getting drunk a couple of times there - I hope he isn't going to start drinking too much, it just seems weird for him to mention drinking as a joke cos he hardly ever mentions it. Maybe I'm being too paranoid.
February 14, 200719 yr Chris seemed to mention getting drunk a couple of times there - I hope he isn't going to start drinking too much, it just seems weird for him to mention drinking as a joke cos he hardly ever mentions it. Maybe I'm being too paranoid. You don't actually think they are gonna stay there and gete fat and drunk do ya? :P
February 14, 200719 yr it was really sad to see that some true fans are not able to pay alll that money for a ticket... I just bought the cheapest ticket.. row 44.. it was that or nothing.... well... I hope someday this'd change... anyway I'm too happy because they're here
February 14, 200719 yr Great! I thought on 14 too, but I can´t go! :cry: (es que me caes bien, por alguna razón, y eso que sólo te ubico de fotos!!)
February 14, 200719 yr I love your new siggy, Atenea_Brit!! Chile makes some very good wines...which I read Guy's already sampled some of,lol.;) Can't blame the boys for wanting to stick around for a while,lol!
February 14, 200719 yr Thankies Tracie Morgan. From Chile with Love!! And good piccies. Yeah, our wines are good, very:cool:
February 14, 200719 yr i have nothing good to say about the prices and Chris's comment on it. i'm happy cus they finally arrived to south America for all the fans, but i don't really know how many of them will afford coming to the gig. :(
February 14, 200719 yr Hi My name is ***** ******, and I live in Valparaíso, Chile. Today Mr. Chris Martin visited the museum where I worked. I was a big fan of Coldplay, until today. I was so trill that Mr. Martin was going to visit the place I work, I wanted to go to Santiago to attend the show this week, but I don´t have a car, so I can`t go. It was too far for me to attend the recital of the band. So when I knew he was going to visit the museum, I was so happy...but Mr. Martin was very rude to me. I said hi, and I introduce myself as a big fan of his band, he said hi and kept walking. The person in charge, told me to ask him if he wanted to have a guide or if he prefered to go by himself, then he turned into a coworker, and apparentely he wanted to be guided by her, so this coworker told him that I was the one who guided the visitors in English at the museum, and he loked at me saying no, I rather go on my own...He maked me feel like trash, just exactly the way the man I liked...reyected, when I was so respectfull...to be honest...he made me cry...and now...I don`t Know how I`m going to feel when I hear their songs...Mr Martin and the music of the band made me feel so peaceful, it was so refreshing to hear them, it made me feel so light, so happily quiet, and what it was most important, full of hope...but today...today I felt like a piece of trash...reyected...and I feel so sad... I am sorry... I know that all the people here write good and nice things about Colplay...but I had to express my feelings tonight...today their play was cold for me. Somehow, I feel I don`t deserved this unkindness from him, because after all, I am also a human being, and I feel, and maybe I am more sensitive than others,and that`s the thing; I thougth Mr. Martin was like that, too...but I was wrong. Maybe, in the future, the play will turn cold for him, too...maybe somebody very closed to him, or somebody he admires very much... will make him feel reyected, just the way he made me feel today. Chillean fan.
February 14, 200719 yr I don't think Chris is rude!! He gave tickets for free to the fans. The people that was giving the tickets all the time told that it were from him. Even newspapers said that Chris was very kind with people who worked on Pablo Neruda's home and with fans. Please give me the benefit of doubt.
February 14, 200719 yr It is sad that lots of people don't get the opportunity to go, but I don't think that that is down to the band themselves - it's the promoters. And at least the band have tried to give the biggest fans - those waiting outside for hours to meet them - the opportunity to go for free. Most bands wouldn't do that. Also I don't think people realise just how expensive it is to tour countries in places like South America. They have to transport all their equipment, fly all their staff and pay them their usual wages and pay for hotels for them all etc. The record company don't foot any of the bill for touring, so I actually doubt the boys make much or any profit from touring in these countries...
February 15, 200719 yr really whatever they care or not but must see about high ticket prices. that's a must, and i didn't understand the thing what he said about eating more and drinking wine and becoming fat! :\
February 15, 200719 yr Chillean fan. i don't know why he really writes 'bucket for a crown' when he behaves such a rude
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