Will Champion spoke a few days ago to LVZ in Germany just prior to the Leipzig show. Here is the online article (which has been gratefully translated into English by NancyK58). In the interview Will speaks about shyness, energy, Rihanna and a Leipzig-experience almost 12 years ago... [thanks Nancyk58]
Q. Coldplay become bigger and bigger. Do you wake up sometimes and are afraid that this is all a giant bubble that could suddenly burst?
Will Champion: "Something like that. I wake up and cannot believe that this is my life. It's still strange to me, because on the other hand I live a very private life. Not many people know who I am. It is very pleasant that on one hand I experience these incredible things with Coldplay - and then come home and can live in peace with my family".
You seem actually to be rather shy, introverted types who move on the stage. Optical illusion?
"It's true, everyone is really rather shy. But when we come together and make music, something happens. Everything that we do not otherwise dare to say, comes to light via the music. To be in this band keeps us healthy. It's not the same if one is missing."
Singer Chris Martin says all the band members would be playing just for you, the drummer. Do you believe him?
"No, he likes to say things like that. It is the combination of the four of us that makes us so unique. We are all serving the group.” (“we are all servants of the group)."
Your current album is called "Mylo Xyloto", a word that did not exist before. Is this a metaphor for the desire to create something completely new?
"Definitely. It has made us free to roll out such a blank (white) canvas." What is it? ", People asked when we told them of the title. Exactly what we wanted to hear. Because that was the point. We wanted to create a completely new world of color, music, noise and energy. "
On "Mylo Xyloto" there is a duet with Rihanna. Why?
"Because we had a song that called for a female singer. We have very intensely discussed who should sing the female part in "Princess of China". In the end, we said: If we are to have a female voice on the album, it should be the best one. Rihanna is a fantastic, very popular singer. By the way, she sounds rougher, more emotional than she is otherwise known to sound. Cooperation is something you had not expected from her and from us. We have already for quite a while been on the road as a band – then it is no longer so easy to make something unexpected. We wanted to keep us on our toes. "
It is of course also refined crossover-marketing: Many who so far only knew Rihanna, now also hear/listen to Coldplay - and vice versa.
"That was not the intention, but we are pleased with the nice side effect."
Back in 2005 you have played the Arena. Is Leipzig for you just a place where you play your songs and where you are celebrated?
"Well, a long, long time ago we had performed as one of several bands at the “Rolling Stone Roadshow”. We were very young, on the road with a lot of people on the bus. We were tired, sick, we had a difficult time as a band. It was just in Leipzig where we called off our performance (it was on 7 December 2000 in Haus Auensee, editor's note) and decided to cancel the tour. I remember how at the time I thought: Man, you really have to be tough to survive in a band. This tour, this canceled show in Leipzig was a wake-up call for us: You cannot expect to get to the top straight away, you have to work hard for it. To come to Leipzig again also means finally bringing that spirit from back then back into the bottle. "
"Coldplay" is quite contrary to its literal meaning synonymous with emotion and passion. How do you manage to get in this mood when writing?
"For us it's all about honesty. We sniff out (find out) very quickly if something is not authentic or sincere. In our songs, we want to convey emotions. If something is not honest, it feels wrong, in the ears, in the body , everywhere."
As the drummer, do you have a favourite Coldplay song?
"For the time being it is "Charlie Brown" from the new album. It is straight, simple - and very satisfying and powerful. I have always liked to play "The Scientist". I can breathe well during this song and concentrate on this lovely, relaxing Groove."
They say we stand on the shoulders of giants. On what musical shoulders are Coldplay standing?
"As a band we stand on everything there was before us. All that we hear, inspires us, interests us, makes us curious: How have they produced this sound? The great bands of our generation have of course influenced us: Oasis, Blur, Nirvana. Ultimately, however, we all stand on the shoulders of the Beatles."
What about folk music?
"I grew up with it at home. In folk music as in our music it is not about flashy productions and stylish stuff, but it is about the heart of a song: The melody and the lyrics. I like dance music and hip-hop, but a good song means everything to me. "
It is probably not easy to be one of the most successful bands on the planet. How do you deal with the pressure?
"There's the pressure that we make ourselves trying to make the most of us. But we have now arrived at a point where we are very satisfied with who we are and what we do. I think pressure is created, if you are not sure of yourself, when you are not at peace with yourself. We love what we do. We feel no expectations from outside. We're like a crazy male four-way marriage -.... happy, full of energy."
It sounds as if Coldplay will continue for much longer.
"Let us first come to Leipzig!"
New photos of Coldplay performing at the Eden Arena, Prague, Czech Republic (16 September 2012):
Photos courtesy of tyden.cz
Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:
FEBRUARY 2012
8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]
9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]
10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]
12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]
16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]
21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]
MARCH 2012
2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]
4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]
APRIL 2012
17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]
18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]
20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]
25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]
27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
MAY 2012
1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]
4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]
18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]
20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]
22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]
24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]
29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]
JUNE 2012
1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]
9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]
9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]
29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]
JULY 2012
2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]
3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]
5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
AUGUST 2012
1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]
3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
10 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]
11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]
28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]
30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
SEPTEMBER 2012
2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]
4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]
6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]
7 Los Angeles, US @ Shrine Auditorium (Stand Up To Cancer) [discussion] [NEW!]
9 London, UK @ Paralympics Closing Ceremony [discussion]
12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]
14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]
16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]
19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]
22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]
NOVEMBER 2012
10 Auckland, New Zealand @ Mt Smart Stadium [discussion]
13 Melbourne, Australia @ Etihad Stadium [discussion]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion]
18 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion] [NEW!]
21 Brisbane, Australia @ Suncorp Stadium [discussion]
Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)
Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)
Read also: 2012: Live Appearances - Easy Thread Finder (last updated - 12th January 2012)
Read also: 2012 tour date rumours (please post dates for ALL countries in here)
Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]
The new range of Coldplaying merchanise (unofficial of course to the official shop) has hit our stores, with our biggest range of goods so far. Prices are as low as they can be for a Cafepress shop so more people will be able to afford them. We don't take any profits for the sale of the merchandise as a result. Take a browse in one of the online stores nearest to you: UK | US | Canada | Australia | European (shipping is worldwide, but you can choose what currency to pay in) - simply alter the country dropdown menu at the top of the shop page. [thanks to TracieMorgan and zzz]
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