Coldplay News

Coldplay played another secret gig, this time in Paris, France. The setlist was:   1. Violet Hill 2. Clocks 3. Viva La Vida 4. 42 5. The Scientist 6. Fix You 7. Lovers in Japan   Read the Coldplaying reviews here (English) and here (French) onwards [thanks Chris²]

Band plays to an unexpected beat as it launches its North American tour in L.A.   Chris Martin was on the floor working out the knots. As his handlers hovered, the usually affable Coldplay singer stretched out on the carpet in a dim and airless room backstage at the Jimmy Kimmel show. It was hours before show-time and the singer's muscles were tight and his expression sour. Finally, he looked up with pleading eyes. "Can we escape? Let's go somewhere else. Maybe some place with trees? I have a ca

Coldplay will certainly have the number one album in both the US and Australia next week. In both cases, it will be by miles in front.   First day figures out of the US suggest that 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends' is good for maybe 700,000 sales in the US over the next week. In Australia, the album is tracking to sell around 30,000 units.   The US sales come off the back of the record-breaking week for Lil Wayne, who sold more than 1 million units this week. In Australia, this week's

Coldplay have admitted that they are "excited" about the prospect of scoring their first ever number one UK single this weekend.   Early sales of Viva La Vida, the title track from their fourth album, suggest that the band could finally shoot to the top of the singles chart on Sunday. The song was available to download before this week to those pre-ordering the band's album. Chart rules prevented it from counting towards the top 40 until Monday.   Guitarist Jonny Buckland is hoping Coldplay can

In the US singles world, Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" held onto the top spot on the digital songs chart...and for the first time in their career, the British foursome also took control of the Hot 100, which combines sales and airplay.   Next week, they're expected to easily top the album chart as well. Based on Tuesday's first day of sales, Viva la Vida, the band's fourth album, should sell some 600,000 copies. Though iTunes doesn't usually release its sales figures, the online music store took the

The British film 'The Escapist' is being released in cinemas from this Friday (20th June). Coldplay contributed a titular song to this upcoming prison escape thriller (in cinemas 20th June).   Joseph Fiennes and Dominic Cooper star alongside Brian Cox in the film, which tells the story of a daring prison break, masterminded to enable an inmate to visit his sick daughter. Click here to watch the official trailer.   Go and see it when it arrives on the big screen 20th June - more info at escapistt

Blender.com sat down with Coldplay guitarist Jonny Buckland for a more detailed look at the band’s studio experience while creating the latest album, Viva la Vida. Jonny divulged information about lunch breaks, not wearing clothes, and his feelings towards Donna Summers.   Where did the magic happen? In North London, at our new studio, the Bakery.   The money spent recording this album could buy? Eight thousand Dalmations.   Studio demands? Lunch. Not so much the food but the sitting down tog

In advance of its expected debut atop The Billboard 200 next week with "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends," Coldplay claims its first-ever Hot 100 No. 1 with "Viva La Vida," which climbs 2 to 1 on the chart that will be released tomorrow (June 19).   The song shifts 246,000 downloads in its third week atop Hot Digital Songs, while the track continues to build at multiple radio formats, holding top 20 rankings at Adult Top 40 (No. 15) and Modern Rock (No. 16). Capitol has even more reason

Check out AT&T’s website that has four great little interviews with Jonny and Chris, including a trip with them to KROQ here. Included in their multimedia are:   Chris and Jonny talk about the different sounds on their new album (1/4) Chris and Jonny talk about Coldplay’s beginnings (2/4) Chris and Jonny talk about their approach to albums (3/4) Coldplay spends the day at KROQ in L.A. (4/4)   [thanks mimixxx]  

Coldplay have just finished their mini-gig live on British television. The setlist, crammed into 45 minutes, was:   Life In Technicolor Violet Hill Clocks In My Place Viva La Vida 42 Trouble (with reference to the helicopters overhead!) Lost! Yellow (acoustic) Fix You Lovers In Japan (with butterfly confetti)   You can see photos of the gig here and here [thanks mjseeley & wonker]   More on this gig here onwards. For those in the UK who missed the performance on TV, it will be repeated on Fr

A huge reminder that Coldplay will be performing an exclusive live gig outside BBC Television Centre in front of 600 people, following in the footsteps of Beyonce, Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The gig will be broadcast live on BBC2 tonight (Wed 18th June) at 7pm (BST).   The 45-minute set will include tracks from their new album, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, as well as classics from their previous albums. Radio 1's Jo Whiley is on "introducing the band" duties, and the DJ w

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has confessed to something musicologists and fans alike have thought for years - the rockers borrow heavily from Radiohead.   During a free Coldplay show in London on Monday night (16Jun08), frontman Chris Martin went so far as to joke about the fact, suggesting to fans that his band's God Put a Smile on Your Face sounded an awful lot like Radiohead's 2+2=5. He then quipped, "Sorry, we shouldn't be talking about plagiarism. Ignore that!"   It isn't the first time M

Coldplay played their second concert of the world tour in the Espacio Movistar in Barcelona, to a crowd of 1000.   Last night's gig, which lasted two hours opened with 'Life in Technicolor', and included, in total, eight of the ten songs from the new album Viva la vida. The concert in Barcelona was preceded by yesterday's in London and this series of intimate shows will be completed on 23rd June in New York.   Here are some some images from tonight’s Barcelona gig. More pictures are here [thank

Coldplay's Chris Martin has said their new album is "more sexy" than the 2005 offering X&Y. Martin was speaking at a press conference in Barcelona where the band were giving a free concert for 1000 lucky fans, ahead of a US, Europe and Asia tour.   "I think we are definitely more handsome than we were three years ago. I think that's reflected in our music, it's much more sexy" - Chris MartinMartin joked: "I think we are definitely more handsome than we were three years ago. I think that's re

If you are going up against a giant, it helps if you too are a giant. And scrappy.   That appears to be Amazon.com’s strategy as its MP3 store takes on Apple’s iTunes in digital music. Today, the British alternative rock group Coldplay (pictured above), is releasing its new album, “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.” Amazon is using the occasion to wave in more customers with some huge discounts.   Amazon said it would begin selling digital versions of past Coldplay albums for bargain-ba

Coldplay are strong bets to score their first ever UK number one single with early retail sales suggesting Viva La Vida will debut at number one this Sunday.   The Parlophone track had previously been excluded from the chart after being made available as an individual download to anyone pre-ordering the digital version of the band’s new album. However, that situation has now passed, allowing Viva La Vida to qualify for the singles chart for the first time.   Coldplay, whose Speed Of Sound was fa

Coldplay made a successful live return last night (June 16) playing tracks from new album ’Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends’ at London’s Brixton Academy.   The show, which was broadcast live on Radio 1, is the first of three free shows the band are playing following their fourth album's release last week (June 12), with gigs set to take place in Barcelona on June 17 and New York on June 23.   Taking to the stage at 8.45pm (BST) the band kicked off with the new album's instrumental open

A huge reminder that Coldplay are showcasing their new No 1 album in a free gig at London's Brixton Academy tonight from 7pm (BST, EST+5). More on this here   They will play intimate gig for fans, performing older hits along with new songs from their fourth LP Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, which is at the top of the UK album charts. This is Coldplay's first full public show for two years and the first live performance of many of their new songs from Viva La Vida.   The whole gig wil

The Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten has slammed Coldplay for creating boring music - insisting he feels sorry for fans who pay to see the "humourless" group perform live.   Rocker Rotten, real name John Lydon, is convinced the Yellow hitmakers take themselves too seriously - and is adamant their music suffers as a result. He says, "I pity the poor bastards who have to watch them. They are utterly humourless. I met them a few years ago, said hello and realised they were just men in anoraks. Th

NME will be launching their brand new radio station on 24th June, featuring the best in new and alternative music, the latest music news, up-to-the-minute gig-guides and exclusive live sessions. Listen now at NME.COM/Radio, or tune in on Sky 0184 and Virgin Media 975.   To vote for Coldplay's 'Bigger Stronger' as the first ever track to be played on the station click here (one vote per page refresh!)   Download an auto-refresher... Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/115 IE:

Coldplay have entered the charts at number one with new album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. The album has sold 302,074 copies since its release on Thursday - enough to earn it a platinum award after just three days on sale. The band have now topped the UK charts with each of their first four studio albums.   Their fourth album has become one of the fastest-selling records in history. Gennaro Castaldo, of music retailer HMV, said: "Coldplay have sold as many albums in three days as m

There have been countless reviews of Coldplay's new album, and in case you missed some here they are from the last few days:   Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida': 10 track-by-track reactions (20080614)‎ Coldplay: Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - The Times Review (20080614)‎‎ Album of the week: Coldplay (20080613)‎‎ On 'Viva,' Coldplay explores new sonic universe (20080613)‎‎ Viva le Coldplay! (20080613)‎‎ Coldplay Improves With 'Viva la Vida' (20080613)‎‎ Brian Eno treads softly in sprucing up

Coldplay played an exclusive rehearsal concert at Wembley last night for 900 family and friends, and Chris Martin compared the live comeback to a pre-season friendly.   The singer told the crowd of friends and family at London’s Wembley Arena that getting back on stage was like a trip to the football with his dad when he was a nipper. He said: “Excuse us for this embarrassing shambles of a rehearsal. This reminds me of when my dad, who is 107, took me to Torquay for a pre-season game against Li

Coldplay feature with Violet Hill AND Viva La Vida tonight on the Jonathan Ross show   If you're in the UK, you can watch Coldplay performing Violet Hill and Viva La Vida on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross tonight at 10.35pm on BBC1.   If you miss it, it'll be on the BBC iPlayer for seven days. For those of you outside the UK, the official Coldplay site will be posting some pictures from the recording in the next couple of days.   Celebrity chat show with the irreverent Jonathan Ross. Guests inc

Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends' album may sell as high as 400,000 in the UK this week, and has already sold 125,000 units on its day of release, according to sales figures released today by The Official Charts Company.   As such, the album is near-guaranteed the number one slot in the chart this Sunday, despite being released unusually on a Thursday. Indeed, after just one day’s sales Viva La Vida is already outselling the rest of the top five albums. The album has also ma