Guy Berryman has one of the best jobs in the world: he plays to stadiums full of adoring fans, has sold 50 million records and yet is still able to sit unrecognised in a London pub and nurse a pint on a lazy Sunday. To mark the release of the band's fifth album Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay's bassist talks to GQ.com about partying with A-ha, his obsession with Leica cameras and the schoolboy errors of disco style...

 

GQ.com: What's the most impressive live act you've ever seen?

 

Guy Berryman: I was completely blown away by Grace Jones. I saw her about a year ago in the Roundhouse in London. She's an absolute superstar. If she comes around again, I'd urge you to go and get some tickets.

 

Do you have any style rules?

 

Just keep it simple. When you over-think what you're wearing, that's when wardrobe malfunctions tend to happen. At school, there was an annual school disco and I'd be standing in my bedroom wondering what to wear for hours on end. Eventually I'd arrive at a decision that was just the most ridiculous costume you could have ever devised - I think it was probably knitted Christmas jumpers on top of buttoned-up white shirts. So keep it simple and stick to what you know.

 

Where's your favourite place to go out for a drink?

 

I usually go down to the Box nightclub on Wednesday nights, which is always a very "interesting" evening. If I want something a bit quieter, my favourite place to go is a pub called The Horseshoe up in Hampstead which has wicked food and a great vibe.

 

Which camera would you recommend?

 

My favourite is a Leica M7. It's just a very simple, well-made and robust. The design haven't changed very much in 100 years. I only shoot on film. I like the quality, the grain and the imperfections. It offers me something much more rewarding than any digital camera can give me. I believe the extra expense is worth it.

 

Which photographers do you admire?

 

A great Japanese photographer called Daido Moriyama and a German photographer called Thomas Struth who is quite an abstract artist. But in complete contrast, I also love pictures by Helmut Newton and David Bailey.

 

You've had a long-running collaboration with A-ha - were you always a fan?

 

Magne Furuholmen is a very dear friend of mine. A-ha are a classic pop band and they've got some brilliant songs. I'd say "The Living Daylights" was one of my favourite Bond tunes: regardless of it being a Bond song, it stands alone as a great piece of music.

 

Last year, you announced that you were teaming up with your brother to start an antique business...

 

I didn't announce that and in fact it isn't strictly true! My brother Mark moved to Sweden and he was collecting up really amazing painted rustic Swedish furniture. He began a business. He now works for a festival called Peace and Love over there in Sweden, so he doesn't have much time to concentrate on that any more. But there's certainly a big barn full of great furniture next to his house.

 

In 2008, you ran the London marathon. Any advice?

 

I started training for the marathon two months before it happened, which I wouldn't really recommend. It is do-able, but I think if you want to do it safely and properly, you should give yourself four to six months to train for it. Find a training schedule and stick to it. Don't try and overdo it. But don't do too little - 26 miles is a long way and the last four miles are going to really kill you. A good pair of trainers is essential. You've just got to have a clear focus really. The longest that I ran before the full 26 miles was 20 miles, which is just one way of doing it. I think some people might do more a little bit more than that before the big day, but it's all about keeping your legs fully charged for the big day itself.

 

What other challenges have you set yourself?

 

I like to be constantly learning things. I started training for a private pilot's licence, so I've been doing flying lessons over the last month or so. It is a particularly difficult! Other than just fly the aeroplane, you have to learn air law, navigation, meteorology, radio communications and you have to understand the effects and conditions of flying on the human body. You have about seven written exams as well as your flying time which you have to clock up. It's a big undertaking

 

What's the most ridiculous rumour you've ever heard - Lindsay Lohan chasing you round a festival?

 

We get all kinds of rumours! Sometimes there's bits of reality in them and sometimes they are completely fictitious. But we live in such a bubble in our studio up in London and we tend not to venture outside of it too much, so there's a lot of things that people talk about and say about us outside of that bubble that we don't really pay too much attention to.

 

Mylo Xyloto is released on the 24 October.

 

http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-10/18/gq-music-guy-berryman-coldplay-interview

Ha, he totally didn't deny that Lindsay Lohan rumour :lol:

Very interesting interview!

And what Mich said :laugh2:

Ha, he totally didn't deny that Lindsay Lohan rumour :lol:

 

Eww Gross....maybe it wasn't worth mentioning :laugh3:

Ha, he totally didn't deny that Lindsay Lohan rumour :lol:

 

What you said! I thought he'd be: "Yeah that one was crazy!" And then he says absolutely nothing.

 

And he is taking flying lessons! Mr. B can you be any more perfect?

thank you for finding this little gem, so who's for a Berrychicks meeting one sunday lunchtime at the Horseshoe?? LOL

omg I still have a thing for Guy after all this time. :freak:

very cool interview!

i like the fact that he uses a film camera still ...FILM !!!!! :)

Ha, he totally didn't deny that Lindsay Lohan rumour :lol:

I was thinking the EXACT same thing!

 

LOL u Guy :awesome:

 

 

Anyway, how cool is that he's taking freaking flying lessons!? I thought he'd more of a motorbike guy or something...

So I was curious and looked up this Box nightclub...uhm...interesting is really the right word to describe it :wtf:

Oh Guy :laugh3: the disco costume!! Could you imagine!? :lol:

 

Nice interview and cute answers :heart:

 

I want a leica camera so badly!!

great interview!!

So I was curious and looked up this Box nightclub...uhm...interesting is really the right word to describe it :wtf:

 

Isn't the Box Club where the TruthAid event was held last month? certainly a place for the open minded :shocked2:

Nice interview, it's great to know which photographers he likes. I'll google them :)

 

A good pair of trainers is essential.

 

And what makes a good pizza is the thinness of the dough.

Just when I tought I couldn't love Guy anymore than I already do, I find out that he is a marathon runner just like me :dazzled: #BoyCrush

And what makes a good pizza is the thinness of the dough.

 

ROFLMAO so true, such a nothing answer, something I think they've become very good at answering with over the years... we hang on their every word !

Just when I tought I couldn't love Guy anymore than I already do, I find out that he is a marathon runner just like me :dazzled: #BoyCrush

 

not meaning to spoil your crush Macky, he was a marathon runner in 2008, no confirmation if he still is? although his physic would suggest he is still training of some description didn't someone (sorry I can't remember who to quote them) say he was now experiencing hip problems, so he possibly isn't running quite that far anymore?

What's so "interesting" about that Box club?

*It's not a gay bar I hope*

Just when I tought I couldn't love Guy anymore than I already do, I find out that he is a marathon runner just like me :dazzled: #BoyCrush

N'AWWWW how cute!

 

What's so "interesting" about that Box club?

*It's not a gay bar I hope*

I just googled that club as well, I don't know if I got it right, but it seems to be a place where lots of weird people/artists meet and go on stage or something? :uhoh: May I say a modern freak show? xD

Ha, he totally didn't deny that Lindsay Lohan rumour :lol:

 

LOOOOL I tought that inmediatly too :lol:

he's really good at evading questions huh?

 

gosh I love this guy ... can't believe he likes hemult newton ♥

Just when I tought I couldn't love Guy anymore than I already do, I find out that he is a marathon runner just like me :dazzled: #BoyCrush

 

"Manlove rules ok!"

 

Great to see his love of a-ha pouring out. They are just sublime and so horribly underrated. Buy their "25" collection of best hits people! It is jammed pack with some of the best pop songs you'll hear. I've Been Losing You and Hunting High and Low are my two favourite a-ha songs.

 

 

Thank you Norway for that great band.

Ha, he totally didn't deny that Lindsay Lohan rumour :lol:

 

He better deny!!!!

Lindsey is a psycopath! :sneaky:

Just when I tought I couldn't love Guy anymore than I already do, I find out that he is a marathon runner just like me :dazzled: #BoyCrush[/quote

 

Bring it! I called dibs on Guy Rupert Berryman!:D

Never thought he'd agree to be on GQ. I'm glad he did it, tho.

 

And what makes a good pizza is the thinness of the dough.

:laugh3:

 

"I started training for a private pilot's licence"

HOW FRIGIN COOL IS THAT? :cool::wink3::smug:

I can imagine him on dashing pilot clothes.