The countdown for the Coldplay concert has begun for me. Coldplay is going to be in Mexico City two days: the 3rd/4th of March and I will be attending to the first one with my girlfriend.

Actually I am very lucky because the tickets were sold out almost an hour after the sale began and I had to buy them through ticketmaster.com.mx because the phone number was busy. Also I was very lucky to get my seats in one of the first rows ( row H) and actually I had like 3 windows opened in my laptop to see which one gave me better seats.

It is the second time I will be at a Coldplay concert and I still remember the first one (A rush of blood to the head tour) which was on 2003. This concert will be at the Auditorio Nacional and hopefully it will be much better than the first one.

Source: http://www.capc-online.net/?p=50

Coldplay's Latin America tour is now in full swing and even more pictures of Coldplay around Argentina have been taken by Coldplaying members.

You can see new pictures from Coldplay's base here, here and here

[thanks Lovelight, gise_honey & madxy]

Chilean fans were disappointed and surprised when Coldplay didn't play any new songs at their gigs on 14th, 15th and 16th of February.

The band has now spoken publicly, thanking their Chilean fans and explaining why they didn't introduce any new songs. Frontman Chris Martin explained: "We didn't do that because of internet. If we play something new now, it will mess the big surprise. The album won't be released in a while! Also, we had never been here, so for the people that went to our shows, the song 'Yellow' is new!"

But there was one surprise however. They performed 'High Speed' from the Parachutes album, with Chris saying it's a "gift he'd never repeat again". Chris Martin seemed happy with being in Chile, praising the citizens for their warm welcome and also showing his respect for his support act, his "favourite Chilean band: Saiko". During the concert, he sang a line in Spanish: "Hoy corté una flor y llovía y llovía"...

Watch the press conference video here [in Chilean]

Coldplay arrived in Argentina earlier today to a barrage of fans and media.

You can see pictures and stories of their appearance here [thanks lovelight & gise_honey] and here [Coldplaying Gallery]

In response to Whoops! Coldplay Loses A Chilean Fan... , here is a response from Italy, from one Coldplay fan to another.

Hello everybody,

please, let me answer to Miss Paola Avaria, Chile

Good morning Miss Avaria, I’m Sonia, writing from Italy. I read your mail and I’m sorry about Mr Martin’s fact at the museum you wrote about. Anyway, I’d like to tell you few things:

1. I’m a Tour Guide too; sometimes I also worked with famous people and I learned, for professional reasons, that work, above all in those particular circumstances, comes first than my musical, sporting or broadcasting passions. You wrote that you introduce yourself as a big fan of the Band, but maybe you should have introduce yourself as the English Guide: probably Mr Martin wanted a guide for visiting the museum, not a fan. You should know the bad, not respecting, rude behaviour of some fans, that’s the reason why celebrities sometimes are a little bit biased.

2. Please, don’t mistake the songs with the people. I’m not certainly writing that Coldplay are not good as well their wonderful songs, but the identification is very dangerous: for you, that have created expectations not returned, and also for the Band, because in this way you give them a responsibility that they absolutely haven’t.

3. I really envy you a lot: I’d feel a world of infinity happiness if only I had the chance to see one of the Fab Four even behind a glass door.

I wouldn’t waste my time wishing someone else to feel rejected: this is terrible in any case, even if we think we’re right. So, it’s possible that Coldplay loses a Chilean Fan, but once more they have an Italian one that counts for two!

Best Regards

Sonia Polacci

Coldplay have now left Chile, but read what they had to say about Chile, a tour in South America in 2008, exclusive Latin America TV footage, free Santiago ticket giveaway and the 'fantastic' Chilean fans who gave Coldplay a warm welcome to their country:

Coldplay in Chile, everything a success

Coldplay may return to Argentina in 2008

Chris Martin says Chilean fans are ‘Fantastic’

[Press Conference Video] Coldplay will return to Chile again for “a massive concert”

Exclusive Coldplay Latin Tour footage on DirectTV

[Video] Chris Martin gives away free tickets to Santiago Gig

Coldplay after their visit to Chile: we'll be back with a massive show"

In a meeting with the press Coldplay thanked their Chilean fans and told why they didn't show any new songs in their concerts. Coldplay is not a band of lots of risks... in their music or their words.

"What do you think about the chilean public?" asked in a meeting with the press, yesterday in the Hyatt Hotel. "Fantastic, we're used to a lot more disgusting, this have been really great" Says Chris Martin, the frontman of the band. "what do you think about guys like Noel Gallagher?"; "we''d never talk about someone in a bad way, even if we'd think that it's just shit" said the singer.

Just thanks as a review of their week in Chile, where they did 3 shows that finished yesterday at espacio riesco. Even Martin promise that they'll back soon. "We'll be back with a massive show."

Read the full article here [thanks Loretín]

Pictures from last night's opening show in Chile have been added to the gallery here

If you want reviews and setlist instead, click here

Chris Martin apologises to Chilean fans

Coldplay have angered their fans in Chile by charging high prices for tickets.

Tickets are going from £41 ($80) to £82 ($160) for the gigs, which took place on February 14 and 15, with the final date taking place tonight (February 16) at Santiago's Espacio Riesco. The average monthly salary in the country is £256 ($500) a month.

Frontman Chris Martin said: "We just found out how expensive they are and would like to say we are sorry. We didn't know beforehand. The tickets of course could not have been extremely cheap because we are playing smaller venues here, but the price is a little embarrassing. When you are a famous band, a lot of things happen that you don't know about."

The band also confirmed reports about their new album. Martin told the Santiago Times: "We are going to work with Brian Eno, but we'll talk about that very soon.

"We don't know much about Chile, other than it is pretty and the quickest way to get to Antarctica."

The setlist the band have been playing is:

'Square One'

'Politik'

'Yellow'

'Speed Of Sound'

'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face'

'What If'

'Sparks'

'White Shadows'

'The Scientist'

''Til Kingdom Come'

'Trouble'

'Clocks'

'Talk'

'Swallowed In The Sea'

'In My Place'

'Fix You'

Pictures from last night's opening show in Chile have been added to the gallery here

If you want reviews instead, click here

Setlist:

Square One

Politik

Yellow

Speed Of Sound

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Sparks

White Shadows

The Scientist

Till Kingdom Come

Green Eyes

Clocks

In my place

Talk

Fix You

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Love is in the air here in Santiago - well, certainly amongst the throngs of fans outside the hotel. There’s a real air of excitement in the city about Coldplay being here. And the countdown to tonight’s first concert of the tour is on!

I spent this morning at the Oxfam office again, going over the final details with Monica. She is the Communications Officer for Oxfam in Chile, and is helping me with the campaigning at the concerts. Luckily, her English is far better than my Spanish so we’re doing OK! Here’s a picture of her at her desk - if you’re wondering what she’s reading, it’s today’s paper with an article about Coldplay. We were hoping that Chris would be able to meet the President of Chile, but unfortunately she’s on holiday in the south of the country so it’s not going to be possible.

I’ll go into a bit more detail over the next few days about the work that Oxfam does here in Chile. Watch this space!

Hi

My name is Paola Avaria, and I live in Valparaíso, Chile. Today Mr. Chris Martin visited the museum where I worked.

I was a big fan of Coldplay, until today. I was so trill that Mr. Martin was going to visit the place I work, I wanted to go to Santiago to attend the show this week, but I don´t have a car, so I can`t go. It was too far for me to attend the recital of the band. So when I knew he was going to visit the museum, I was so happy...but Mr. Martin was very rude to me.

I said hi, and I introduce myself as a big fan of his band, he said hi and kept walking. The person in charge, told me to ask him if he wanted to have a guide or if he prefered to go by himself, then he turned into a coworker, and apparentely he wanted to be guided by her, so this coworker told him that I was the one who guided the visitors in English at the museum, and he loked at me saying no, I rather go on my own...He maked me feel like trash, just exactly the way the man I liked...reyected, when I was so respectfull...to be honest...he made me cry...and now...I don`t Know how I`m going to feel when I hear their songs...Mr Martin and the music of the band made me feel so peaceful, it was so refreshing to hear them, it made me feel so light, so happily quiet, and what it was most important, full of hope...but today...today I felt like a piece of trash...reyected...and I feel so sad...

I am sorry... I know that all the people here write good and nice things about Codlplay...but I had to express my feelings tonight...today their play was cold for me.

Somehow, I feel I don`t deserved this unkindness from him, because after all, I am also a human being, and I feel, and maybe I am more sensitive than others, and that`s the thing; I thougth Mr. Martin was like that, too...but I was wrong.

Maybe, in the future, the play will turn cold for him, too...maybe somebody very closed to him, or somebody he admires very much... will make him feel reyected, just the way he made me feel today.

Sincerely.

Paola Avaria

Setlist:

Square One

Politik

Yellow

Speed Of Sound

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

What If

Sparks

White Shadows

The Scientist

Till Kingdom Come

Trouble

Clocks

Talk

Swallowed In The Sea

In My PLace

Fix You

"The show started at 9:30pm, it started a little late. There was a lot of lights and it was designed very well. They played some new songs and some expected songs. A lot of balloons came down. Chris played his piano and is very talented with both the piano and the guitar. They complied with the intimate setting they promised but didn't fail to rock out, especially with songs like God Put A Smile Upon Your Face, they improvised the guitar parts. They have a very good mix of styles. 5,000 people were present and we were all going crazy and no one was sitting in their chairs even though the guards were agaisn't that, so the public connected very well with the band.

The sound was great, it had great acoustics. It sounded impeccable. The stage looked amazing as well and aside from the pricing I really recommend it."

More on Coldplay's performance at the messageboard [thanks victaniac. sofita_linda]

London, England (BANG) - Gwyneth Paltrow has always been a firm supporter and believer of her man - and his music.

Gwyneth has said husband Chris Martin's new album is going to be "insane."

Though Chris and his Coldplay bandmates have yet to divulge when their eagerly-awaited fourth record will be released, Gwyneth says her spouse is working hard and fans won't be disappointed.

The actress was quoted by Britain's Daily Star newspaper as saying, "I don't think the album will come out soon, but I think it's going to be their best one. It's going to be insane.

She added, "Chris has done it differently this time. He doesn't like it when I talk about him, but I will say I think he felt that he had so much pressure on him for the last album, it felt like it was a product of a lot of different energies. This time he's got laser-like precision. It's incredible to watch."

Gwyneth - who married Chris in 2003 - fell for the singer after watching a Coldplay concert in October 2002. The couple have a two-year-old daughter, Apple and 10-month-old son Moses.

Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com

The second of Coldplay's competitions to win tickets to Coldplay's current Latin American tour is now live.

The official site has one pair of tickets to give away for each of the three Grand Rex shows in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The competition runs from today until midday Saturday (Argentinian time). To enter, click here

Pictures from last night's opening show in Chile have been added to the gallery here

If you want reviews instead, click here

Noel Gallagher was interviewed on Virgin Radio and he had this to say about awards, from best newcomer to outstanding achievement:

Yeah they must have run out of people to give it to I don’t know. If Weller hadn’t done it last year I don’t think we’d have bothered, its not the first time they’ve asked us, first the initial reaction was no, then we started thinking we either do it now when we look good or do we succumb in ten years time when we just turned the corner, we still all can legitimately wear the leather jackets and it appealed to us that we’d be the youngest band to get it. When they do the retrospective film we won’t look too cheesy.

I don’t think many bands going to go from best newcomer to getting an outstanding achievement award, probably Coldplay are the next ones in line they could probably do it but they never got best newcomer.

Read the full interview here

(February 13, 2007) The world famous British rock band Coldplay is now in Chile, but the three scheduled concerts in Santiago on February 14, 15, and 16 will largely be a privilege for Chile’s rich. The tickets, which start at US$80 for general admission and go up to US$160, remain out of reach for most Chileans in a country where the average monthly salary is only US$500 a month.

Arriving in Chile on Monday directly from London, Coldplay band members were quickly rushed into seclusion at Santiago’s Hyatt Hotel with their support staff of over 25 people. It is unknown if Gwyneth Paltrow, the Oscar-winning actress and wife of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, accompanied the band on their trip.

The band’s arrival received widespread press in Chile. Fans gathered outside of the Hyatt to catch a glimpse of the band, and journalists did their best to get interviews from the hotel lobby. As Coldplay has not toured since July of last year, the band’s announcement that they will debut songs from their forthcoming album in Santiago only added to the frenzy.

“We don’t know much about Chile, other than its pretty and the quickest way to get to Antarctica,” said Martin, adding that his band was happy to be in the country.

Martin did say that he was a bit embarrassed about the high ticket prices. “We just found out how expensive they are and would like to say we are sorry. We didn’t know beforehand,” he said. “The tickets of course could not have been extremely cheap because we are playing smaller venues here, but the price is a little embarrassing. When you are a famous band, a lot of things happen that you don’t know about.”

When asked what Coldplay would play at the concert, Martin told Chile’s El Mercurio daily that the set list was still up in the air. “It will be good material, whether it is old or new,” he said. “We don’t want to get too excited about the new songs, but rather play Yellow or Clocks (two of the band’s most famous songs). The fans that have tickets will have a great time, it will be familiar material.”

When asked about the new disc, Martin said the topic was a bit premature. "We are going work with Brian Eno, but we’ll talk about that very soon," he said. “Maybe there won’t even be another disc, we might just stay in Chile getting fat and drinking wine.”

While the band mostly stayed in the hotel, a sound check was expected for Tuesday afternoon. The band was also reportedly at the famous Liguria restaurant in Providencia Monday night until 11 o’clock and said they were planning to visit Valparaiso on Tuesday. “We want to try to see the sea, take in a much history as possible, and get drunk,” added Martin.

Coldplay had been expected to meet with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet as ambassadors for the NGO Oxfam, but no visit had been confirmed as of Tuesday afternoon. Bachelet previously met with U2 and Shakira when they were in town, but is currently in the south of Chile on vacation.

Press access to the band has been remarkably restricted. DG Medios, the company in charge of Coldplay’s Santiago concerts, repeatedly ignored The Santiago Times’ requests for information.

Coldplay shot to fame in 2000 with the single “Yellow” and subsequent debut album “Parachutes.” Since then, the Brit band has emerged as one of the hottest groups in the world with their albums “A Rush of Blood to the Head” and “X&Y.”

Coldplay has frequently supported international NGOs including Amnesty International and Oxfam. Martin said he had saved five tickets so that Oxfam members could pass out postcards at the three concerts in Santiago.

The Latin American tour will also take the band to Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

Tickets for the Santiago concert still remain, but only those priced US$120 and US$160. The “cheap” seats quickly sold out. The three concerts are taking places at Santiago’s Espacio Riesco, and tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.cl.

SOURCE: EL MERCURIO, LA SEGUNDA

By Nathan Crooks (editor@santiagotimes.cl)

New pictures of Chris, Guy, Jonny and Will as they arrive in Chile and meet and greet fans here [thanks Loretín] and here [Coldplaying Gallery]

Coldplay will be in Chile until Saturday 17th, where they then travel to their final legs of the Latin American "Twisted Logic Tour" in Argentina (February 20,21 & 22); Brazil (Febraury 26,27 & 28) and Mexico City (March 3th and 4th).

If anyone needed extra proof that Coldplay are one of the biggest bands in the world, then this eagerly anticipated South American tour would surely quash any dissent in the ranks.

Chris Martin and co have managed to create a global phenomenon from some easy listening and gripping pop songs. Debut album Parachutes landed them a Brit Award and the status of an up and coming British band.

However, it was second album Rush of Blood to the Head that jettisoned them into superstardom; third album X&Y simply consolidated this and added more Grammy awards to the cabinet.

Fans can expect to hear a greatest hits set list, comprising tracks from all three of their highly successful records. Live favourites the Scientist, Yellow, Trouble, Fix You and In My Place will all be included as well as a sneak peak of some new songs.

Coldplay appear to have finished their leave of absence once again, with new material on the radar possibly by next autumn.

The British rock band will be performing three concerts in Santiago, Chile. They are staying at the local Hyatt Hotel, were they travel to immediately from "Arturo Merino Benitez" Airport, at around 05:30h GMT today, in a non-stop flight from London UK.

There are no clues about the day and the time they will be doing the sound check, previous to the show the band are helding al Espacio Riesco, this February 14,15 & 16.

The band support team is informed to be over 25 people.

Coldplay, will be in Chile until Saturday 17th, from where they will be performing their last leg of the Latin American "Twisted Logic Tour" in Argentina (February 20,21 & 22); Brazil (Febraury 26,27 & 28) and Mexico City (March 3th and 4th).

In Chile, there is great interest from fans, despite the high cost of the tickets

(from USD80 to 161), to the point that there are no expensive tickets available, and there are only a few left for the 15th Feb show.

Source: http://www.cooperativa.cl/

Coldplay's 'Talk' was a winner last night at the Grammys as Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix won the Best Remix category.

The Best Remix category has been around since 2002, with previous winners including Jacques Lu Cont (for No Doubt’s ‘In My Life’) and Roger Sanchez (for No Doubt’s ‘Hella Good’).

Best Remix

Mary J. Blige – Be Without You (Moto Blanco Vocal Mix)

Tiefschwarz & Tracey Thorn – Damage (Buick Project Remix)

Beyoncé – Deja Vu (Freemasons Club Mix - No Rap)

Coldplay – Talk (Thin White Duke Mix)

Bob Sinclar – World Hold On (E-Smoove Remix)

The Grammy Awards were held on February 11, 2007 at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.

The Grammys have three categories related to dance music. Best Dance Recording was first awarded in 1998, though early winners seemed a bit wobbly with Cher (‘Believe’) and the Baha Men (‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’) marching up to the stage to collect their trophies. It wasn’t until 2003 when a separate dance category was created that the Grammy’s seemed more comfortable with the genre: in recent years Britney Spears (‘Toxic’) and The Chemical Brothers (‘Galvanize’) have gone home with the gramophone.

The Best Electronic/Dance Album category is only a couple of years old, with previous winners being The Chemical Brothers for 'Push The Button' and Basement Jaxx for 'Kish Kash'. Among the contenders this year, perhaps the smart money is on Madonna’s ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor’ to take the trophy – it narrowly missed the cutoff date last year, causing a major label kerfuffle, and it’s marriage of dance cred and pop appeal looks like a likely Grammy contender.

Sting was back on stage today with his former bandmates from The Police as they entertained the audience at the 49th Grammy Awards.

The newly-reformed group kicked off the US ceremony with their classic hit Roxanne.

Sting, who had even copied his blonde spiked hair from the band’s heyday, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers split in 1984 and despite remaining friends have only performed together a couple of times since. Later today they are expected to announce plans for a comeback tour. Although The Police received rapturous applause, other Brits weren’t so fortunate at the Los Angeles event.

James Blunt was nominated for five gongs, including best record, but walked away empty handed. Coldplay, the Arctic Monkeys and the Pet Shop Boys were also snubbed.

Winners on the night included Mary J Blige, who picked up three awards for her album The Breakthrough and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose Stadium Arcadium, gave them four.

Folk group, The Dixie Chicks were apparently formally forgiven for their anti-Bush remarks four years ago when they made their disapproval on the Iraq war known.

Sales of their records took a direct hit at the time and they even suffered death threats after the comment.

However their five gongs, including one for best song and record for Not Ready To Make Nice – which tells of no regrets – seems indicative of the President’s waning US support.

A reminder that Coldplay's March 2006 Toronto show will receive its first showing on British TV this weekend.

The film is on Channel 4 on Sunday night (Feb 11th) from 11.55pm until 1am.

I said earlier that Fray’s “How to Save a Life” got snubbed and I do mean that. It really fits pop more than it does rock.

I think that since Coldplay has already proclaimed themselves the best band ever, it’s safe to say there ego problems can’t afford to be exacerbated any more by non-deserving wins such as what this one would be. Other than that, my predictions can be explained here in preceding categories. Sorry for the repetition but blame the Grammys, not me.

Performance by a Rock Group

Coldplay - “Talk”

The Fray - “How To Save A Life”

The Raconteurs - “Steady, As She Goes”

Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Dani California”

U2 & Green Day - “The Saints Are Coming”

Will Win: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Dark Horse: U2 and Green Day

Should Win: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Anything But: Coldplay

Snubbed: “Call Me When You’re Sober” by Evanescence

Read the full predictions of tonights Grammy's here