Viva La 200,000 seller! Coldplay's new album flew off shop shelves and clocked up huge downloads after being released in the UK earlier today.

The band's eagerly-anticipated fourth album looks certain to be the fastest-selling of the year when figures are announced this weekend. The collection should romp to No.1 on Sunday with sales of around 200,000 — shattering Duffy’s 2008 first-week record of 183,000.

Woolworths reported copies were being snapped up at a rate of 20 every minute. HMV had placed their biggest ever pre-order. And web forums are flooded with posts raving about the album, the band’s most experimental yet. One said: “It’s their best album to date. Ten out of ten.”

Favourable comparisons to fellow stadium-slayers U2 were rife, as was praise for producer Brian Eno. But Coldplay were just glad to have finished the job. 'Prospekt' said: “I feel very relieved that the album is finally released. It’s out of our hands now. It doesn’t belong to us anymore.”

Their sales tally is still a long way behind Oasis’ record-setting Be Here Now, which shifted 695,000 copies in three days back in 1997. But the industry has changed hugely and it's unlikely we’ll see those frantic first-week sales again. But full marks to Coldplay for moving with the times with ideas including letting fans listen to the new album online before its release.

More on this here [thanks mimixxx]

Chris Martin has given the Radio 4 interview earlier today a cold shoulder after continual negative questioning by DJ John Wilson about watermelons, 'morbid' music, and accused Chris Martin of telling a sexist joke about Frida Khalo.

Will Champion continued questions on his own until Chris returned to answer the final question abruptly, at which point the interview ends. Coldplay were also due to appear on Radio 2 show this afternoon but the airing of the interview was pulled at short notice.

You can download the controversial Radio 4 interview here. What do you think of the interview - was Chris right to leave the studio or should he have continued as Will Champion did? Share your thoughts here [thanks Space Cadet]

Coldplay star abandons interview

Chris Martin Storms Out Of Radio Interview

Meanwhile, our friends at Coldplayzone have launched an English version of their website, which you can see here [thanks gabriele & patrizio]

Despite tabloid reports of Chris Martin struggling in the face of injury, Xfm can confirm that Coldplay's free gig at the Brixton Academy next Monday (June 16) will go ahead.

A report in The Sun newspaper claimed that the Coldplay frontman twisted his knee during rehearsals for next Monday's free gig. Not so, according to Parlophone, Coldplay's record company. A source said: "All is fine - don't believe everything you read!"

It was further confirmed that rehearsals are going ahead as planned and that Chris Martin will be in tip-top shape for Monday's highly-anticipated and, by Coldplay's standards at least, intimate gig. Coldplay's new album, 'Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends', is released today (June 12).

Meanwhile, XFM are giving away two tickets to the Brixton gig in a competition with a very easy question - enter here

From Coldplay.com:

To celebrate the release of our album in the UK today, we're doing a bunch of BBC radio interviews which we thought you folks might like to know about. First up, we're on Jo Whiley's Radio 1 show from 12noon today, which you can listen to online here. Then, we're off to Radio 2 to appear on Steve Wright's show, which you can hear here from 2pm. Finally for today, we'll be on Radio 4's Front Row programme from 7.15pm tonight, here.

Then tomorrow, we're on Steve Lamacq's BBC 6 Music show from 4pm - you can listen to that one here.

All times above are BST (EST+5). More on this news here [thanks darkchoc92]

A reminder that you can listen to the ALL the above webstreams via the Coldplaying toolbar - which you can download here prior to the interviews. If you have any problems with the toolbar please log them here as soon as possible.

From the Jo Whiley show earlier today:

Coldplay's new album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends will be beamed through space on Friday (13Jun08) when satellite radio network Sirius plays the album in its entirety as part of its Alt Nation show.

Coldplay bandmembers will introduce each song on the eagerly anticipated new album, which hits stores on 17 June (08), as part of the show, which will be renamed Coldplay Nation for the day. The bandmates will also play songs by artists who have inspired them.

Meanwhile back on planet Earth, UK high streets to be exact, Woolworths’ download store is to sell the new Coldplay album for under £5, in a move that it admits could spark a price war among retailers. Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends goes on sales globally today and Woolworthsdownload.co.uk is to offer the album for just £4.97 to the first 5,000 customers. Woolworths sees the offer as important publicity for its new store, which launched at the end of May. However, it admits that with its price likely to be £2 cheaper than other UK download stores, it may spark a price war.

More on this out-of-this-world news here and the great British institution here [thanks Space Cadet & 42rock89]

A huge reminder that Coldplay kick things off with the UK release of the new album, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, by joining Jo Whiley on her show on BBC Radio 1 from 10am (BST, EST+5) for an exclusive interview on June 12. A special mention to Age Six Racer who will be asking the band a question live on air!

Four days later BBC Radio 1 is to present Coldplay live from Brixton Academy, London. 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 interview and live gig. If you have any problems with the toolbar please log them here as soon as possible.

Thousands of hours of previously-unreleased music from the likes of Coldplay, The Beach Boys and David Bowie is to be made available to the public.

BBC Worldwide and EMI Music have struck a deal to release the music, stored in an extensive archive of TV and radio recordings, which has been locked away for years at the BBC. The recordings include live radio sessions from Pink Floyd - including songs from their 1967 debut album 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn', when Syd Barrett, was still in the band and a stripped-down version of Coldplay's 2000 hit 'Shiver' (cover, left).

The deal will mean EMI can include these BBC recordings from their artists on DVDs, CDs and digital downloads, and will build on recordings from artists already released by the BBC, including Queen and Roxy Music. There is no word as yet as about when or how the first batch of material will be made available.

More on this news here [thanks mykierulz]

Lucky residents of Canada can enter a competition to win tickets to see Coldplay at Madison Square Garden. Prize includes:

- 2 Tickets to see Coldplay live Monday 23rd June

- 2 Airline tickets to New York

- 3 Night Acconodation [courtesy of The Time Hote’ from June 21st to 24th

- $500 spending money!

So, what are you waiting for - enter here

On the eve of Coldplay's UK album release, Andy Gill the outspoken Independent 'journalist' who arguably hasn't got enough work to do has launched a scathing attack on the band, calling them "Pompous, mawkish, and unbearably smug".

Brian Eno also features heavily in the scrabblescore-rich article, Gill saying, "One can only wonder how many musclebound oafs were required to carry the cheque that persuaded Eno to produce Coldplay's new album. I mean, given his rarefied cultural tastes, surely it can't have been the project highest on Eno's wish-list? And what with all the U2 royalties, he couldn't conceivably need the money."

Read the full article and post your comments below the article here

Speaking to Billboard, Coldplay's manager Dave Holmes has hinted at the tour itinery for the band into 2009.

Following the conclusion of the first North American leg, the group has international touring on tap through early October, after which it begins another round of North American dates. In 2009, Coldplay will play European stadiums and might even play such venues in North America next year "if we can do the business," manager Dave Holmes tells Billboard.

Read the full article at Billboard here. What do you think of this? Share your thoughts here

Coldplay has been forced to postpone the start of its North American tour by two weeks due to unspecified "production delays which mean that the show simply won't be ready" for its planned June 29 kick-off in Philadelphia.

The itinerary will now begin July 14-15 in Los Angeles; it was to close Aug. 4 in Chicago but will instead wrap that day in Boston. Tickets for the scrapped dates will be valid for the new ones, but refunds are also available at points of purchase. You can discuss the updated tour schedule here [thanks melanieau]

According to tour promoter Live Nation, the first two weeks have been rescheduled due to production delays. The band issued a brief message apologizing to fans for the postponement. "We're very sorry, but we promise you a show worthy of your patience and understanding when we start in mid-July."

Tickets already purchased for rescheduled shows will be honoured on the new dates. Latest online articles will be updated on this news item below:

Coldplay date at the Palace pushed back to the fall

Concert rescheduled: Coldplay will play the X on colder date

Coldplay reschedules its St. Paul show

Coldplay cancels Edmonton date?

Coldplay Dramatically Reschedules Kansas City Tour Date

Coldplay's Cleveland show postponed until October

http://newsok.com/coldplays-july-10-concert-rescheduled-to-fall/article/3255675/

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/Music/2008/06/11/5837271-sun.html

Coldplay.com has announced changes to North American tour dates. The report is as follows:

We're very sorry, but unfortunately Coldplay have had to move the dates of some of the previously-announced US shows. The band have experienced some production delays which mean that the show simply won't be ready for June 29. It's very frustrating but they promise you a show worthy of your patience and understanding when they start in mid-July. All tickets remain valid, but refunds will be available from the point of purchase if you're unable to make it to the new date. Click here to view the full revised routing.

More on this here [thanks melanieau]

Some more reviews of Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends have hit the headlines, days before the album hits the shelves. Here's a Coldplaying recap on the latest ones:

Gigwise have given the new album 4/5, calling the album "A fantastically unexpected and spontaneous comeback...". You can read the full review here.

The Winnipeg Sun gave the album 90% marking and you can read the review here. They said, "On Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay isn't just better; the band is the best it's ever been. And the most original. On these 10 songs, the band -- Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion -- dispense with cliches and go with their guts."

The Clash Magazine interview is here. They report The eyes of the world are watching. The airwaves are waiting. It’s been three years since the four mild-mannered stadium lords last came out survey their lot. Finally stepping up once more to their rightful place at the top of rock’s round table, the monarchs of music are ready to reign –with a totally revised regime. All hail the new sound. All hail Coldplay.

[thanks Space Cadet & mimixxx]

Coldplay's fourth album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, is likely to become the biggest selling album of the year, according to online retailer Play.com.

The entertainment website says it expect the four-piece's new release to achieve its biggest pre-sale order ever. Customers have been snapping up copies of the Brian Eno-produced album at the rate of one every minute during peak times and it looks set to exceed the sales figures of the hugely successful Spirit, by X Factor winner Leona Lewis.

And while Violet Hill, the first single from Chris Martin and co, was released as a free download, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is currently receiving more pre-orders than the rest of Play.com's entire top 40 pre-order albums combined. It has also seen 20 per cent more pre-orders than Lewis's Spirit had at the same point.

"People talk about the death of the music industry, but this proves that the right title can still break records," said Helen Marquis, Play.com's head of music. "The new album should be the biggest of the year, but with upcoming new albums from the likes of Dido, Amy Winehouse, Take That and Oasis, this is going to be a phenomenal year for British music."

She added: "We have not seen an album pre-order to quite these levels before. The previous record holder was Leona Lewis."

Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is released on June 11th in Japan.

More on this here [thanks mimixxx]

On Thursday 12th June (10am-12.45pm, weekdays), Coldplay are coming in to the Radio 1 studios to talk about their 'Radio 1 Presents' gig in Brixton Academy on Monday 16th June. In April, Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland personally delivered a copy of the new single, Violet Hill, to Jo, who was the first to play the track.

AS part of the Jo Whiley show they have given you the chance to ask the band anything. Fill out the form here and tell them what you want to know!

Don't forget, four days later BBC Radio 1 is to present Coldplay live from Brixton Academy, London. The whole gig will be broadcast live on Radio 1 on a specially extended Zane Lowe show from 7pm, on Monday, June 16.

More on this here [thanks mimixxx]

The winners for Coldplay's free gig at Brixton have today been announced. Check your inboxes (assuming you've entered!) to see if you've won. More on the winners' announcement here onwards.

Don't worry if you didn't win tickets, you can hear the gig live on Radio 1 from 8:30-9:30pm on Zane Lowe's show on Monday 16th June 2008. Coldplay will be performing old tracks as well as new material from their latest album Viva La Vida Or Death & All His Friends. You can listen to the BBC Radio 1 Music webstream via the Coldplaying toolbar - which you can download here prior to the live Brixton gig.

Coldplay also recently announced that the terrific Jon Hopkins (one of the principal musical collaborators on our new album) will be supporting them at the Brixton, Barcelona and MSG shows. Click here to check out Jon's MySpace.

Another Coldplay interview is available and online. This time from Clash Magazine. It starts like this:

The eyes of the world are watching. The airwaves are waiting. It’s been three years since the four mild-mannered stadium lords last came out survey their lot.

But as the glorious summer dawns on 2008, their vast empire has begun to excitedly scurry in preparation of their emergence since the first assertive noises emanated from their self-enforced creative exile. Finally stepping up once more to their rightful place at the top of rock’s round table, the monarchs of music are ready to reign –with a totally revised regime. All hail the new sound. All hail Coldplay.

Read the full interview here [thanks mimixxx]

Anton Corbijn to direct Coldplay's next video

Coldplay are set to work with film director Anton Corbijn, who won a Shockwaves NME Award earlier this year for directing 'Control', the biopic about Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.

The band's spokesperson told NME the director and the band will conduct the shoot for forthcoming single 'Viva La Vida', a song from the band's forthcoming album 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends', on a Dutch beach. Corbijn previously directed the video promo for the band's 2005 single 'Talk'. Speaking about the collaboration Chris Martin said, "We're trying an experiment with him. It could be a disaster, but it could be OK."

More on this here

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has compared his group's new album to U2's The Unforgettable Fire.

Martin told The Telegraph that their album Viva La Vida, which is released this Thursday (June 12), is comparable to U2's fourth record. "I always view our albums in terms of U2 albums," he said. Viva La Vida is our Unforgettable Fire in that it's less straightforward, more oblique. It's about sex and death and love and fear and travel and illness. There's light and there's dark."

Despite Coldplay's albums achieving huge sales, Martin admitted that he doesn't think his group is the best in the world. "The best bands in the world today are probably Arcade Fire and Sigur Rós," he said. "I think Coldplay is only the seventh best in the world."

Meanwhile, Chris Martin has admitted that he has singing lessons. "Why wouldn't I want someone to bring out the best in me?" he said (Daily Mirror).

In an exclusive interview to be broadcast tonight (June 9) on John Kennedy's X-posure show, Coldplay's Chris Martin has revealed why their new album, 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' has two titles.

In a move that faintly echoes Radiohead's strategy to allow fans to decide what to pay for their album, Coldplay have given their fans the choice of two titles to choose from. Explained Chris Martin: "We refer to it just as 'Viva La Vida' but the other bit is if you find it too depressing you can call it 'Death and All His Friends' and if you find it not depressing you can call it 'Viva La Vida'. It's very much a 'you-decide-what-the-title-is'. We very much wanted to make it like those model airplanes that you buy and you can choose what colour you paint it."

The Coldplay frontman also revealed that working with legendary producer Brian Eno had resulted in the band ditching more obvious material for songs that artistically stretched the band. "We were very privileged to have Brian Eno and another guy called Markus Dravs and another guy called Rick Simpson and we had a lot of help," said Martin.

"They got involved very early at the demoing stage and they would often tell us, 'You need some better songs'. Our aim was to do stuff that we hadn't done before so that means that things that would have previously gone to the top of the pile have to wait a bit because they sound too much like Coldplay songs."

You can listen to the whole interview on John Kennedy's Xposure show tonight (June 9) at 10pm only on Xfm. 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' is released on June 12.

Source: XFM

You can listen to the Virgin Radio and XFM station webstreams via the Coldplaying toolbar - which you can download here prior to the Virgin interiew. To manually add the Virgin Radio station please add http://85.159.184.42:80 to your stations. If you have any problems with the toolbar please log them here as soon as possible.

Virgin Radio is conducting their first ever poll of Coldplay’s most popular songs.

Vote for your ultimate Coldplay song below and listen to the countdown on Saturday Night Live on Sunday 8 June from 7.00pm (BST). Anthems… album tracks… live favourites… hear which songs the band themselves value the most. Vote using the form on this page. You can click on the album sleeves there to help choose your favourite track. All you have to do is answer the following:

Favourite track #1

Favourite track #2

Favourite track #3

Can you tell Ben why you have chosen any of these tracks in particular?

More on this here [thanks jenjie]

Don't forget Virgin Radio will welcome Coldplay into the studio on 9th June from 7pm (BST), three days before the UK album release. You can listen to the Virgin Radio station webstream via the Coldplaying toolbar - which you can download here prior to the jukebox session and Virgin interview. To manually add the Virgin Radio station please add http://85.159.184.42:80 to your stations. If you have any problems with the toolbar please log them here as soon as possible.

Viva La Vida is by far and away your favourite Coldplay track from the new album, results from our latest poll have found. 42 and Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love are also faring well.

You can still vote in the poll here, and it will remain open until long after the album has been released worldwide.

Coldplay Collaboration with Brian Eno is a triumph, say Sonic State.

Brian Eno produced the new album by Coldplay Viva La Vida along with Arcade Fire producer Marcus Dravs. The album was recorded in an old Bakery between Camden and Primrose Hill near London. A location chosen for its anonymity so that the band was not unduly interrupted by fans during the recording. Here's what Sonic State said about the album on first listen:

Not being the greatest Coldplay followers here at Sonic it would perhaps be unfair to comment on the music, but the production on first listen is a pure delight. We can highly recommend giving the album a casual ear for a lesson in how-to-produce-that-difficult-album-for-a-bunch-of-poshos-from-Cornwall type of deal.

The resulting Viva La Vida (or Death And All His Friends) is the follow-up to 2005's X&Y, which was the best-selling album of that year. It has gone on to sell 10 million copies.

Violet Hill, their first UK release from the new album, was made available as a free download on the band's website last month and as a free 7” vinyl cover mounted single from the NME. NME sold out in record time and the single was downloaded two million times in one week - enough to out-sell the entire Top 40 four times over.

The album is officially released on June 17, but MySpace users have been given a chance to listen to it through the band's MySpace profile.

Source: Sonicstate.com

More Coldplay Viva La Vida interviews have been published online. Take a peek at:

Interview with Chris and Jonny for Transporter - here

Interview at the Secret Gig in the Netherlands - here

There will be upcoming interviews with the BBC on 12th and 13th of June on Front Row and Steve Lamacq shows respectively, details of which are here. These are in addition to the live BBC gig and the Jonathan Ross show.

[thanks mimixxx, harml, DefDazz]

Here are videos clips of Coldplay on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, which aired yesterday on cbc.ca/thehour and CBC Television on June 6th at 11pm. A peak of a rare behind the scenes interview with Coldplay in their London studio flat gave George Stroumboulopoulos a tour of the space and discusses the new album and the band. Click on the titles below, which link to the videos.

The Coldplay Tour - George gets a backstage pass to Coldplay’s London studio from none other than Chris Martin.

Coldplay’s Chris Martin - Chris Martin sits down with George for an interview unlike any you’ve seen before.

Coldplay: The Band - Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman from Coldplay discuss the pitfalls of being a foursome when you’re one of the biggest bands in the world.

Coldplay 2:20 - Expect the unexpected. We play 2:20 with Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Two minutes, twenty questions equals 2:20.

Coldplay Track by Track - Chris Martin walks us through Coldplay’s biggest hits. What inspired the songs, where did they come from, and are they rip-offs? It’s Track by Track with Coldplay.

More on The Hour interviews here