Atop the charts in the U.K., the five-piece indie rockers impress at times, but seriously lack range

Coldplay is on a much-deserved hiatus after touring the world this year, but their spirit appears to be living on in the form of Scotland-based Snow Patrol.

The indie rockers, who actually hail from Northern Ireland and have been around slightly longer than Coldplay, performed to a full house at the Electric Factory Saturday night. But as hundreds of girls pined for the lads with the sensitive songs, it was all a bit too similar to their British counterparts - from slightly dorky frontman Gary Lightbody right down to the lighting.

There is, however, one big difference between the two: Coldplay is far more talented. They've got far better songs and a frontman (Chris Martin) with a far better voice.Comparing Snow Patrol to one of the biggest bands in the world may not be exactly fair - they're still a pretty good band in their own right. And their latest album Eyes Open, may be their best work yet. That said, there's not a whole lot of range from song to song, which is even more noticeable in their live performances.

Take methodical verses all sung around the same tempo over slow, driving strum patterns, follow with sentimental chorus and repeat. It's not that it's entirely bad, it's just that after 45 minutes it gets, well ... boring.

Which is odd for a band who showed they're capable of mixing it up a little with their 2001 album, When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up. Of course from their setlist, you'd have no idea they've been around that long because it was comprised entirely of material from Eyes Open and 2004's Final Straw.

While they're able to get by on a nice chunk of very good songwriting in the form of the usual hits - "Spitting Games," "Chasing Cars," "How to Be Dead" and "Run" - the rest is mostly indistinct filler.

An energetic Lightbody does his best to sell it all and plays the part of frontman well, but when your material is average, your voice is average and your band is average, you're an average band.

A recent review described Snow Patrol by calling them Coldplay with cojones. They'd be lucky to be Coldplay without cojones.

Source: http://www.zwire.com

Coldplay singer Chris Martin - he just recently bought a new house with his wife, y'know (I read it in thelondonpaper) - is among a group of vocalists expected to appear on Jay-Z's forthcoming album.

The rapper's coming-out-of-retirement long-player (did he ever really retire, though?) has a working title of Kingdom Come. Which is a little better than B'Day we suppose. Silly Mrs Z.

Also due to appear on the album are Dr Dre and Kanye West, which leads us to wonder: is there anyone yet to work with Kanye West? Beatfreakz, maybe. Y'know, those funny-looking dance types that released 'Somebody's Watching Me' a while back. Their PR people sent us some Beatfreakz Top Trumps-style playing cards t'other day, to promote their new 'Super Freak' single. Shit, they are. The cards, that is; the song's awesome, obviously. Timbaland should also appear on Kingdom Come. Again, is there anyone that hasn't worked with Timbaland? Maybe Beatfreakz... no, wait... déjà vu?

The Neptunes should also appear... round and round the garden.

The first single from Kingdom Come is reported to be called 'Show Me What You Got'. Why the best fur, chinchilla, of course.

Jay-Z is on tour in the UK later this month - click here for dates.

Sept. 11: Actor Earl Holliman is 78. Movie director Brian De Palma is 66. Drummer Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead is 63. Guitarist Leo Kottke is 61. Guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx is 53. Drummer Jon Moss of Culture Club is 49. Actress Roxann Dawson ("Star Trek: Voyager") is 48. Actor Scott Patterson ("Gilmore Girls") is 48. Actress Kristy McNichol is 44. Actress Virginia Madsen ("American Dreams") is 43. Musician Moby is 41. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 39. Actress Laura Wright ("Guiding Light") is 36. Guitarist Jeremy Popoff of Lit is 35. Singer Brad Fischetti of LFO is 31. Rapper Mr. Black is 29. Guitarist Jon Buckland of Coldplay is 29. Rapper Ludacris is 29.

More celebrations on Jonny's birthday here

The 3am colum of UK newspaper Daily Mirror reports that Chris Martin appearently had dinner with U2 singer Bono and Beatles legend Paul McCartney.

The dinner was held Wednesday evening (Sep 6) at London's Locanda Locatelli restaurant.

A spy says: "They were chatting away. Macca was quiet at first but he soon livened up."

More on this story here [thanks Flying Sparks]

Click here for the Fairtrade gig videos featuring Chris and Jonny performing acoustic duets with Noel Gallagher and with Ms Dynamite.

The charity called Mentality - www.mentality.org.uk have been running a fundraising event called Hats Off in aid of challenging the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems. One part of this initiative was photographing wellknown faces from music, film, theatre, tv etc. taking their hat off by putting hats on for mental health.

Jason Bell an award winning photographer agreed to do this and on a shoot with Coldplay asked them if they would agree to support the initiative - and they kindly did. They agreed to auction the hats to continue to raise funds and these are now available on www.ebay.co.uk under the charity auction Hats Off to mentality. The direct link to the current auction is here.

Jason produced a book titled Hats Off of all the people photographed wearing their hats, Coldplay are included in this. If you would like to help the charity in another way then you could buy a book as Jason has also donated all his profits from the royalties of the book to Mentality. You can get copies from www.amazon.co.uk.

You can also buy a limited edition print of the photograph of Coldplay from mail@sohomanagement.co.uk, again the money goes to the charity.

If you would like to find out more about Mentality then please visit www.mentality.org.uk

The limited presale for the new US tour started yesterday. The following dates have now sold out of advance tickets, the others are in still in presale.

January 25: Grady Cole Center, Charlotte, NC

January 28: Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX

January 31: Nextstage, Grand Prairie, TX

The public sales for these dates start from the 15th. Please check the official site for more information about ticket sales.

Coldplay have taken part in a live webchat this afternoon from Montpelier, France before their gig there tonight.

You can read the transcript below. ~~HINT: Start at the bottom!~~erin: [to jonny] jonny, it seems as though during live performances, chris will quietly say things to you or about you to try to make you laugh. is this the case?

->Jonny replies: Yes I think he's trying to put me off! He calls me The Greatest Guitarist that ever lives which puts off completely!

Chris says: I don't know. You'll have to make one!

corytaylor22@hotmail.com: [to will] Who are your musical influences?

->Will replies: for me its Tom Waits, The Pogues, Bob Dylan and Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds

bronwen: [to will] How fast did you learn to play the drums?

->Will replies: its taken me five years to get to where I am now

Anna: [to chris] Where's the best place to fly kites in London?

->Chris replies: Regent's Park.

Valerie: [to jonny] What do you think about people who have began to play guitar because of your brilliance?

->Jonny replies: It makes us extremely happy that we're encouring others to play instruments!

waterfall: [to will] International Man of Mystery, which country offers your very favorite meal/food?

->Will replies: At the moment its Japan as I am well into sushi at the moment

Vivita: [to jonny] Is the guitar the only instrument you play? By the way you rock babe! ;)

->Jonny replies: I've been playing the piano since I was 7 and I also the Harmonica but badly! I'd like to be able to play the cello actually!

xostarlightbright@aol.com: [to guy] Does being on the road make you lonly ?Can it sometimes get boring? Do you miss your friends and family when your away from home?

->Guy replies: it can be lonly but with the powers of email and mobile phones we can stay in touch with friends and family...

mrmiddel (Martijn Middel): [to will] How did you guys came up with the rythm used in "Clocks"?

->Will replies: it based around the natural rhythm of the piano

seanos27: [to jonny] You guy's are are on the rise in the US. Do you think more tours will be available to us USA fans?

->Jonny replies: Yes definately we'll hopefully go back about 3 times next year so will cover more ground then.

Julie: [to chris] If you were stranded on an island and could have only three things with you, what would they be and why?

->Chris replies: A knife, some chocolate and Anthony Hopkins. Can't say why.

Aaron: [to will] Have you ever thought of playing guitar with chris and jonny when on stage?

->Will replies: I have played acoustic guitar when we play acoustic sets but I behind the drums

Jasmin: [to guy] What is your favorite song to perform live?

->Guy replies: i like playing clocks, but i don't know why...

carem: [to will] Tell me your favorite drums player.

->Will replies: Dave Grohl

Valerie: [to jonny] I was listening to the stones and thought about how great "gimme shelter" was. I know you like them so, what's your favorite song by the Rolling Stones? What about your favorite song ever?

->Jonny replies: Painted Black is my favourite Stones Song, but anything of Excel and Mainstreet is cool with me!

Jodie Marshall (through dotmusic.com): [to chris] Chris, do you think people get the wrong impression about "stars" doing charity work cos so many people do it for the wrong reasons? What's been the most rewarding aspect of it so far for you?

->Chris replies: We just think, 'fuck it', if you believe in it, talk about it.

Ada: [to guy] First, thanks for the brilliant gig in San Francisco in Sept! Do you guys get to see much of anywhere you've touring? What are some of your fave places?

->Guy replies: If we're lucky and we have a day off we get to look around, but mostly we only have a morning or an afternoon free, i particlarly enjoyed walking around Haight Ashbury..

Carla: [to will] Hi Will, how important is the Future Forests campaign to the band? Is that the only cause that you guys are tied to, and if you could do more what causes would you choose? Thanks Carla

->Will replies: The Future Forest is massively important to us, but we also work with Oxfam, Make Trade Fair and Amnesty International....

honey_honey: [to jonny] Hello Jonny! I first want to let you know that I think you are a brilliant guitar player-the best! My question for you is: Have you ever had writer's block, where there is a song and you just kind find the right music to go with it? Thanx! Much luv, Mary

->Jonny replies: Yes many times! Sometimes I'm good but sometimes I can't think of anything. One in every 5 songs I get writers block on!

Simon Pollock: [to guy] Guy... nice work on rush of blood to the head... just wondering - (im a bass player too) when you record..are you like me... sitting on the couch playing along, or do you do it "by the book"... would love to see you guys at a small pub gig in London... and chance of this ever?.. cheers - Sime

flower in the attic: [to will] favorite planet?

->Will replies: neptune

Isabelle: [to chris] Probably odd question (that's not true, there are no odd questions, only odd answers): have you ever messed up the intro to Trouble during a live concert and if so, how bad did that feel?

->Chris replies: I can't remember a time when I've played it correctly to be honest.

Yunbandhoo through AOL.co.uk: [to jonny] Are you starting an Echo and The Bunnymen revival?

->Jonny replies: No but it's a fine idea!! And if everything goes wrong we'll make a fine covers band!!

Bobstar: [to will] What goes through your mind when you are on stage ? Is it as you imagined when you were watching bands when you were younger ?

->Will replies: sometimes you have to empty your mind and let your hands take over

gemapoza: [to chris] Hi Chris, I´m Gema from Spain. For me the music is a language and sometimes the melody or the rhythm say more than a word. But how do you feel when you play in a country where people speak other language?

->Chris replies: It never fails to amaze me and we absolutely love it.

gemapoza: [to guy] Hi Guy! I´m Gema. Where do you love to play? Why? and Is different the crowd in each country? Good luck in Barcelona and I see you in Madrid. Thank you!

->Guy replies: i'd love to play in Russia, St Petersberg or Moscow...

ian davis: [to chris] do you think beards should be made illegal

->Chris replies: Every man should wear a beard.

Manuela: [to will] what's your favourite coldplay song to drum on it?

->Will replies: at the moment its Daylight

Dan: [to jonny] PLEASE READ THIS OUT. Jon dude, can you tell me and my mates where you get your hair done because it looks ace. And are you going to release Amsterdam as a single, because it is an amzing song?? Dan.

->Jonny replies: Eric Cantona's old hairdresser does my hair actually! I don't think we will be releasing Amsterdam as a single I'm afriad Dan

Janis: [to jonny] What effect pedals are used in One I Love.

->Jonny replies: Line 6 delay, Boss RB3 reverb and a rat distortion pedal.

carem: [to guy] How do you learn to play the bass?

->Guy replies: I taught myself, the same as the other 3 members in the band...

AngelicJan: [to will] Do you read the message board?If you do, whats the strangest, wierdest thing youve read?

->Will replies: I do sometimes... some of the rumors can be a bit bizarre but also amusing

Libby: [to chris] Where'd you get that Black jacket?

->Chris replies: I wanted a jacket like The Beatles used to wear and spent a year looking for one. Then I found it in selfridges.

Anna through AOL.co.uk: [to guy] How do your American fans differ from your English ones?

Katie: [to chris] Me and my sister were cycling through a well known London Park the other week and we thought we saw you. Consequently my sister fell off her bike when I announced in a screamish and excited manner that I thought I'd seen Chris from Coldplay, and now she has a massive bandage round her leg, could you please blow her a kiss for her scrape to heal soon, or a home visit, whichever you prefer. Katie.

Jasmin: [to jonny] Will you guys be changing the setlist a bit during your upcoming US tour?

->Jonny replies: Yes - although how we're not sure, we're still deciding at the moment actually so watch this space!

bronwen: [to guy] What was your favourite gig with the band?

->Guy replies: Glastonbury, because we've always dreamed of doing it...

Mel and Georgia: [to will] Me and my sister want to start playing the drums, what should we do first oh King of drums (legendry intro to 'In My Place)?????

->Will replies: Make sure that you spend as much time practising as you can

Martin: [to guy] Dude! You're by far my favourite bass player... The bass line in Daylight is AmAzInG! My question is: Who is YOUR favourite bass player?

saramatty@hotmail.com: [to jonny] Having seen you live on numerous occasions now, including the best gig ever, The Forum. I just wanted to say - Congrats on your fabulous deep singing voice... do you think we'll ever hear you on main vocals? :0)

->Jonny replies: Nah - I doubt it very much. Unless we're doing a Lee Hazlewood cover!!

Birt Dyh through AOL.co.uk: [to chris] I love the new album. How many good tunes do you reckon you've got in you?

->Chris replies: I'm not sure. Some people would say we have never had any in us.

Hannah and Marky Mark: [to will] On behalf of the whole world, will you please tell Christina Aguilera at the MTV awards on Thursday that she is considered a global tramp, and shove your album in her hands to remind her of what real music sounds like. HannahXX.

->Will replies: Yes

Chris (via dotmusic.com): [to guy] Arenas - good, bad or indifferent (so far)?

->Guy replies: So far arena's are good, with our new production / screens and lasers etc we have manage to make the most of them..

Martin: [to jonny] Jonny! You are my GuItAr GoD! I'm not kidding. Who is your favourite guitar player? Angus Young? Slash? :)

->Jonny replies: Ooh thats a tough one! Ummm I had to say Muddy Waters.

Jonny says: Well we get to see quite to see quite a lot. San Fran is lovely and is one of my favourite places in America

Sara: [to guy] Just bought two fish to spice up my bedroom, can you please give me names for them. P.S. Love the hair XX

->Guy replies: Charles & Eddie...

Alex Martinez: [to will] Is it true that somebody hit 24 runs off one of your overs in the prestigiuos u13 District Cricket Cup when playing for Chandlers Ford?? We subsequently lost the match by 15 runs?? This distinct lack of bowling ability is no doubt the reason for you dedicating your life to the drums and music. If so my complaining behind the stumps has helped you launch a successful career!!!. Well done.

Simon Ethers (through dotmusic.com): [to jonny] Do your mums treat you any different now you're superstars?

Hannah and Marky Mark: [to guy] Who is the most famous person you and the rest of the band have ever met? Love Hannah.

->Guy replies: Proberbly Bono, who was very nice to us..

Ada: [to jonny] First, thanks for the brilliant gig in San Francisco in Sept! Do you guys get to see much of anywhere you've touring? What are some of your fave places?

Laurel: [to chris] Why do you wear an elastic bandage type thing on your wrist when you play?

->Chris replies: Partly because my wrist hurts and partly because I like Michael Jackson.

Sara: [to guy] Hi, my dad said he thought he saw you after your Wembley gig staggering out of The Occasional Half in Palmers Green singing Billy Ocean's 'When the going gets tough', can you PLEASE say whether it is true or not so that I can go and tell my friends in school whether or not my dad saw someone famous. Thanx and love the band. Sara.

->Guy replies: Where's palmers green...? it wasn't me although it sounds like something i am well capable of doing...

Will says: Chillie is that you ?? Sorry About that over !

Jonny says: It really depends on whats on. In My Place took about 2 years but The Scientist took only 3 days!

breakfast_of_CHAMPION: [to will] ello Will! First I want to say that I love Coldplay's music and you lads are excellent live. My question is: Would you like to play different instruments or sing more on future albums? Thanx! Much Luv! ~*~Mary

->Will replies: No I am quite happy thanks

Ruth and Kate: [to guy] This is really for all the band, but me and Kate went to see you a few Monday's ago at Wembley, and you were totally wicked by the way, but afterwards my brother was picking us up and he had to go to the toilet in Wembley Arena first in case he wet himself on the way home in our mum's fiesta, so he was in the men's loo after queuing for about 30 minutes, and he swears he saw Bryan May of Queen drying his hair under the electric hand dryer, and mumbling about getting some drink poured over him. So first of all we want to know what do you think of Bryan May being a Coldplay fan, and do you feel it is justified for someone to pour a drink over him, because let's face it could anyone ever forgive him after the tragedy that was the 'We Will Rock You' musical?????? Oh and tell Guy me and Kate think he is seriously cute.

->Guy replies: I admire anyone who can wear that hair with that amount of dignity that he does and not give in the pressures around him to get it cut...i don't think it was justified to pour a drink over his head..

sevenwells: [to jonny] I love the way you guys produve your music, how long does it usually take to complete a song?

Jonny says: Its a great thing. I don't think we'll ever be too pop-ie

Chris says: Dont know. you'll have to make one.

Will says: Chillie - is that you ? Sorry about that over, I hope it hasn't scarred you for to long !!

eti: [to chris] Has ever a dream you've had come true?

->Chris replies: Everyday!

Admiral79: [to jonny] How do you feel about Coldplay becoming more mainstream?

xostarlitebrite@aol.com: [to jonny] Who are some of your musical influences?

Admiral79: [to guy] So, what kind of funny stuff can we expect to see on this upcoming DVD?

->Guy replies: havent'really decided yet, but will let you all know soon...

Chris says: I don't where they come from. You just have to sit there and try. Don't worry about it though. Be brave. something will come.

andrew: [to chris] hey Chris, where can i get one of those make trade fair shirts that youve got? i want one bad! thanks and God Bless

suffragette_city: [to jonny] What are you currently listening to?

Jonny says: Some are obvious and we all agree on but some we argue about! The main one we argued about was 'The One I love' it was between that and 'Green Eyes'

flavia: [to chris] hi chris,i've got a question but i'm italian and i can make some mistake.I played for so long violin,i love music,now i play piano,i stopped lessons,i play by myself.My ex teachers said i was "musical",but i'm not able to write music,so i want to ask you:how is born a song?

mk: [to will] Chris has said that Guy, Jonny, and you (in particular?) are the main critics of his lyrics before they are finalized. How come you guys don't ever write lyrics, surely you must have ups and downs in your lives too...? Thanks, Mahareen from Canada

->Will replies: We don't really think we a great at writing lyrics so we leave it to Chris

Grace: [to guy] What item(s) do you HAVE to take with you on tour that says "home"?

->Guy replies: 10 t-shirts, 10 pairs of underwaer 2 pairs of jeans 1 pair of trainers, 1 wash bag, 1 video camera, 1 portable speaker system...my essential apple mac laptop, my i-pod...at home is still my fridge...

Dennis Sørensen, Denmark (Jubbi.dk): [to jonny] How do you decide which songs, you wanna include on your albums?

->Jonny replies: Ryan Adams - 'Heartbreaker'

Jørgen Møller, Denmark (Jubbi.dk): [to chris] Chris would you consider doing a duet with Robbie Williams, if asked

->Chris replies: We would always consider a duet with anyone as long as they weren't sexier than us.

Mike, from Canada - submitted through www.starsent: [to jonny] What do you still want to achieve as a band in the future?

Ada: [to will] First, thanks for the brilliant gig in San Francisco in Sept! Do you guys get to see much of anywhere you've touring? What are some of your fave places?

->Will replies: We are lucky becuase when we are touring we always make sure we get time to look around... San Francisco is always great as is Iceland

Marie Andersen, Denmark (Jubbi.dk): [to chris] Did you write 'Yellow' with anyone special in mind?

->Jonny replies: I still want to make the best album ever!

Anette Helmersen , Denmark (Jubbi.dk): [to will] Have you heard any danish music recently, for instance Saybia?

->Will replies: I am afraid that I don't know too much about Danish music

suffragette_city: [to guy] What are you currently listening to?

->Guy replies: I'm not really listening to much at the mo, as we're on the road so much, the last thing i got into was kraftwork...

Michelle, from Canada - submitted through www.sta: [to guy] In regards to your song politics, how does it refer to the troubles of the 21st-Century?

->Guy replies: I don't think it directly is about any event, its more of geneal thing about good things over bad things and about making the right decisions...

Moderator says: Hello and welcome to the COLDPLAY live web chat. The band will be here to chat live to you from Montpelier on Tuesday 12th November @ 4.30pm.

Moderator says: Please feel free to submit your questions in advance to to the individual band members in the boxes to the left and click 'Send'. We will try to answer as many of your questions as possible on the day.

Coldplay has a track on a new Christmas compilation called Maybe this Christmas. They perform 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'.

Links for more information & where you can sample the whole thing: http://www.maybethisxmas.com

Also on that compilation is Ron Sexsmith, performing the title track, and on his new cd Cobblestone Runway, Chris Martin guests on one of the tracks called "Gold in Them Hills". For more information click on the Ron Sexsmith art to go directly to his website: http://www.ronsexsmith.com/

A second date for Coldplay at Earl's Court has just been announced.

You can get tickets for all three UK April dates at www.gigsandtours.com and also www.wayahead.com.

New pictures from New York added to the photoalbum, thanks to David Whoie.

Also: Manchester and London tickets on sale at 9am GMT on Saturday for the two dates next April - get yours online, available at www.gigsandtours.com and also www.wayahead.com.

Also: New 2002/2003 US tour dates have just been announced. These are:

December 11: Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA

January 21: Hard Rock Live, Orlando, FL

January 22: University of Miami, Miami, FL

January 24: Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham, AL

January 25: Grady Cole Center, Charlotte, NC

January 27: Saenger Theatre, New Orleans, LA

January 28: Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX

January 29: Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX

January 31: Nextstage, Grand Prairie, TX

February 1: Oklahoma City Music Hall, Oklahoma, OK

February 3: Savvis Center, St Louis, MO

February 4: Kansas Memorial Hall, Kansas City, KA

February 6: Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO

February 7: Saltair Resort, Salt Lake City, Utah, UT

February 9: Dodge Theatre, Dodge City, Phoenix, AZ

Coldplay.com will be hosting a presale for as many dates as possible from Tuesday 12th for all registered members.

You can now see the Q Awards video interview with Chris & Jonny online at http://relay.tornadonetworks.net/rmstream.php?client=emap-002.4&media=video/qawards_2002_coldplay.rm.

It's official, Bono's hair is as real as Fruit Pastilles. Click on the link and you'll see what I mean!

Chris Martin has admitted he has been dating Gwyneth Paltrow. He says he went on a secret night out with the "beautiful" actress at the weekend, but the singer says they are not an item yet.

"I'm proud to be with someone who's very nice and very beautiful but she's not my girlfriend at the moment," he told The Sun. "I feel out of my depth with all this. I met her for the first time at our gig at Wembley two weeks ago.It's early days. I got her number, rang her and asked if she wanted to meet. We went out at the weekend and we seem to get on.

"We met up as friends and nothing has happened. We had a good time though. I don't know when we're going out again. I feel uncomfortable talking about her. We're just becoming friends."

Gwyneth has been to several Coldplay concerts, including recent gigs at Wembley Arena and in Dublin. Chris added: "This is all very weird because she's a big Hollywood star and I'm just the bloke from Coldplay."

COLDPLAY have announced two UK arena shows for 2003.

The group, who recently completed a sell-out tour of the UK, play Manchester M.E.N. Arena on April 14 and London Earls Court on April 16.

Tickets for the shows are on sale from 9am on Saturday (November 9).

Next Coldplay release:

Coldplay are releasing a DVD single with The Scientist video and a live track called "Lips Like Sugar" plus interview footage.

"The Scientist" single will have "1.36" and "I Ran Away" and will also be available on a 7" with all three tracks.

Chris Martin caused a stir in Dublin in the early hours of Friday (October 25) when he showed up at HMV to buy the new David Gray album at a special midnight opening, say nme.com.

Gray has a massive following in Ireland, and to celebrate the fact, HMV on Grafton Street opened at midnight offering fans the chance to buy one of 100 signed copies of 'A New Day At Midnight'. Several hundred braved the cold and rain. Just as staff were readying to close up around 1am, Chris arrived asking if he could buy five copies of the album - Coldplay had just arrived in Dublin ahead of their shows at the Point Depot in the city.

Once staff recognised him, they let him in. Chris was offered five complimentary copies of the album, but insisted on paying. When no money was accepted, he gave the staff the 100 Euros cost and so they could buy themselves a drink.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin dedicated the band's recent hit 'In My Place' to their newest high profile fan, Gwyneth Paltrow, at the band's second Wembley show last night (October 21), say nme.com.

The Hollywood actress was in the audience at Wembley Arena to hear the dedication midway through Coldplay's encore. However, she was not the only woman singled out by the frontman - Martin also dedicated songs to his mother, who was also in the crowd.

The band were in ebullient mood throughout the show, with Martin frequently describing the day as the best of his life. Coldplay had earlier picked up the Q magazine Album of the Year award for 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head'.

It was Coldplay's second night at the 12,000 capacity arena. They held an aftershow party at west London's Cobden Club to celebrate. Radiohead's Ed O'Brien and James Nesbitt, star of ITV's 'Cold Feet', were present.

Coldplay move to Belfast tomorrow night (October 23) before finishing their tour in Dublin on October 27.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Coldplay's Chris Martin said: "'Thom Yorke ignored me at a hotel in Los Angeles.

I was secretly a bit gutted. I'm sure he recognized me. I always look at it like we're in a big musical high school and Radiohead is in the year above us and they still haven't come and sat with us at lunch.''

On Thom ''Cold Shoulder'' Yorke -- well, as Martin says, ''all our other favorite bands, like U2 and Oasis, have been great to us.''

If you are a member of 'In My Place' on the official site you can log in from 11:30am GMT today (Saturday) to see the new "The Scientist" video.

The concept of the video is the loss of a loved one, manifested in a fatal car accident. The video actually starts with the crash and works it's way in rewind fashion to portray Chris and girlfriend at the start of their journey.

Chris had to learn the song backwards, so that his lip synching matches the lyrics of the song.

For those in the UK, tune in to MTV on Sunday, October 20th to watch Coldplay's amazing gig in Manchester last Friday. Details are as follows:

20:30 GMT

Coldplay Live: Backstage

"Ahead of their recent gig in Manchester, which you can see later, MTV caught Coldplay backstage for an interview that contained all the pre-excitement and mayhem before the main event."

21:00 GMT

Coldplay: MTV Live

"An evening of live music that you just cannot afford to miss! MTV brings you Coldplay's recent gig in Manchester, including sublime classics like 'Yellow', 'Trouble', 'Politik' and 'In My Place'."

American Coldplay fans will get 'Clocks' as the second single from 'A Rush of Blood to the Head', instead of 'The Scientist'.

'The Scientist' will be released in the UK on November 11. However, according to MTV news, the band's label in the US preferred the upbeat nature of 'Clocks' and have thus chosen it as the next US release.

Speaking about 'Clocks', singer Chris Martin said: "I reckon everybody in the world questions whether they're useful to the world or not. Some people think they're doing marvellous things. Hitler thought he was doing great things for the world, and yet we'd all say, 'No, no, no, he was doing terrible things.' Some people would say that Coldplay is a great thing for music and the world. Other people would regard us as the devil incarnate, so of course it's always a conflict."

The success of Coldplay seems to be incredible. Coldplay, appreciated in South Amercia but yet to play there during the Twisted Logic Tour, is nominated in Los Premios Mtv Latinoamérica 2006, in the 'Mejor Artista Rock Internacional' category.

This category includes Placebo, My Chemical Romance, Afi and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Los Premios Mtv Latinoamérica 2006 will take place in Mexico on 19th October 2006. To vote click here

More on this story here [thanks coldpatrix]

British funnyman Ricky Gervais has used his new series of his star-studded TV show Extras to take a good-natured swipe at Coldplay singer Chris Martin.

The 'The Office' star [pictured] interviews Martin, who plays himself in the show, and he promptly sends up his image as a socially responsible do-gooder. Gervais' character asks Martin questions such as, "You prefer clothes made in Third World sweatshops because they're cheaper. Do you prefer Chinese or Indian?" When Martin tries to explain he simply likes Indian clothes, Gervais changes the subject. He asks, "And at a political party conference a while back, you made a rousing speech saying that if hunting was ever completely banned, you'd quit the country. Why are you still here?"

He then quips, "You named your child Apple after the massive computer firm. How much did you get for that?"

More on this story here

Well now you can. The Sunday Telegraph have an article about their house, with some photos.

The bass player of Coldplay and his wife are rightly proud of what they've created together - and we don't just mean the baby they have on the way.

See the pictures from the X&Y factor report here [thanks cpfan50]

Watch a set of 'FIVE Media Web Videos' of Yellow, Speed Of Sound and Fix You courtesy of RG840. A montage of four videos into one for all three tracks. High quality stuff.

You can get them here