WordPress Posts: Coldplay News

12 Coldplay Months of 2009: MARCH (Chris Martin's legendary crowd dash!)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The month of March in 2009 for Coldplay started off with an interview with Brian Eno mentioning that he had to mentally separate Coldplay and U2 while working with these ‘two biggest bands in the world’. An extract of the interview: "I realised it could have been, but there was no friction on either side. First of all they know each other. Bono said he thought it was a good idea. But I felt sensitive that in one computer I had all the work I was doing on Coldplay and all the work I was doing on U2 and I had to mentally keep them apart."

Meanwhile, March saw the media jump on U2's Bono, having reportedly called Chris Martin a ‘wanker’ on a UK live radio at the end of February. Chris Martin, however, denied that it was Bono’s personal attack at him, saying that it was a joke. "I always thought he felt that way," Martin joked. "I think it's great that we're arch enemies," Martin said. "That's a joke too.''

Chris Martin celebrated his 32nd birthday in Australia with his father, Anthony Martin who followed him in Coldplay’s Australian Tour. It was Martin's father who was was the last man standing, having stayed on at the upmarket bar after his famous son left. "My dad is more of a rock star than me," Martin said yesterday. "He embraces the lifestyle." Also, Coldplay attended a birthday party thrown by Merrick, Kate & Rosso from Nova 96.9FM (Sydney, Australia).

Coldplay took the honour of opening Sydney Bushfire Sydney Sound Relief on March 14th, 2009. The show hit its highest point when Chris Martin suddenly jumped off the stage during ‘Fix You’ and run through the crowd for half of the Sydney Cricket Ground before going back on stage to finish that final song. The band played seven songs including You’re The Voice of which they called the Australian singing Legend John Farnham to the stage to join the set.

Read the full March 2009 Coldplay review article in the Coldplay forum here [thanks Zeya & aniskywalker]

12 Coldplay Months of 2009: FEBRUARY (eleven superstars together!)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

February started with news about the recording sessions, which included some news from inside the studio and reports about how the band “banned” Chris from the studio.

Chris said: "The letter was to all of us he said that he thought the last album was OK but it could have been much better. He said that he still wanted to work with us on the next album but that I was banned from the studio! He said that it would be better without me for the first two weeks - 'You can do better without the singer'! He said. It has turned out to be a good idea though because the band's been free to try out loads of weird things without me getting in the way."

Coldplay split? Of course not!, Roadie #42 posted: “When I say "the fellas", there is one person notably absent from these sessions. Chris has been banned from the studio for these first two weeks. Now, before the rumour mill cranks its way excitedly into life, this does not indicate any kind of split in the camp...

This is an experiment of Brian's (a phrase I feel I may have a hard time not over-using as the project progresses). Rather than have Chris's demo recordings come in fully-formed, leading the songs in a particular direction, Will, Guy and Jonny are constructing their own musical underpinning with little idea of what Chris had in mind. For many of the tracks, they hear nothing but the vocal track.

In an interview, Chris announced a new album... for free! "What we want to do is try to giveaway a live album for free. We’re playing a lot of shows in the summer and I think what we would like to do is — bearing in mind the recession we are in — record the live album then give it as a gift. We are just trying to work out how to do that. It’s obviously a bit tricky in terms of record contracts and things but it would be great. It’s a way of saying thank you."

Read the full February 2009 Coldplay review article in the Coldplay forum here [thanks Lore & coldplaying-forever27]

12 Coldplay Months of 2009: JANUARY (twelve puppets playing!)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

"We feel bands need to fill their first 10 years, so we have lots to do before December 31, 2009." [Chris Martin]

So they established one thing that this year was going to bring them and that was as ever for Coldplay a hell of a lot of work for the 12 months. But what happened for the band during the first month of this busy year? Well, lots actually. The band started off the year with yet more recognition off the back of their 2008 release Viva La Vida and Death And All His Friends. Mediatraffic awarded the band's 4th record 'Album of the Year' after shifting 6.5 million albums, well ahead of the second best selling album which was AC/DC's Black Ice.

More good news came when they were nominated for yet more awards as they shared 4 Brit nominations each with Duffy, to take place on Wednesday 18th February, two weeks after the Grammys, who designed a brilliant advertising poster for the event at the start of February... (after the jump)

Read the full January 2009 Coldplay review article in the Coldplay forum here [thanks howyousawtheworld; Noémie]

Coldplay In 2007: The Monster Coldplaying Review

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Another year has passed, and it's time to look back at the past 12 months and what has happened with and around Coldplay.

Check back throughout the next two days (27/28 December) as the Coldplaying.com year review continues. At the end of the review we'll be asking you which month was your Coldplay highlight of 2007...

Message From The Webmaster

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

You may have gathered that there was a considerable amount of downtime over the past few days. This has been due to a server move to a faster, more reliable webhost. There is no more planned downtime.

We thank you for your patience and please rejoin the messageboard which is now open again!

Ian

Welcome!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Coldplaying.com - the definitive site for fans of Coldplay.

This site has a new layout and many new features - you can register for

'access all areas', including instant messengers with buddy lists, free

journal, music reviews, integrated gallery, newsletter, topic lists, full

user profiles (featuring over 2000 avatars for your own use), and lots more.

All this on top of what was previously available via the old site. Much of

this material is still published to the web if you wish to view it.

Seattle reviews 2 & 3: Coldplay lights up the KeyArena (25th April)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I don't care what anybody says, Coldplay is awesome - Chris Martin is a star and that show last night was incredible - I should probably start at the beginning before I get too deep into my crush on the whole band, writes the Herald Net in another review of Coldplay's concert at the Keyarena, Seattle on Wednesday night (25th April). Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from the shows at the Coldplay Live [seattle] forum now. Read on for the Herald Net review article...

When I entered KeyArena last night, I was greeted by a very nice ticket taking lady who handed me blue and pink a bracelet that looked like an Easter egg I found once and announced, “You have to wear this. It's part of the show.” I don't like being told what to do but I put it on anyway because it said “Coldplay” on it and everybody else was wearing one. More on these bracelets in a bit. Music played throughout the arena as the stage was being set for Coldplay, much like it does at any venue between sets. Then that music suddenly got louder and unedited version Jay-Z's “99 Problems” began to play...

The energy level in the crowd picked up and I sat laughing as the mothers of the very underage concert goers panicked and covered the ears of their children. As soon Jay-Z finished, the place went pitch black and the crowd began to scream. Then, for just a second, the place went silent as every bracelet in the arena lit up creating a brilliant sea of colorful light. It actually took my breath away and the whole crowd seemed to skip a beat to realize what just happened. The screams resumed at a decibel level that would rival that of a Seattle SuperSonics playoff game.

Coldplay opened with “Hurts Like Heaven” and “In My Place” and by the end of the second song the stage and crowd were covered in confetti. These guys opened their show the way most huge bands close a show. They set the bar high at the start and didn't let up for the rest of the show.

At one point in the show, the lights went out again and in what seemed like a matter of seconds Chris Martin was standing under a spotlight in the middle of the crowd at the other end of the arena to perform the “Us Against the World.” The guy has got to be in amazing shape because he covered some serious ground in a hurry and it didn't seem to faze him. Martin was later joined by the rest of the band and when they finished the song they all sprinted back to the main stage.

A few people gave me a hard time when I told them I was going to see Coldplay. At one point my excitement was interrupted by the thought that this might be one of those guilty pleasures I should keep to myself. Nope. Not even close. That show was unreal and the next time Coldplay comes to town, you all need to attend just like I needed to wear that bracelet. [Article ends]

And also this review from SSG Music, entitled "Live Review, Photo Set: Coldplay, Metronomy, The Pierces at Key Arena": A little over a decade ago, I saw Coldplay live for the first time. I actually went to the show for Grandaddy; The Sophtware Slump had just come out and they were touring with the buzzworthy young band from England. Coldplay’s Parachutes, already a hit with the press across the Atlantic, were now barely scraping into 120 Mintues regular rotation, and only hinting at a break into TRL canon. But Chris Martin was as chatty as ever, charmingly nervous but willing to play up the part of the big rock star. Multiple times he commented on the strangeness of the venue (they played Benaroya Hall of all places), and even once he said that this would be the perfect venue for a band much, much bigger than they were.

Fast forward to 2012. Coldplay is now playing soccer and football stadiums, with extravagant stage setups and enough set designers in tow to screw in many many fluorescent lightbulbs. Mylo Xyloto marks their fifth album and their fifth reimaging, this time as like a fluorescent, ravetastic version of Disney’s “Newsies”. They brought a piece of the city with them, a large graffiti mural emblazoned with inspirational tidbits and lyric snippet. And of course they have the Arena Rock Catwalk, so they can of course “come into the crowd” and “feel the audience’s energy.” Which they did. Multiple times.

Their set breezed by on a tight schedule, bouncing back and forth between earlier and later hits. All killer, no filler, as they say. Taking notes from the Flaming Lips’ live shows, Coldplay brought their toys: paint splattered balloons, a metric ton of M, X, and heart shaped confetti, fluorescent fish (?), lasers, spotlights, scaffolding, blacklights, you name it. Wristbands were distributed before the show which lit up in sequence to the music, giving the concert at the Key Arena the air of a soccer game. And by the feel of the crowd, our team was winning. Speaking of sports, Chris Martin’s banter was very sports heavy. A shout out to the Seahawks during “ “ and a song dedicated to the poor start of the Mariners (“Us Against The World“) had an audience of all ages eating out of the palm of his hand. When you think about it objectively, it’s amazing that a band like Coldplay, spanning the years that they have, haven’t really made an egregious misstep in their careers. Every single one of their studio albums is a little better than average, with a healthy amount of truly memorable modern rock moments sprinkled amongst them. And they’ve never been afraid to grow, to reinvent, to change form and run with it. Kind of like Radiohead, but without the art school shackling or the moody estrangement. It was never meant to be more than fun.

But the question remains, does a band like Coldplay, inoffensive enough but never really groundbreaking, deserve a concert like this? As their albums go on, their sound becomes more and more bombastic, epic, arena. But even older tunes like “Warning Sign,” “In My Place,” and even “Yellow,” sound larger than life, larger than they were back in 2001. When Martin and company were playing Benaroya, I believe he didn’t think Coldplay were going to be the biggest band in the world. But I do believe he thought they’d get close. PS Metronomy played too. They are a small, small band, rigidly English and not really worth noting. They played like they couldn’t wait to get away from the crowd. {Article ends]

New photos of Coldplay performing at the Keyarena, Seattle, WA (25th April 2012):

Photos courtesy of SeattlePi (click for more!)

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

The new range of Coldplaying merchanise (unofficial of course to the official shop) has hit our stores, with our biggest range of goods so far. Prices are as low as they can be for a Cafepress shop so more people will be able to afford them. We don't take any profits for the sale of the merchandise as a result. Take a browse in one of the online stores nearest to you: UK | US | Canada | Australia | European (shipping is worldwide, but you can choose what currency to pay in) - simply alter the country dropdown menu at the top of the shop page. [thanks to TracieMorgan and zzz]

Edmonton review 2: Coldplay light up Rexall to kick off tour (17th April)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

At the root, innocence. With a mix of studied stadium rock moves and innovative use of brightly coloured tech, Coldplay on Tuesday night didn’t make us feel cool or mad or even self-servingly alienated — they made us feel like wide-eyed children, writes the Edmonton Journal in another review of Coldplay at Rexall Place last night (17th April 2012). Catch up with more on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from this show at the Coldplay Live forum now - thanks to everyone who has contributed so far! Read on for the EJ article...

It started with neon-coloured wristbands handed out at the doorways – all urged by circular hanging trampoline screens to put them on and be part of the show. Chris Martin took about a minute to get into his first “whoa-oh-ohh” as Hurts Like Heaven began the London band’s North American kickoff show; our wrist devices suddenly signalled by radio to turn the coliseum into a giant bowl of flickering Skittles. Next, for the aptly named In My Place, confetti cannons fire! Now whose mom is supposed to clean that mess up? “I hope you’re as happy to be here as we are,” the cheerful 35-year-old singer said. “Playing Canada is always a f---ing pleasure...

“Tuesday’s normally a s--- night,” Martin joked saucily. The handsome fellows broke in with the one that opened the wormhole for them, and as Martin crooned a muscled-up Yellow, giant balloon balls dropped from the roof. More toys! He finished this one on solo piano, our big crowd accompanying, then one of the band’s absolute best The Scientist rolled out, it too a big fat singalong. “Let’s go back to the start,” Martin sang, which is of course our theme: innocence. How many hands held, lips kissed, first dances at weddings has this band had a touch of? It’s just uncountable, and directly due to the fact they sincerely serve their audience exactly what they want, the last of the mega-bands never driven to artistic obscurity, 50 millions records later still on the path U2 and Radiohead got too big or weird to walk, mid-tempo rock designed no longer for stereos but laser-lit audiences alone.

In front of their black-light graffiti backdrop, Martin ended Violet Hill with “If you love Wayne Gretzky, won’t you let me know?” The singer stopped God Put a Smile Upon Your Face to burp with an excuse me, a recorded Rihanna looming over the band for Princess of China. Another guaranteed, Viva La Vida, and Martin held his mic up dancing down the catwalk with a huge grin, rolling in the confetti in the dark. And again the wristbands turn Rexall into a giant bowl of blinking Christmas. I am a cynical human, but this was magic. The Pierces flicked the first power switch on with their alluring-sinister Love You More. The Alabama-born sister duo sang forlorn harmonies, on Kissing You Goodbye boldly tapping a nostalgic post-psychedelia. Allison Pierce turns her pop music slightly dizzy and uneasy, with a swell touch of evil. Coldplay’s Guy Berryman produced their last record, incidentally. Watch their song Boring online to consider their range; these guys are sublime at times, and did well as the crowd’s 14,500 beetled in slowly. Next up on stage, twitchy four-piece U.K. electro-poppers Metronomy, who’ve smartly given over to the urge to sing. After a bit of discordant but intentional tunelessness, they pounded out The Bay, drummer Anna Prior glittering in purple with a beat to match the band’s flashing heart-lights. Bass is the backbone of this band, really belonging up close in a sweaty club past midnight, though they gave it their all. “How’s everybody at the top?” singer Joseph Mount asked the cavern before their rainy-day sexy The Look.

For Coldplay, the arena exploded with Paradise (a lone elephant costume standing outside before the show asking for Lucy’s freedom), Jonny Buckland leaning extra into his guitar before we played the encore game. Playing Us Against the World, yes, from the seats across from the stage under the retired Oilers’ numbers, Martin noted, “You’re cheering at all the right places and you’re forgiving all the mistakes and it makes us feel great so thank you.”

Beautiful moment. Through us, they ran back to the stage and it’s Clocks, 17 songs in, and we each remember ... old things. Then, another killer emotional app, Fix You, and again the room is one voice. Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall ends the show. “I turn the music up,” Martin starts it off and all the toys and colours and energy become one warm and friendly thing. Here they come, North America. Now about that mess... [Article ends]

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

It's all happening on the Mylo Xylotour - the latest news stories out of Vancouver, Portland and Los Angeles

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

It's all happening on the Mylo Xylotour at the moment. Just ten shows in and already plently of scandal, controversy (not Coldplay's fault of course) and celebrity at some of the early shows for the media to get their teeth into. Remember the slasher news story in Calgary that turned out to be a couple of guys fighting in the concourse near some broken glass... well this week two or three more stories have emerged in relation to recent shows. The tour is certainly bringing about a lot of media attention, not all of it on stage...

Firstly, the Vancouver Sun are reporting that a man has been arrested after Abbotsford police, in a small sting operation, uncovered a scam selling bogus Coldplay concert tickets on Craigslist. Police said they received five complaints in April from would-be concert goers who discovered their Coldplay tickets - selling online for more than $100 each - were fake. One complaint was also made for phony Madonna tickets. A detective set up a meeting yesterday with a 24-year-old Abbotsford man claiming to be selling Madonna tickets online and the tickets were determined to be fraudulent. Const. Ian MacDonald said police expect fraud charges to be laid. No names have been released.

Meanwhile according to the Associated Press (Katu), in Portland, a Salem teacher who was arrested last month after he was accused of having sex with a student was back in jail Wednesday, accused of meeting the girl at a Coldplay concert. Lt. Dave Okada says 49-year-old Michael Montgomery violated terms of his release. Okada said Michael Montgomery, 49, and the underage victim were at the same concert. "It doesn’t appear that they went together, but it appears they did have contact," Okada said. The Statesman Journal reports the two reportedly made contact at the April 24th concert at the Rose Garden in Portland. Mntgomery was originally arrested April 16, three days after he was found in a vehicle with the girl at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge and she said they had sex. Montgomery is on administrative leave from his job at Sprague High School.

In Los Angeles, string of A-list celebrities were out in force to watch Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl this week, including Hilary Duff, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Pau Gasol, Robert Downey Jr., Molly Sims, Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, James Belushi and Ashley Greene amongst others.

To coin a Roadie #42 phrase, never a dull moment, indeed...

New photos of Coldplay performing at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles (1st May 2012):

Photos courtesy of LA Weekly (click for more!)

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Hollywood Bowl review: Coldplay put on a hell of an entertaining show (1st May)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Chilly Tuesday nights in May isn't exactly what the Hollywood Bowl is all about. But despite the less-than-ideal conditions, Coldplay warmed up the sold out crowd last night with songs off their latest album, Mylo Xyloto, and an assortment of hits, writes the LA Weekly in the first review of Coldplay's concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday night (1st May). Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from the shows at the Coldplay Live [Hollywood Bowl night 1] forum now. Read on for the LA Weekly review article...

Since the band's 2000 breakthrough with "Yellow," they've become one of the preeminent voices in modern rock, if also one of the most hated. Singer Chris Martin is almost as well known for his marriage to actress Gwyneth Paltrow and friendship with Jay-Z as for his songs.

But Martin is still concerned with writing songs that appeal to as many people as possible. If Wayne's World were made today, Wayne Campbell's quote, "Led Zeppelin didn't write tunes everybody liked. They left that to the Bee Gees," would likely substitute Coldplay for the latter. But they probably wouldn't care.

Over the course of the night, the band was fully engaged with the audience and on their game. It's bold to shoot off fireworks at the end of a show, but during the first song? With that, the band set the benchmark for their U2-esque theatrics pretty high and did not disappoint. From the elaborate light show to confetti to the glowing wristbands that were handed out upon entry, the band had the crowd's attention. "Thanks for coming out on a Tuesday night," Martin said. "We know how hard it was to get and park here and we're gonna give it our all and hopefully you'll do the same."

Indeed, those in attendance dug the 20-song, 95-minute set. Songs like "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face," "Viva La Vida," and "The Scientist" received huge cheers, while the new songs held their own as well. One of the telling moments of the night came during the encore when Martin, solo, popped up on an impromptu stage in the middle of the crowd. As he introduced "Us Against The World," he told the audience that though it may not appear to be the case, the band was made up of four equal partners; the singer implored folks to cheers each of them equally loudly, and they obliged.

Coldplay gets a lot of shit from many due to their soft, bland, overly commercial pop songs -- think Seth Rogen's snarky quote in The 40 Year Old Virgin -- but that hasn't stopped them from having massive success. They can release anything from EDM influenced tracks to those featuring Rihanna, but the band continues to sell out arenas and stadiums across the world. Like it or not, the British quartet judges themselves on how they're able to please their audience, rather than crusty music critics.

Critical Bias: Not the world's biggest Coldplay fan, but they know how to put on a hell of an entertaining show.

Random Notebook Dump: I don't care what band you are; charging $40 for a t-shirt isn't cool.

New photos of Coldplay performing at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles (1st May 2012):

Photos courtesy of LA Weekly (click for more!)

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Coldplay's ETIAW performance at Glastonbury 2012 features on forthcoming 'The Iconic Live Moments' DVD

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

A killer list of musicians are putting together a new compilation DVD that honors the best in British talent. Radiohead, Blur, Coldplay, Muse, Adele, the Who and many more are featured on a new DVD called “The Iconic Live Moments” that pays tribute to iconic British artists. Find the complete track listing, below.

Coldplay closed their Glastonbury 2011 set with the then single 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall', which completed their set with amid a laser show that lit the Pyramid up in DayGlo colours. You can watch the performance again at the Coldplay forum now, as well as discussion on this latest DVD story.

“The Iconic Live Moments” DVD will arrive digitally on Amazon and iTunes on May 14. What’s more, all profits earned from the DVD will go to help raise funds for the Save the Children Foundation, which serves to offer food, medical care and education to poor and needy children around the globe. Good music for a great cause is always a win-win in our book! The performances features on the set were taken from as far back as 1973 to as recent as 2011. Aside from the rock names, several pop names are also taking part in the release, including David Bowie and Spice Girls.

‘The Iconic Live Moments’ Track Listing:

David Bowie — “Ziggy Stardust” (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, 1973)

The Who — “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (Live at Shepperton Studios, 1978)

Queen — “Radio Gaga” (Live at Wembley Stadium, 1986)

Orbital — “Chime” (Live at Glastonbury Festival, 1994)

Pulp — “Common People” (Live at Glastonbury Festival, 1995)

Spice Girls — “Wannabe”/”Who Do You Think You Are?” (Live at BRIT Awards, 1997)

Radiohead — “Karma Police” (Live at Glastonbury Festival, 1997)

Robbie Williams — “Let Me Entertain You” (Live at Knebworth, 2003)

Muse — “Knights of Cydonia” (Live at Wembley Stadium, 2007)

George Michael — “Faith” (Live at Earls Court, 2008)

Blur — “Tender” (Live at Glastonbury Festival, 2009)

Adele — “Someone Like You” (Live at BRIT Awards, 2011)

Coldplay — “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall” (Live at Glastonbury Festival, 2011)

Take That — “The Flood” (Live at City of Manchester Stadium, 2011)

Bonus track only on iTunes: Amy Winehouse — “Back to Black” (Live at iTunes Festival, 2007)

Photos of Coldplay at the Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury Festival, UK (25th June 2011):

Photo source: The Sun

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Chris Martin enters the Sunday Times Rich List 2012 for first time

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The Sunday Times Rich List has been published today (Sunday 29 April) by the newspaper, which looks at the 1,000 richest people in the UK and the top 250 in Ireland, it also reveals the wealthiest music millionaires - and this year Chris Martin enters the Rich List for the first time. We've been passed the official press release that accompanies the Rich List publication. You can also read more on this story at the Coldplay forum now [thanks Lulu @ VCCP Share & teernabh5]

The end of last year saw the release of Coldplay's fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto. The band's latest indie rock hit has helped to boost the joint wealth of Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow to £72 million. David and Victoria Beckham have raised their fortune by £25 million to £190 million in just one year. The former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham not only received a prize for The Best Designer Brand at The British Fashion Awards, but her three-year-old label won over high-status designers Tom Ford, Burberry and Stella McCartney.

Over in menswear, footballing legend David Beckham boosted his off-pitch earnings when he joined forces with H&M to undertake a new bodywear contract, profiting with a cool £4 million.

Spotify's 29-year-old Swedish-born founder Daniel Ek steps in to The Rich List spotlight this week. Spotify launched in 2006 and in six short years Ek has rocketed up the Rich List with an astounding wealth of £190 million. The digital music download company is valued at £1.2 billion. This now places the London-based Ek in the Music Top 10 alongside the better-known names of Sir Mick Jagger and Simon Cowell.

Britain's richest performer Sir Paul McCartney moves up to third place in the latest Sunday Times Rich List Music Millionaires Top 50. The McCartney family wealth has gone up by £170 million in one year ' from £475 million to £665 million. His marriage in 2011 to Nancy Shevell, along with his album sales and live performances, has boosted his already impressive fortune. Shevell's personal wealth comes from a £150 million stake in New England Motor Freight, her family haulage business.

The official guide will be in the Sunday Times on April 29, and it can be viewed online at thesundaytimes.co.uk/richlist [subscription required]. The richest sportsmen and women will appear in The Sunday Times Sport Rich List 2012 published on May 6. Additional guides to wealth will also appear online from April 29, with the Richest 2,000 people in Britain available online from May 13.

New photos of Coldplay performing at the HP Pavillion, San Jose, CA (27th April 2012):

Photos courtesy of Mercury News (click for more!)

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

San Jose review: Coldplay on top of its game at HP Pavillion (27-28 April)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

There's long been one steadfast rule in the touring industry: You don't shoot the confetti cannons until the end of the show. Yet, there we were, just a few minutes into the Coldplay concert on Friday night at HP Pavilion in San Jose, being showered with massive amounts of confetti, writes the Contra Costa Times in a review of two concerts at the HP Pavillion (27th & 28th April). Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from the shows at the Coldplay Live forum here (27th) and here (28th) now. Read on for the Contra Costa review article...

The downpour seemed like it might never stop, as colorful cutouts of various shapes swirled about in the air, obscuring the view of the stage and creating a scene akin to a World Series victory parade. It was truly a climactic moment, one that seemed tailor-made for when a band plays its biggest hit as the final encore of the night. But, in this case, it was actually only the second song of the evening -- "Hurts Like Heaven," a recent single that never even charted in the U.S...That's Coldplay in a nutshell. More than anything else -- or, for that matter, pretty much anyone else -- vocalist Chris Martin and crew simply want to please their fans. It doesn't matter if others (i.e. critics) think the group is making some wrong moves, Coldplay is going to fire those confetti cannons early and often if that's what it takes to satisfy the crowd.

And it's certainly working for the British pop-rock quartet.

Coldplay charmed the masses right from the very start of its career, with its 2000 debut, "Parachutes," going on to sell nearly nine million copies. Now, it's pretty easy to make the case that Coldplay is the world's biggest rock band. Its latest release, "Mylo Xyloto," was the world's top-selling rock record of 2011. The two prior efforts, 2005's "X&Y" and 2008's "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," were simply the world's best-selling records, of any genre, for their respective years.

Of course, you don't get that big without making quite a few enemies along the way. Many people love to hate Coldplay, blasting Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion for making what some perceive to be watered-down, bland and overly commercial pop. Yet, that's just another way of saying the band makes music that is suitable for mass consumption — and I think the Coldplay guys would be just fine with that description, since they seem to want to please as many people as possible.

On Friday night, during the first half of a two-night stand at HP Pavilion, the 35-year-old Martin, who is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, went out of his way to show his gratitude to his fans.

"I know it is a pain to go to concerts these days," said the vocalist-guitarist-pianist, noting the price of tickets and traffic as two of the prime pains. "All we can do is to give you everything we have (in return)."

The band would do just that as it rolled through an utterly professional 100-minute set that was filled with nearly two dozen solid songs and even more cool special effects -- including a wonderful laser light show and three different performance spaces, which allowed multiple fans to get up-close views of the group.

Opening the show with the title track to "Mylo Xyloto," and quickly continuing through such longtime fan favorites as "In My Place" and "The Scientist," Coldplay went for broke on each tune. The band put equal emphasis on both its signature numbers, such as the breakthrough single "Yellow," and relatively obscure cuts, such as "Lovers in Japan."

While the performance level never varied, the quality of the actual material certainly did. Coldplay has a handful of truly magical compositions, which stand tall among the best alt-rock tunes of the last dozen years, and the ones performed live in San Jose certainly thrilled the 15,000-strong audience. The most memorable ones were the achingly beautiful "Fix You," the undeniably grand "Viva La Vida" and, of course, "Clocks," which still ticks with precision and power.

The players came across more like regular Joes than rock stars. Studied individually, the musicians often seem quite ordinary -- there's not a single flashy player in the bunch. Yet, the whole manages to feel so much greater than the sum of its parts.

That sense of synergy, even more so than a few confetti cannons, is what truly makes a Coldplay concert special.

New photos of Coldplay performing at the HP Pavillion, San Jose, CA (27th April 2012):

Photos courtesy of Mercury News (click for more!)

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

MTV: Coldplay's official 'Princess Of China' video due third week in May

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

MTV are reporting that the official Princess Of China video will be available in the third week of May - the full version that is - not the shortened version that is currently doing the rounds during Coldplay's live US/Canada shows. More discussion on the forthcoming PoC video is at the Princess Of China subforum now. Here's MTV's article...

By now, you've probably seen the video for Coldplay's "Princess of China." It stars Rihanna as a Shiva-esque deity who waves her (many) arms back and forth in time with the tune but strangely does not actually feature Coldplay themselves. But this Rihanna-starring clip currently making the rounds is actually only taken from Coldplay's live show, spokesperson confirms.

The clip began making the rounds earlier this week and was not only touted as the "official video" but earned raves from fans of both acts. There's only one problem: It is most definitely not the actual "Princess of China" video. In fact, it's part of Coldplay's live show, a video they play during their performance of the song (as several Coldplay aficionados have been pointing out on YouTube). Just to clear up any confusion, we reached out to a spokesperson for the band, who told us in no uncertain terms: "It isn't the official video. ... It is, in fact, a clip that the band are using during their performance of the song on tour."

So there you have it. Of course, this raises the question of just when the real "Princess of China" video will premiere. After all, going by photos RiRi previously tweeted, the clip was filmed back in March. So, once again, we went to Coldplay's rep, who told us that the "Princess" video is still a few weeks away from debuting. "It won't be finished until the third week of May," the spokesperson said.

New photos of Coldplay performing at the HP Pavillion, San Jose, CA (27th April 2012):

Photos courtesy of Mercury News (click for more!)

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

ET Canada interview preview: Erin Cebula starstruck for Coldplay (part 1 Thursday, part 2 Friday)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

As Coldplay leave Canada until later in the year as part of the Mylo Xylotour, Entertainment Canada will have an exclusive interview with Chris and Jonny that will be airing on Thursday with a promised second part on Friday.

You can catch up with all the latest discussion on this forthcoming interview at the Coldplay forum. We'll do our best to find some multimedia for those outside Canada after the airing. In the meantime, you can read their preview article below which was published today, along with a few pertinent photos and tweets... [thanks Blue Nails, Tash]

When you're preparing for an exclusive interview with one of the biggest bands in the world, there are things you do, and things you don't do. Dos include knowing your stuff, eating a good meal and getting plenty of rest the night before. Topping the don'ts list is wearing the wrong bra, trying out a new 'do and getting amped on caffeine. My bra was so so, and yes I did play up the cowlick a little more than normal - but what the hell was I thinking slamming back a double shot Americano one-hour before the interview? Now, I could blame my sweaty palms on an innocent barista or I could just be honest with myself and with you. Coldplay has sold close to 60 million albums... and this is a big deal.

Our 20-minute interview is going down backstage at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. And we all breathe a sigh of relief when we are led to the "spouses" room. Turns out superstars and hockey wives have access to a slick leather sectional and a playroom for their kiddies. You have no idea how awkward it feels to interview rock stars in a bland, boardroom setting.

The ET Canada team wastes no time kicking into high gear. The couch is moved; two light kits are fired up and our audio tech tests her boom at every angle to make sure we are shadow-free. I review my questions for the 40th time and try to belly breath. It's on.

When Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland enter the room, the energy changes. They're decked out in stylish, technicolour garb and they greet everyone in the room with warmth. It's obvious they're pumped to share their new spectacle with the world and to kick it off in Canada. The boys seem to recognize the fact that they are incredibly lucky to do what they do and that their fans deserve the best. Chris and Jonny also love Rihanna... have no problem dropping an F-bomb and they still really like each other after 15 years on the road.

I also have a feeling they enjoyed our 20 minutes together. Let's just hope they didn't notice my hands shaking. [Article ends]

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Coldplay @ Vancouver review 3: When you give 119 per cent, you don't need nuance

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Few acts these days could sell out two shows at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, but Coldplay, easily one of the hottest in the world, boasts cross-generational appeal - not to mention sweeping choruses that inspire loud sing-alongs – always the mark of a collective good time, writes the Globe & Mail in another review of two concerts at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver (20th & 21st April). Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from the shows at the Coldplay Live forum here (20th) and here (21st) now. Read on for the Globe and Mail review article...

The U.K. band has sold in the order of 55 million records and is sitting with another new hit album in Mylo Xyloto. Frontman Chris Martin promised Friday night’s crowd that they’d give “119 per cent,” and the band delivered on that rather random promise with a visually compelling and dynamic 90-minute performance.

The production was all about clever tricks and crowd-pleasing spectacles. One of the most impressive of these was the multicoloured LED light wristbands handed out to fans upon arrival. The radio-controlled lights lit up in dramatic unison once the band launched into the new album’s title track, and they were used throughout, turning the room into a giant Lite-Brite and the audience into part of the production.

Coldplay works hard, plays solidly, writes lovely, magnanimous songs with big, joyous melodies, and understands its audience, which means they are not above playing older hits, this time including In My Place, Yellow, The Scientist, Viva La Vida, Fix You, alongside invigorating, chest-walloping renditions of new tracks like Paradise and Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall, the fittingly dramatic show closer. And while Martin might not be the most natural performer, he makes the most of what he’s got.

Only a truly skilled showman can successfully play to a big room, and navel-gazing behaviour just doesn’t do. While Mick Jagger plays to the very back of the hall with the campy moves of a drag queen doing Tina Turner, Martin, who is superbly fit, opts for the utilitarian moves of a calisthenics instructor. If he’d dropped and given us 100 push-ups, it would not have been out of place.

The band – including guitarist Jonny Buckland, drummer Will Champion and bass player Guy Berryman – generously moved between the main stage and a B-stage connected by a catwalk. Martin covered all of it thoroughly, frequently praising the crowd, and stopping to catch a red bra thrown to him from a clearly diehard fan. In an effort to reach everybody, the foursome even squeezed into a row at the rear of the room during the encore for a rendition of Us Against the World.

Like its predecessor, U2, the band is not one to be accused of subtlety, which is a good thing in an arena, where the sound will never be fantastic, and the group will always be a speck to at least half the audience. And so, being literal wins out against nuance. On Clocks, Martin sang “Tides that I tried to swim against,” and made a swimming motion across the top of his piano. When a song was particularly inspirational, he’d fall to his knees, and then to the floor, in an act that at times came dangerously close to self-parody.

As the show went on, giant balls bounced among the crowd, the band’s clothes glowed with drabs of fluorescent paint and a piano rose from the B-stage on cue. We were covered with giant confetti, and dazzled by Spirographs, red lasers and overhead clouds of swirling colour. On the Rihanna duet, Princess of China, a projection of the Barbadian songstress appeared onscreen, while Martin, his T-shirt drenched, rocked the hell out of his piano seat and, voice breaking, sang his part.

By show’s end, he triumphantly collected his trademark jacket and bowed to the cheering audience, clearly pleased with their reaction. And he’d earned it. [Article ends]

New photos of Coldplay performing at the Rogers Arena, Vancouver (20-21 April 2012):

Photos courtesy of electric_soul

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Vancouver Coldplay fans duped after buying doctored tickets online

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Some Coldplay fans are angry today after buying tickets on Craigslist for the band's weekend shows at Rogers Arena in Vancouver that turned out to be fake, writes the News1130 website today. Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from the shows at the Coldplay Live forum here (20th) and here (21st) now. Read on for the News1130 article...

Emily Walcott of Maple Ridge says she resorted to Craigslist after tickets for the popular band's show sold out on Ticketmaster. The 19-year-old found a good deal online from a woman she says "seemed pretty nice". When she asked why the woman was selling the tickets for less than face value, Walcott was told it was because the ticket holder's job got complimentary passes to the show.

When Walcott arrived at the concert, her tickets wouldn't scan. "We went to a different booth where (the usher) told me they were Photoshopped," she recalls. "I was really choked. I couldn't process anything that was going on."

Walcott says she went through a wave of emotions for believing that woman who sold them to her and ignoring the red flags. She was most upset that she was out $220 and wasn't able to see her favourite band. A report has been opened by Abbotsford police, who Walcott says were very nice to her. "After I found out they were fake I was thinking, well at least I learned my lesson,'" she adds. "But then I was also thinking, why did I have to learn my lesson with Coldplay? I was really looking forward to it."

Abbotsford Police say they're not pleased. Cst. Ian MacDonald has heard from people claiming to be have been duped up to $400 because they ignored some major warning signs. "[it was for] what they thought were prime seats," he says. "Instead they simply ended up finding transportation downtown and ultimately were turned away when they tried to get through the door."

He says crooks prey on emotions. "Certainly, music concerts, need-to-see events, can create those emotions in people which causes them in many instances to pay more than ticket price value for an opportunity to see their favourite band and show," he says. "For at least brief moments in time, they're willing to forgo what normally would be indicators that maybe this isn't a good idea for the hope they're going to get ideal seats for a concert that's in high demand."

New photos of Coldplay performing at the Rogers Arena, Vancouver (20-21 April 2012):

Photos courtesy of electric_soul

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Coldplay set to play Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012 at Wembley Stadium, London (9th June)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Coldplay are the first act confirmed for Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012 at Wembley Stadium, according to the radio station this morning. This event currently clashes with Coldplay's first date at the Etihad stadium in Manchester as part of the Mylo Xylotour, however it is expected that Coldplay will open the Summertime Ball during the day and then travel to Manchester for the evening concert. More on this new event is at the Coldplay Live forum now (which we expect Coldplay.com to confirm soon). [thanks Tash]

Capital FM continue: "The Summertime Ball 2012 line-up will also feature a host of some of the biggest names in music – with the rest of the acts ready to be announced later today. Meanwhile, the band debuted a clip of their music video for 'Princess Of China', which features Bajan star Rihanna, on their current North American outing. Tickets for the fourth edition of the event go on general sale on Monday (23rd April 2012) at 8am. If you're a Capitalfm.com VIP or a Vodafone customer, you can get access to an exclusive tickets pre-sale now. Keep your eye on the ball by visiting our special Summertime Ball area for all the latest information on this year's hit music event. You can also follow all the action by liking Capital FM on Facebook and Twitter using the official hashtag #CapitalSTB.

Vancouver review 1: Coldplay wristbands raise fears of involuntary dance party (20th April)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Walking into the first of two sold-out Coldplay concerts at Rogers Arena Friday night, fans were handed a strange wristband they were asked to put on, writes the Vancouver Sun in a review of last night's first of two concerts at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver (20th April). Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from this show at the Coldplay Live forum now. Read on for the Vancouver Sun review article...

On the wristband, the Twitter hashtag #coldplayfilm was printed, referring to to a forthcoming live DVD (the first since 2003) that will be shot at an unknown date on the band's current tour for latest album Mylo Xyloto. There was also a plastic radio-controled device attached to the wristband, each a different colour -- yellow, pink, blue, white... no, it wasn't a tool for some kind of nefarious mind-control experiment, but rather a tiny lighting device that would later turn the entire arena into a giant bowl of twinkling specks, each individual joining the rest of the crowd in becoming a part of the concert's elaborate visual elements...

To say that Coldplay's latest appearance in Vancouver was a communal experience would be to understate the obvious. Singer Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion have proven to be masters at connecting with their audiences and making their audiences connect with them, even when they didn't have the kind of stadium-sized gadgetry that was on display Friday night, from the myriad flashing "glowbands," to lasers, balloons, confetti and more.

Coldplay's material - heartfelt rock with a genuine loving feel that hasn't really changed all that much over the years - hits you exactly where it counts. And when you add a phenomenally oversized sound and a "we're all in this together" visual element like the glowbands, you have a concert that lingers in your mind for a long time. This one will definitely stick.

Opening with a recording of the main theme from Back To The Future, Coldplay launched into Hurts Like Heaven, Rogers Arena blinking from not just glowbands but also camera flashes and cell phones. Multiple circular screens lit up to show Martin, Buckland, Berryman and Champion doing their thing. Martin, as always, was the one that smiled the brightest, an infectious beaming grin that lit up the place as much as all the flashing, blinking stuff did. "Is there anybody out there?" Martin asked. "Anybody ready to have a good time?"

It didn't take long for the place to be filled with confetti, thanks to a spectacular In My Place, the song that kicked off what is arguably Coldplay's best album, 2002's A Rush of Blood to the Head, Martin rushing down the catwalk to pump his fist in the air as canons blasted bits of paper shaped like birds, butterflies, hearts and flowers onto his fans.

The concert was an oversized spectacle for a large-hearted band: giant balloons popped out during Major Minus, the entire crowd sang along with Martin during The Scientist ("Nobody said it was easy..."), and the place was one big collective smile during breakout hit Yellow, a song that still manages to get fans all worked up over a decade later. Granted it was all rather soft-edged and pretty tame, save for a few songs like Violet Hill where Buckland worked his guitar with sharper strokes, and a U2-worthy God Put A Smile Upon Your Face.

Coldplay then moved over to the X-shaped stage at the end of the catwalk for a softer segment including Princess of China with the added presence of Rihanna singing on screen, Up In Flames and a delicate Warning Sign, Martin serenading his fans behind his neon paint-splattered piano. In the end you couldn't help but be swept away by singalong Paradise, which made full use of the crowd's help singing Martin's trademark "ooh-woah-ohs" and lit up every glowband in the house, an Us Against the World played in the stands, and encore Clocks (lasers galore), Fix You and finale Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall.

"Thank you for giving us the best job in the world," Martin said on a few occasions. It sure looked like the four Brits were having a ball. In the opening slot, New York-based sister duo The Pierces - Allison Margaret and Catherine Eleanor - channeled the more ethereal, psych-laden folk-rock vibes of Steve Nicks and Heart. The sisters' presence was probably mainly due to Berryman producing their latest album You & I, but the pair has been active for a number of years.

Another act with more experience under its belt than they let on was British act Metronomy, who has been around for a decade and whose synth-heavy rock didn't always click. Not to slag their attention-worthy The English Riviera, which was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize last year, but the band's new wave-inspired, wobbly bass stomp would have been better suited for the after-party rather than the warm-up slot.

If you're going Saturday night, note that Dallas Green's City and Colour is opening in place of Metronomy. That being said, if you are going Saturday and dared read all the way through this review and all its spoilers, you're still in for a treat. Because for a solid 90 minutes at Rogers Arena Friday night, Coldplay made the world a little bit brighter.

New photos of Coldplay at the Rogers Arena, Vancouver, Canada (20th April 2012)

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Edmonton review 1: Coldplay brings good vibes to Rexall Place (17th April)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

It’s flattering when a world famous band chooses Edmonton to launch a world tour. Either that or it’s “paid rehearsal” — because if they screw up in Edmonton who cares, writes the Toronto Sun in a review of Coldplay at Rexall Place last night (17th April 2012). Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from this show at the Coldplay Live forum now.

The Coldplay concert Tuesday night was no place for such negativity. This was a happy, shiny offering of British pop-rock goodness of the highest order. We are blessed. There was little sign this band was ironing out its show for more prestigious gigs in Los Angeles or Prague or wherever.

Sure, singer Chris Martin screwed up the intro to God Put a Smile On My Face, but he glossed over it gracefully and from there was in fine, often ferocious form, spinning himself dizzy at every opportunity. The rest of the show was a slick display of pure Coldplay hit power. The band sounded great — spine-tingling and powerful when required, sensitive when called for (and they called for it a lot) and at times too perfect when you noticed there were lots of sounds coming from the stage with no live musicians creating them — just a little pet peeve of mine about allegedly live rock concerts, but no matter.

The show looked amazing, too. Bonus points were awarded before Coldplay even played a single note, having offered every one of the 14,500 fans at Rexall Place a free — free — electronic glowing wristband, remotely activated to light depending on the songs. Wow. Eat that, gouging glowstick merch-men at Selena Gomez concerts.

The sight of 14,000 glow-bands going off all at once in the brisk opening song Hurts Like Heaven was spectacular. Some fans demurred, perhaps fearing it to be a brain-controlling device: All Hail Coldplay. Too late. Resistance is futile.

As way of introduction, Martin shouted, “Is there anybody out there?!” — thrice, got the expected response (thrice) and led the band into the first of the massive power ballads of the evening, In My Place. Ba-bam! Confetti cannons blanketed everyone in the floor seats with paper snow. A little later, in Yellow — the second of the massive power ballads and the hit that launched the band’s career — 100 giant balloons floated down from the ceiling. All sang along, “I wrote a song for you, and all the things you do, and it was called Yellow.”

Twenty minutes in and the place looked like Cirque du Soleil had exploded.

This was basically a stadium show packed into an arena. Each song was a grand singalong anthem of U2-ian proportions, each ending was a potential show stopper, each musical climax was more dramatic than the last — right down to the impossibly sensitive last encore ballad, Fix You. All sang along, “I will try to fix you.” Not sure that’s a healthy emotion.

Here and there, Martin brought the energy level right down and sat behind his day-glo graffitied piano, as on the delicate not-so-power ballad Scientist and again during a centre stage interlude, but the band shifted back into its feel-good arena-rock anthems with ease. Later came the heavy hitters like Viva La Vida — which almost demands to be heard in an outdoor stadium. Likewise Clocks.

During the encore set, Martin acknowledged Edmonton being the launchpad of the tour, thanking the crowd for “cheering in all the right places and forgiving all the mistakes” — before promptly going off the rails in the Celtic strummer Us Against the World and having to start it over again. How ironic.

Expectations are high when it comes to the world famous band’s opening acts, too. Coldplay did not disappoint here. The Pierces, a band of New York sisters who sound like (young) Stevie Nicks to the power of two, impressed a very sparse crowd — where was everybody, in the parking lot getting lit up? — with its powerhouse neo-folk sound, superb vocals and songs about various kinds of self-destructive behaviour. Deadly combination.

To name the next act is to know them: Metronomy, the British electro-disco band whose crisp metronomic grooves gave a new wave-Brian Eno-Talking Heads-like shape to their unusual songs. Call it “new rave.” So weird, in fact, was this band that its more “conventional” songs — that is, songs that sounded like songs — came off as dull. They were at their best in zany arrangements, some completely instrumental — and some completely, jaw-droppingly off the wall — rich in squeaking, blooping, wheezing vintage synthesizers and chord changes not found in nature. There is no understanding the British. That’s part of why we love them so.

[Four out of five Suns]

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Edmonton preview: Coldplay kicks off North American Mylo Xylotour tonight in Canada

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Coldplay kick off their huge Mylo Xylotour proper tonight as the North American leg 1 begins in earnest in Edmonton, Canada tonight, with the added news that Coldplay's tour will contain filming for a new #ColdplayFilm - as announced by Phil Harvey tonight. You can check out all the latest photos, tweets and videos from tonight's concert at the Coldplay Live forum [Edmonton] now. If you want more discussion on the ColdplayFilm head over to the Coldplay forum. In the meantime, enjoy this preview article below, courtesy of the Edmonton Journal...

EDMONTON - “We’ll start glowing in the dark,” Chris Martin sings on Coldplay’s Charlie Brown, one of 14 uplifting, arena-filling songs from the band’s fifth pop-rock album, Mylo Xyloto.

Glow-in-the-dark graffiti, circular spider webs of lights, a secondary X-shaped stage, and beat-up, painted instruments are all part of the British band’s corresponding tour, which kicks off its North American leg Tueday night in Edmonton, of all places. Some of the city’s cleanliness freaks and anti-graffiti politicians might not approve, but the power of street art is one of the inspirations behind Mylo Xyloto, a concept album about a girl trying to find love in an apocalyptic world...

Phil Harvey confirming on Twitter that there will be a new Coldplay film taken from the MyloXylotour... but where?

Phil Harvey shows the full range of Xylobands on Twitter for the forthcoming tour dates

Coldplay feature on Twitter ahead of the Edmonton concert (April 14, 2012)

“ … Everywhere we go — we just came from South Africa — there’s graffiti all over the place,” Martin says in a video interview with director/photographer Anton Corbijn.

“If you start looking for street art, it’s all over the place and you realize it’s sort of the voice of not the voiceless, but people expressing themselves often on quite ugly surfaces and turning them into beautiful coloured murals. So I think we just really loved the freedom of expression, we just responded to the idea that the you can paint anything yourself, you don’t have to be a grandmaster. Graffiti has its critics, but often it changes something that’s really drab and oppressive into something else.

“That’s the idea of the record, too,” he says. “Trying to find colour within darkness and depression and all the terrible things in the world, trying to find the light. That’s what I think a lot of graffiti does, put some light into darkness.”

Alas, Coldplay seems to be giving journalists the cold shoulder these days — so we relied on quotes from some of their pals to shed some light on Martin and his mates:

Paris

Contrary to his name, Paris is a graffiti artist from Hull, England, and he’s responsible for painting the band’s instruments and stage sets. He also coloured some dilapidated buildings in the video for Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall and much of the art on the cover (and in the liner notes) of Mylo Xyloto – with help from Martin, bassist Guy Berryman, guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion. For a gallery of photos, visit paris1974.com/coldplay.

“There was a good 20 pages of reference that I looked at initially,” Paris says in an interview on coldplay.com.

“The band had a lot of stuff they wanted to put on the wall. I showed them how to do it and then I added my flavour to it as well. I think Guy mentioned they wanted to do paint bombs, so the next day I had loads of balloons with paint in to throw at the wall. And then we’d be scratching into it. The wall was incredible. It was like part of the Berlin Wall or something.”

Rik Simpson

He’s one of three producers who worked on Mylo Xyloto. (Markus Dravs, who worked on Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs and legendary sound collagist Brian Eno are the others.) Simpson also worked on two of Coldplay’s previous (and better) albums — 2008’s adventurous Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends and 2002’s single-heavy A Rush of Blood to the Head.

“I think the band is always pushing themselves to evolve,” he tells uaudio.com.

“They never want to stay in one place too long because they have too many ideas floating around. On this record, they’ve definitely moved on from (Viva La Vida). There are more modern electronic influences, but it still retains a very band-like feel. I think that what they’re really attracted by is using new technology to make music that really hasn’t been made or heard before, but playing it as a band. It’s not a lone artist or producer in a studio coming up with sounds. Everything is a performance based on the chemistry of four people playing in a room together.”

roadie #42

Coldplay’s mysterious roadie often provides the best insight into the foursome’s studio sessions and tour rehearsals, courtesy of his blog on the band’s website.

From Feb. 11, 2011: “It’s a strange thing to witness, when the band are working with Brian (Eno). Just his presence affects the way that they play. And even more than that, it affects the way that the band listen. For starters, the volume goes way down, which you would expect to take all of the excitement out of things. It very definitely has the opposite effect, though. Suddenly, every tiny sound, every nuance in the timing of the notes becomes audible and begins to burst with possibilities. It’s a little as though he encourages everyone’s antennae to open up higher and wider.”

From Dec. 3, 2011: “One thing I couldn’t help but notice, though, is the most major difference between this and previous production rehearsals: it seems to mostly be about the audience this time. When a song stops and changes are discussed, it’s not in order to throw more impressive technology, staging or effects at things. The comments from the stage are all about the folks who will be out there up in the seats. ‘Hmmmn, if we put that there when we’re down here, what’s the view going to be like over there?’ ‘Actually, in this bit of the song, it needs to feel more human, lets turn off all of this, this and this and just let it be about them.’ ”

Anton Corbijn

This renowned Dutch photographer and director (Control, The American) not only shot a webcast of Coldplay’s 2011 concert in Madrid, Spain, but he also directed the video to the title track from Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. The song was inspired by Depeche Mode’s king-climbs-a-mountain video for Enjoy The Silence — shot by Corbijn in 1989.

“Chris wrote the lyrics because of seeing that (Depeche Mode) video and then he asked me, in a way, to make a complement video ... ” Corbijn told a crowd at the Venice International Short Film Festival in 2008. “So we did the video in The Hague, in Holland, where the Queen lives, and I got the same outfit as we did for (Depeche Mode frontman) Dave Gahan. And we had Chris Martin walking through The Hague.”

A second, slicker version of Viva La Vida was shot — featuring the four musicians, looking like cracked oil paintings, performing in a studio. As Corbijn explained, Coldplay’s label, EMI, thought his video “looked too independent and they think Coldplay is the biggest band in the world.”

The Mole

According to The Daily Mirror’s secret source, Chris Martin recently recorded a track with Scottish DJ and dance producer Calvin Harris, who happens to be performing April 27 as part of they two-day Elements Music Festival at the Edmonton Expo Centre.

“Despite what people think about Chris, he’s a secret raver,” says the mole.

“He loves to dance like crazy, get lost in the music and zone out. It’s a big misconception that Chris is some square, piano-playing bod. He’s all about letting loose on the dance floor.” [Article ends]

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Wayne Coyne talks about Chris Martin's contribution on new Flaming Lips album, Heady Fwiends

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

'The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends' is set to arrive on Record Store Day on April 21, and the collection features Flaming Lips performing with some high-profile friends, including Coldplay's very own Chris Martin. Others slated to appear on the set count Bon Iver, Yoko Ono, Nick Cave, Ke$ha and more. Full discussion on this forthcoming release/collaboration is at the Coldplay forum now.

Pitchfork asked the question about Chris Martin contribution to the new Heady Fwends album in a recent online interview. Wayne Coyne [pictured] said, "Yeah, we've known Chris Martin since 'Yellow' went to number one in the UK. As the years have gone on, me and him have made an effort to stay in touch.

"When we were finishing up this compilation, I just texted him and said, 'Hey man, we should try to do something.' I sent him a song that sounded like it could be a Chris Martin-type of song-- you know, it had piano chords on it, and it was sweet and sad or whatever. Five hours later, he'd recorded this thing on his phone and sent it to me. You'd think someone like Chris Martin would be like, 'We have to set up studio time,' but he just did it right on his fuckin' phone and sent it to me."

"When we were mixing Heady Fwends, all these people were at the Grammys-- Chris Martin, Bon Iver, My Morning Jacket. But even on the night that Chris Martin was at the Grammys, during rehearsal with Rihanna, I was sending him mixes back and forth saying, "What do you think?" He'd make little comments and sent them back. I didn't realize he was even at the Grammys until I started seeing tweets like, "Hey, you know Coldplay is going to win." I'm like, "Win what?"

Songs on the set include “2012” (featuring Ke$ha and Biz Markie), “Ashes in the Air” (featuring Bon Iver), “That Ain’t My Trip” (featuring Jim James of My Morning Jacket), “You, Man? Human?” (featuring Nick Cave), “Do It!” (featuring Yoko Ono), “I Don’t Want You To Die” (featuring Chris Martin of Coldplay) and more. Some of the songs have already appeared on previously released, limited vinyl, but sold out quickly. Most of the tracks on the album are previously unreleased, though, so this is new song-age for Lips fans.

“The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends” will arrive pressed on two high-quality, multi-color vinyl discs housed in separate custom art jackets and poly bagged together. Each disc will look different. The double album is limited and is being released exclusively for Record Store Day.

The Flaming Lips will also have a presence on Record Store Day with the Mastodon cover of their track “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton,” which will be released on 7” baby pink vinyl. For more information on Record Store Day, please visit the event’s official site.

Side 1:

01 2012 (featuring Ke$ha and Biz Markie)

02 Ashes in the Air (featuring Bon Iver)

03 Helping the Retarded to Know God (featuring Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros)

Side 2:

04 Supermoon Made Me Want To Pee (featuring Prefuse 73)

05 Children of the Moon (featuring Tame Impala)

06 That Ain't My Trip (featuring Jim James of My Morning Jacket)

07 You, Man? Human? (featuring Nick Cave)

Side 3:

08 I'm Working at NASA On Acid (featuring Lightning Bolt)

09 Do It! (featuring Yoko Ono)

10 Is David Bowie Dying? (featuring Neon Indian)

Side 4:

11 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (featuring Erykah Badu)

12 Thunder Drops (featuring New Fumes)

13 I Don't Want You to Die (featuring Chris Martin of Coldplay)

Flaming Lips singer, Wayne Coyne

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

The Streets and Chris Martin 2004 collaboration was shelved - but you can still listen to it online

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Record company bosses shelved a collaboration between Chris Martin and rapper Mike Skinner (The Streets - pictured) as they were convinced it lacked chart-topping potential. The Streets frontman Skinner recorded a version of his track ‘Dry Your Eyes’, featuring Martin on vocals, in 2004 but chiefs at EMI blocked its release. If you haven't yet heard it, you can listen to the track and discuss, at the Coldplay forum now. [thanks lndnsky]

Skinner suggests the executives were adamant the track was no good and Chris Martin disliked his voice on the song - and they were vindicated when a different version was released as a single and hit Number One on the UK chart.

In his newly-released memoirs, Skinner states, "When I wrote ‘Dry Your Eyes’ I thought the chorus would work well with Chris singing it, so I sent it to him. We met up in Primrose Hill (north London) and recorded the vocal, which I was really pleased with. But then the guy from EMI said he didn't think the song was a hit, and Chris didn't like the sound of his own voice on it, so that version got pulled."

Mike Skinner of The Streets

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

New live date: Coldplay added to KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta, Los Angeles (5th May 2012)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Coldplay will perform at this year's 20th Annual KROQ Weenie Roast y Fiesta on Saturday, 5 May, at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California, the official site have official site on Monday. For full information and ticket details, head over to KROQ.com. More discussion on this new Coldplay tour date is at the Coldplay Live forum now [thanks LFDianne, Tash, teernabh5 & Corkus]

More detail comes from LA Times: Those who missed out on tickets to Coldplay's three early May shows at the Hollywood Bowl will now have another chance to catch the British pop band. Coldplay will help anchor the annual day-long radio station festival in Irvine that is KROQ-FM's Weenie Roast y Fiesta. Joining Coldplay at the top of the May 5 bill at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater will be Southern California rock band Incubus, which last year released its first album in five years.

Like most KROQ (106.7) festivals, the Weenie Roast largely honors bands that have long been staples on the station's airwaves, and it does so while sprinkling in a newcomer or two that seem preordained for heavy rotation. Local punk bands Pennywise and Offspring are slated to appear, as are Blink-182 off-shoot Angels & Airwaves and technologically minded alt-rock act Garbage. The latter has a pair of sold-out dates at the El Rey on April 9 and April 10.

Silver Lake's Silversun Pickups will perform in advance of its May 8 album "Neck of the Woods," and peppy, fast-rising locals Grouplove will celebrate the success of debut album "Never Trust a Happy Song." Rounding out the bill will be electro-rockers Awolnation, reggae act the Dirty Heads, dancey power-pop band Walk the Moon and anthemic, Icelandic folk-rockers Of Monsters and Men.

Those who sign up to be members of KROQ's street team mailing list will have first access to tickets Thursday at noon. Tickets will be available via LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets for last year's event ranged in price from $45 to $75, not including service fees.

Promotional posters/images for the Weenie Roasy y Fiesta 2012:

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

Coldplay Q&A featured on American Express Entertainment facebook page

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

If you haven't yet seen it, over at American Express Entertainment Facebook page, Coldplay have been answering various questions as part of a Press Pass Q&A where winners got backstage passes and an opportunity to win a free trip to see Coldplay in action during the forthcoming Mylo Xylotour. Check out the Q&As below. You have been discussing Coldplay's answers over at the Coldplay forum on the messageboard [thanks shira, Comicforce, Tash]

"Hello everyone. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for the Amex Press Pass. I sat down with the band in the dressing room and talked through your questions. Here's what we had to say. Love, Phil." (Phil Harvey, Coldplay's Creative Director)

Through all of Coldplay's trajectory, what has been their most gratifying accomplishment? (Leslie, Winner)

Will: Releasing our first album.

Guy: Headlining Glastonbury for the first time in 2002.

Phil: Under One Roof concert for Kids Company last year at the o2 in London.

Jonny: Hearing Steve Lamacq play Brothers and Sisters on Radio 1 in 1999. Our first ever national radio play.

Chris: Staying together.

Has the meaning of the word 'Coldplay' changed for you from the time you formed the band until now? (Jorge)

Phil: For me, its meaning changes with every single thing that has happened to us over past 14 years. It's two syllables that sum up every mad, exhilarating, depressing, poignant, experience that we've ever shared together. At the beginning it was just a made-up word. Now it represents everything that's ever happened to us.

At this stage in your career, is it difficult to take new directions artistically? Do you ever worry that your artistic evolution could alienate long-time fans? (Alisa)

Will: No. Because those fans still have the music that they liked in the first place. We're not changing what we've done in the past - hopefully they will always enjoy that music. But we have to keep challenging ourselves and making it interesting for ourselves.

If you were asked to pick one of your songs to be put in a time capsule and sent into outer space, what would it be? (Karly & Julia)

Guy: Moving To Mars. Feels quite apt. Or would it be Yellow? Look at the stars...

Jonny: The Scientist.

Will: Viva La Vida.

Miles Leonard (Parlophone boss): See You Soon or Politik.

Phil: Clocks.

Chris: None, I'd fill it with chocolate.

People often say your concerts are life-changing. What life-changing concert have you been to? (Emily)

Will: The Flaming Lips, Glastonbury Festival 1999.

Jonny: Super Furry Animals, ULU, 1997.

Phil: U2 ZooTV Wembley, 1992.

Guy: James Brown, Summer Sonic Festival 2001.

Chris: John Williams, New York Philharmonic.

Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

FEBRUARY 2012

8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

MARCH 2012

2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

APRIL 2012

17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

MAY 2012

1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

JUNE 2012

1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

JULY 2012

2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

AUGUST 2012

1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

SEPTEMBER 2012

2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]