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 car and a driver . . ."

A few minutes later, the lanky Brit ducked through an alleyway behind the talk show's Hollywood Boulevard studios and climbed into an ebony SUV that whisked him and his visitor up the hill to Griffith Park. "This looks good," he said, tapping the window. "Yes, let's stop here." As soon as his sneakers hit the grass, the black-clad Martin was as perky as the Labrador that trotted past him on a path. Hummingbirds and butterflies were in the air and Martin was at ease, enough so that he started making confessions and jokes which, for him, are hard to separate.

Read the full article here [thanks Space Cadet]

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 chart-topper by Disturbed is still tracking well for number 2 and should sell around 5000 units.

That will give Coldplay a 6 times head start over the number two album next week, if the figures hold. The Coldplay sales come at a time on eminent restructure for EMI Records worldwide. A major evaluation of staff took place a month ago and the ramifications of those staff conversations are expected to kick in next week.

Source: Undercover (AU)

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 go one better this time. He told Radio 1's Newsbeat: "I'm quite excited about it actually. I can't really believe it but then it's probably not going to happen anyway, is it?"

Read the full article here

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 unusual step of announcing that the album sold 140,000 on that site just on its first day. That shatters the iTunes record for sales in an entire week, previously held by Jack Johnson — and there are six days still left to go.

Meanwhile, its a clean sweep for Coldplay on the iTunes international chart, sitting at no.1 in (no particular order) - US (single), UK, France, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

More discussion on these figures here, here and here [thanks ezny, omrimayo & freddyfu123]

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 escapistthemovie.com

Courtesy of the producers of 'The Escapist', Coldplaying.com recently ran a competition to win five pairs of tickets to the special preview of the film on 15th June in London. Click more for the movie poster.

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 together. Brian [Eno] taught us that you should all eat together and have a break. It’s a bit like going to school.

Read the rest of Tales From the Studio right here. You can discuss this article here

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 to celebrate, as the label's Katy Perry will move 4-2 with Greatest Gainer/Airplay honors on the Hot 100 for "I Kissed a Girl."

This will mark the first time that Capitol has had the top two slots on the Hot 100 in the same week since Billboard's Sept. 2, 1967 issue, when the label had Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe" at No. 1 and the Beatles' "All You Need is Love" as the runner up.

More on this here [thanks freddyfu123 & omrimayo]

In other Coldplay news, the group has tapped Santogold as the opening act for most of its North American tour, which begins July 14 in Los Angeles. More on this here [thanks polkahard]

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 Friday, with an interview! [thanks mimixxx]

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 will also be giving Chris Martin and co a bit of a grilling, the results of which can be seen in Friday's late night repeat showing of the concert. Well, that's the plan anyway.

But as Radio 4 found out last week, just because Chris turns up for an interview, it doesn't mean that he'll actually stay, the Mirror reports.

For more on the BBC gig, and to discuss it as it happens click here

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 Martin has commented on Coldplay's links to their fellow British stadium rockers. In a new Rolling Stone magazine article, the singer says, "Sometimes I feel like they (Radiohead) cleared a path with a machete, and we came afterward and put up a strip mall. I would still give my left ball to write anything as good as (beloved Radiohead album) OK Computer."

More on Radiohead here

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 [thanks Lore]

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 reflected in our music, it's much more sexy."

Their latest album Viva la Vida or Death And All His Friends stormed the UK album charts but the jury is out as to whether it will crack the notoriously difficult US market.

More pictures are here [thanks Lore]

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-basement prices. As part of a weekly promotion called Daily Deal, the Coldplay album “X&Y” is today available for $1.99. On Wednesday, “A Rush of Blood to the Head” can be yours for $1.99. Both albums are currently $7.99 on iTunes. “Parachutes” is next up on Thursday for $1.99. On Friday, the “Brothers and Sisters” EP will cost you only 99 cents.

Since it launched in September, the Amazon MP3 store has trained its sights on Apple’s iTunes store, which sells more music than any other U.S. retailer. Amazon has not released information about how much music it has sold. A recent Forrester Research report showed that 62% of the 1,273 people surveyed in April said they had bought digital music from iTunes. Only 11% said they had bought from Amazon.

That may seem small potatoes, but James McQuivey, Forrester’s media analyst, reminded me that Amazon began selling music from all four major labels only in January. And at least in terms of people surveyed, Amazon was already ahead of Wal-Mart, which had sold music to 9% of those surveyed, and Rhapsody, with 8%.

Amazon is doing another promotion called “Friday Five,” offering five albums for $5 each on Fridays and through the weekend. This week’s offer: the Rolling Stones’ “Let It Bleed,” Frank Sinatra’s “The Essential Frank Sinatra,” Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ “Raising Sand,” Linkin Park’s “Minutes to Midnight” and Andrea Bocelli’s “Vivere - The Best of.”

“You’ll see more aggressive promotion throughout this year to make sure people keep coming back to get the volume up and the word of mouth going,” McQuivey said. And one more thing: Amazon is selling the new Coldplay album at $8.99, beating iTunes by a dollar.

More on this here[thanks winigwl]

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 famously prevented from becoming the band’s first number one single in 2005 by Crazy Frog, are presently a few hundred sales ahead of Mint Royale’s Syco-issued Singin’ In The Rain with Def Jam/Mercury’s Close by Ne-Yo third in a tightly-packed race among the leading contenders.

In fact, there are little more than 2,000 sales separating the current midweek number one and Jive/RCA act Chris Brown’s Forever at number eight.

While the battle for number one on the singles chart is too close to call at present, Coldplay are certainties to spend a second week at the top of the artist albums chart with Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends currently outselling its closest challenger, Rockferry by Duffy, by more than six units to one.

Coldplay could also find themselves with two simultaneous Top 10 singles for the first time with Violet Hill presently sitting at 10 on the midweeks, up from 12 where it landed on last Sunday’s chart.

More on this here [thanks 42rock89]

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 opener 'Life In Technicolor', before launching to first new single 'Violet Hill'.

See the full photoblog at coldplay.com here and more photos here and here

You can also read live reviews from the Independent newspaper online here, the Times online, Daily Mail and Guardian here, here and here

Without pausing to talk the band, wearing the French revolutionary-inspired jackets they wore on NME's recent cover, then dipped into their back catalogue playing the likes of 'Clocks' and 'In My Place'.

Finally before 'Viva La Vida' frontman Chris Martin addressed the crowd as tymphany drums were being set up.

"We were in Germany the other day and an interviewer said to us 'what does an English person do when they've won the World Cup and the European Championships? Turn off their Playstation'," recounted the singer. "We said that's true but we've written this song which you sing when you know you're going to lose, or maybe 'We Are The Champions', to get yourself through."

Ahead of fellow new track 'Chinese Sleep Chant' the singer joked about the fact the band's live return had been a free ticket give away.

"I know there have been complaints about the ticket price," he dead panned. "What can I say we're money grabbing whores!"

A trumpet-free version of 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face' followed with Martin suggesting the intro sounded like Radiohead's '2+2=5'.

"Sorry you shouldn't talk about plagiarism when you're live on Radio 1," he joked. "Ignore that!"

Later on Martin paused 'Trouble' mid-song to ponder his future.

"Wasn't that a seamless crossover?" he asked the crowd of the switch between songs. "In years to come when the band split up and I'm doing a piano turn on a cross channel ferry you can say to me 'Chris I remember when you used to be a pop star, you used to do great crossovers between songs' and I'll say thank you! What a ferry journey that will be!"

Wrapping up their set with 'Strawberry Swing', Martin declared, "You're the most intelligent crowd in the world, thank you, see you in 35 seconds!"

Coldplay duly returned for their encore performing from the venue's balcony, playing an acoustic version of 'Yellow'.

Next Martin declared: "We're going to do something super extra double special which I've been looking forward to, please welcome to sing lead vocals our drummer Will Champion.

After the sticksman fronted an acoustic version of The Pogues' 'If I Should Fall From Grace With God', the band returned to Brixton's stage to play 'Fix You'.

They then wrapped up the show firing red, white and blue confetti into the crowd during 'Lovers In Japan'.

Coldplay played:

'Life In Technicolor'

'Violet Hill'

'Clocks'

'In My Place'

'Viva La Vida'

'Chinese Sleep Chant'

'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face'

'42'

'Square One'

'Trouble'

'Lost!'

'Strawberry Swing'

'Yellow'

'If I Should Fall From Grace With God'

'Fix You'

'Lovers In Japan'

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 will be broadcast live on Radio 1 on a specially extended Zane Lowe show from 7pm, on Monday, June 16.

You can listen to the Radio 1 webstream via the Coldplaying toolbar - which you can download here prior to the live gig. If you have any problems with the toolbar please log them here as soon as possible.

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. They looked like a gang of little poncy masturbators.

"There is no fun, they don't offer joy. Their music has a couple of quite nice tones here and there but it's a box of tosh (rubbish) sold to slightly inadequate, half-baked people."

More on this here

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: http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/details.aspx?view=info&itemid=19736

Remember Coldplay's first ever mention in NME's 'On Piece'? Coldplay were one of the bands to mention back in 1999, and Bigger Stronger's video was made in September of that year. How fitting it would be for that song to be voted the first ever track on NME radio. What are you waiting for? Vote now!

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 most big artists sell in three months. "They have the broadest appeal of any band around in terms of combined record store, online and download sales, and are already certs to have the biggest release of 2008," he said.

More on this breaking news here [thanks mayurshikotra]

On behalf of everyone at Coldplaying.com, well done Coldplay!

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's 'Viva La Vida' stadium anthems (20080612)

First Impressions of Coldplay's Viva la Vida (20080612)‎‎

Coldplay Finds New Life With "Death" (20080612)‎‎

AZCentral Review: 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends' (20080612)‎‎

Review of Coldplay album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (Herald Sun) (20080612)‎

Meanwhile, if you're in Toronto and can't wait until next Tuesday to pick up your copy of the album, there is somewhere selling them before the release date... more info here [thanks everybodystilllovesandrew]

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 Liverpool — and they were absolutely shit. We see this as a pre-season and we’ll be on it when the season starts. Luckily none of you have spent a blind penny.”

In typically modest fashion, Chris was only telling half the story. Coldplay were brilliant as they made their return to the stage in front of an almost empty venue. When it comes to seeing live shows, this job lands some great tickets. But one of the best I’ve ever had was last night’s. Within 30 seconds the audience were smiling as single Violet Hill kicked in with a video montage playing in the background.

World leaders including George Bush and Tony Blair had been edited to dance along to the song. Next song Clocks kicked in and the crowd were on their feet.

The band showed off their wealth with six fancy video orbs, hanging from the ceiling which cost the band a jaw-dropping £900,000. Chris performed his trademark lyric-changing to suit the gig, poking fun at relatives and pals who had turned up to see them on free tickets. And his wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, sang along while standing in front of the lighting desk.

Normally you would say the crowd got their money’s worth but even if tickets were £100 each it would have been a snip. The band moved from the main stage to a tiny platform in the middle of the arena and were almost elbowing each other off stage as they played.

They made plenty of mistakes but that was the whole point of the exercise. By the time they have perfected it the show will be unmissable. It’s brilliant to have one of Britain’s best live bands back.

More on this here [thanks monicka]

Photo: Coldplay.com

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 include Atonement star James McAvoy, currently starring in new film Wanted, and world Super Middleweight Champion boxer Joe Calzaghe, with Coldplay performing live in the studio.

You can discuss the performances and all that goes with it here [thanks DefDzz]

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 made a notable impact at radio: it is on playlists at Radios One, Two and 6Music, among others.

The band's last label, 2005's 'X&Y' sold to that level in week one in the UK and went on to sell more than 10 million worldwide, including 3.2 million in the USA. 'Viva La Vida' was released midweek, so the next UK chart will only account for 3 days of sales, but that is expected to still place it in an easy number one position.

This week's fastest seller in the UK to date has been Duffy's 'Rockferry'. 'Viva La Vida' will easily beat Duffy's 183,000 first week sales. However it is a long way off the record set by Oasis when 'Be Here Now' did 695,000 in one week in the UK.