Articles

Considering that album sales have been down in four of the last five years and are off by 2 percent from 2005, it might seem like faint praise to trumpet that Rascal Flatts pumps the biggest sales week of 2006.   But an opening week of 722,000 copies for "Me and My Gang" genuinely entitles Rascal Flatts to bragging rights. The opening tally is the biggest since Mary J. Blige Mary J. Blige rang 727,000 copies when "The Breakthrough" arrived during Christmas week 2005 and the largest week by a co

Pub has played host to Oasis and Coldplay   Bands including Razorlight and Klaxons have paid tribute to a legendary music venue that hosted early gigs by Oasis, Suede and Coldplay. The Joiners in Southampton, which has been a fixture on the national gig circuit since the 1960s, is now being celebrated in a BBC documentary.   First hosting live music in 1968, the venue has also seen live appearances from Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers and The Libertines. Klaxons bassist and singer Jamie Reynol

Razorlight have slammed rival bands who keep churning out the same old material.   Frontman Johnny Borrell says fans can expect variety in their new album - a veiled jibe at other bands, including Coldplay and U2, which play safe. He told Britain's NME magazine: "We're not one to do a formula and repeat it 10 times, we like to write songs."   The band is facing a race against time to finish their second album. The deadline to complete the record is in two weeks - but some tracks are still not fi

Razorlight have slammed rival bands who keep churning out the same old material.   Frontman Johnny Borrell says fans can expect variety in their new album - a veiled jibe at other bands, including Coldplay and U2, which play safe. He told Britain's NME magazine: "We're not one to do a formula and repeat it 10 times, we like to write songs."   The band is facing a race against time to finish their second album. The deadline to complete the record is in two weeks - but some tracks are still not fi

Razorlight and Muse have released albums with dreams of world domination written all over them.   The title of best band in Britain could be up for grabs with Coldplay taking a break, though Radiohead may still return to take the crown. Pretenders such as Keane, Snow Patrol, Embrace, the Feeling and Kooks will also want to assert claims.   The battle is given extra bite with the Muse CD nominated for the Mercury Prize. The Arctic Monkeys and Editors are also on the list. Muse's "Black Holes an

They won't be sporting it...   Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell has no interest in copying Coldplay when the band come back with a new look for their next album, according to reports.   Coldplay's distressed military look, which they adopted for their latest album 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends', has been the subject of much debate. And Borrell, who spent the last Razorlight album dressed in all-white, says he has no interest in the image. “Nah, it would be too much like when Col

There are not many musicians, let alone celebrities, who do as much work for charity as the lead singer of Coldplay. Chris Martin signed up to be a curator of well renowned charity, Global Citizen earlier this year, when he made a determination of eliminating global poverty by 2030. A very big statement and since then, Chris has wasted no time in his hands-on approach. Joining forces with The Global Poverty Project, the British frontman had been touring India for the whole week, guided by famous

Tuesday 29th May is the date the most hyped Coldplay single to date, A Sky Full of Stars finally hit the ears of all fans who had not been lucky enough to hear it live at the intimate shows performed in the US and in Germany.   It started off with a mixed reception but the gauge of positivity is increasing based on the latest poll results on our website and forum. the eighth single off Ghost Stories had set quite a high bar for itself and it did not meet the expectations for some but generally

Ahead of the release later this year of a new Coldplay book entitled 'Roadie: My Life on the Road with Coldplay', written by roadie Matt McGinn, there are a couple of reviews written online by the likes of Waterstones and Amazon. The reviews are below and after the jump. You can also see the full page on Roadie by Matt mcGinn at WikiColdplay now, which includes the full cover image, publication details and the pre-publication teaser released by the official Coldplay site last year.   WATERSTONES

Offering some festive cheer in the way of a Coldplay article (and almost previewing their forthcoming show on April 18th) are the Calgary Herald, who write this entitled 'Reasons to like Coldplay'. After you've got past the U2 comparisons and the Gwyneth references that invades most Coldplay articles these days, we couldn't think of a better way to say merry Christmas than this. So enjoy the article and... merry Christmas!   In 2008, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin famously told the U.K. newspape

What can one make of Domino records, the unassuming home to two of Britain's most exciting groups, Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys?   If Franz were celebrated for bringing a level of artistry and intelligent design to pop music (all of it based on the formulation "music for girls to dance to") Arctic Monkeys are a bona fide phenomenon.   A week after the release of their first album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, Billboard magazine was reporting that it had sold more than 120

UK record companies released 31,291 albums in 2005 - more than double the number released 10 years previously, and almost 2,000 more than 2004.   According to figures published by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), online and digital music retailers are chiefly responsible for the rise. Seven of the UK's Top 10 best-selling albums of 2005 were by British acts. BPI chairman Peter Jamieson hailed last year as "predominantly a year of home-grown British rock bands".   The trade association h

UK record companies released 31,291 albums in 2005 - more than double the number released 10 years previously, and almost 2,000 more than 2004.   According to figures published by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), online and digital music retailers are chiefly responsible for the rise. Seven of the UK's Top 10 best-selling albums of 2005 were by British acts. BPI chairman Peter Jamieson hailed last year as "predominantly a year of home-grown British rock bands".   The trade association h

Mission: To find some San Jose funk. Accomplished.   If there is one thing my experience reporting has made clear, it is that a story can be wheedled out of just about anyone, anything, anywhere. And my random adventure to The Record Shop is a case in point.   So, take Bus 22 into Downtown San Jose. Hop off somewhere in the middle of the main drag. Walk a few blocks, and you just may be fortunate enough to encounter a unique urban boutique. Crossing the store's threshold, a mini metropolis of CD

Mission: To find some San Jose funk. Accomplished.   If there is one thing my experience reporting has made clear, it is that a story can be wheedled out of just about anyone, anything, anywhere. And my random adventure to The Record Shop is a case in point.   So, take Bus 22 into Downtown San Jose. Hop off somewhere in the middle of the main drag. Walk a few blocks, and you just may be fortunate enough to encounter a unique urban boutique. Crossing the store's threshold, a mini metropolis of CD

Pregnant Gwyneth Paltrow is taking inspiration from her mother, Blythe Danner, who put her acting career on hold to raise Paltrow and her brother, Jake.   Now that the 31-year-old actress is expecting a child - though she will not say when she is due - with her husband, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, she said: "I might not work for ages."   "My mother turned down every fantastic movie there was," Paltrow tells W magazine for its June issue.   "She turned down these amazing things that would

Mattresses, a trampoline and a dinosaur... Removal men shift Chris and Gwyneth's things as they rearrange / relocate to LA   When a family calls in the removal men, it gives nosy neighbours a chance to gawp at the contents of their house, reports the Daily Mail. And in the case of famously private Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, you could forgive neighbours for being especially curious.   Carrying items out of the high-profile couple's London home, the removal company's haul included a trampol

Forget about the faux French Revolution uniforms. Flag away accusations they make "music for bedwetters". And ignore all that gossip about the Hollywood marriage, the macrobiotic diet and naming your kids after fruit.   When Coldplay take to the stage, something epic happens. Singles you've dismissed as radio-friendly fodder become foot-stomping classics. Songs thought of as straight U2 ripoffs turn into surprisingly grunty rock numbers. And you'll find yourself singing along to previously ropey

Coldplayer Jason-DeBord has written a fantastic review to go with his up-close and personal photos of Coldplay's benefit concert last night, which took place at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, in collaboration with iHeartRadio and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Los Angeles radio stations KIIS FM, 98-7FM and MYFM. The proceeds of the show benefit two charities – A Place Called Home and Youth Mentoring Connection. Read Jason's full review at the link above (excerpt and a selection of photos bel

Julien Temple's new film Glastonbury isn't the first attempt to bring the festival's myriad wonders to the screen - the 1995 Lottery-money squandering Glastonbury The Movie regrettably springs to mind. But it looks like they've got it right this time. If you really want to know what it feels like to be edged out of a muddy field by thousands of confused Coldplay fans then this is for you.   Actually, this provides a decent, music-filled overview of the summertime fixture and this series of speci

Julien Temple's new film Glastonbury isn't the first attempt to bring the festival's myriad wonders to the screen - the 1995 Lottery-money squandering Glastonbury The Movie regrettably springs to mind. But it looks like they've got it right this time. If you really want to know what it feels like to be edged out of a muddy field by thousands of confused Coldplay fans then this is for you.   Actually, this provides a decent, music-filled overview of the summertime fixture and this series of speci

Aftershow pictures featuring Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z are here   Whilst industry heads have been ringing all of their contacts, eBay auctions have been inundated with bids, RWD had what they were all after, tickets to the UK music event of the year. And we ain’t talking MOBOs. Fast forward one week and the same historic venue hosted the biggest name in hip hop as he brought the UK leg of his world tour to a dynamic close.   Jay-Z was to be the firs

Live music events are the life blood of Austin's entertainment scene. This year's Austin City Limits music festival was the hottest ticket in more ways than one.   Superstar rockers Coldplay capped a marathon weekend of live music overload.   ACL organizers limited the crowd to 65,000 people per day, which was 10,000 fewer than the previous year. The goal was to give people more breathing room to enjoy the event, and that part of the plan worked.   "I think we're right where we need to be,” f

An interesting story of the evolvement of Coldplay's studio recording of 42 has been published by a former Rolling Stone employee. Read the full article below:   Earlier this year, I flew to London to visit Coldplay as they put the finishing touches on their new album, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, for a short profile.   Chris Martin and friends welcomed me to their cozy studio/clubhouse in a tiny section of North London near all of their houses. They were still debating which songs

Richard Ashcroft feels like he's 'married' to Chris Martin after the pair's duet at Live 8.   The Coldplay singer called the former Verve frontman "the best singer in the world" at the global event last summer – and Ashcroft has found the accolade a mixed blessing.   He says, "It's a gift and a curse. It's a gift to be given an opportunity to communicate to billions of people. The curse comes when, for the rest of your life, you’re going to be talking about it."   Read the full article here [Tha