The opportunity to open for arguably the world’s biggest band right now was intensely sought after, and Sydney outfit Decoder Ring couldn’t be more thrilled to have been hand selected by Coldplay for the job. They will take the stage in front of over 150,000 eager fans when they perform in eleven arena shows across Australia, on Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’ tour later this month.

Their first performance takes place in less than thirty days in Perth on Friday 27th February, the first of two shows at the Burswood Dome. They will then go on to astound audiences in Melbourne over three nights, Brisbane over two, and finish up in Sydney with four massive shows at Acer Arena. Decoder Ring play music that has been described as cinematic, emotive and sublime, and with a almost indescribable sound compared to the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, Pink Floyd and Sigur Ros. They are a multi award winning six piece possibly best known for creating soundtracks to complement independent and short films.

Read the full article at the Coldplay Live forum here

Coldplay have been nominated for the International Album of the Year award at Canada's JUNO awards. The band won the same award - the only international category at the JUNOs - for X&Y in 2006.

The international album of the year award, based on retail album sales in Canada, will see AC/DC's "Black Ice" and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" go up against Metallica's "Death Magnetic," Jack Johnson's "Sleep Through the Static" and Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy."

The 2009 Juno Awards will air live March 29 on CTV from Vancouver. More discussion on Coldplay's nomination here [thanks mimixxx]

If you've not been keeping tabs on the Absolute Radio website, there are more exclusive videos uploaded from Absolute's Zoo Sessions, where Coldplay's Chris Martin played four tracks and recorded an interview on Friday 30 January.

The Scientist is the latest track to be uploaded to the Absolute site here. Also available to watch are 'Violet Hill,' 'Viva la Vida' and DJ Christian O'Connell interviewing Chris in a bizarre interview. Check back later this week for the final track to be uploaded, 'Life In Technicolor ii'. [thanks TimL]

They have also uploaded some excellent photos on their website. Chris's setlist for Absolute Radio was: 1. Viva La Vida (piano) 2. The Scientist (piano) 3. Life In Technicolor ii (piano) and 4. Violet Hill (guitar).

Chris Martin at Absolute Radio studios, 30th January 2009

More online reviews of Coldplay's video for 'Life In Technicolor ii' have surfaced, as well as new reviews of the new B-Side 'The Goldrush'. If you haven't heard Coldplay's newest track, Parlophone have not long ago added it to their YouTube channel. You can listen to it here.

Dougal Wilson, who has spent the last few years solidifying himself as one of London’s most interesting directors, recently released this video for Coldplay’s Life In Technicolor II. I know the puppet thing has been done a few times recently and pretty well to boot (once by Dougal in fact). But, he has unsurprisingly brought his trademark charm to yet another one. Based on the traditional English puppet show Punch & Judy, puppet versions of Coldplay break the fourth wall and fill the room with pure arena rock. [motionographer.com on Life In Technicolor ii video]

For the latest dispatch from Coldplay's seemingly bottomless reservoir of Viva La detritus, Chris Martin passes the mic to drummer Will Champion and lets him have a moment out in front. It's not so much a Martin ego-check as a recognition that the Champ's got a nice voice for songs like this one, a relatively (i.e. deliberately, self-consciously) ramshackle and loosey-goosey late-night sing-along, "The Goldrush." (Remember Will sang the rootsy, sketch of a b-side "Death Will Never Conquer" at the MSG show, only to have Chris take the part on the MP3 version.) This time it's Champ first, with some Martin on the side. [stereogum.com on 'The Goldrush']

More questions answered by The Oracle... (submit yours now!)

February 3, 2009 - submitted by Teresa, United Kingdom

Q. Hi Oracle..I attended Chris's acoustic session in London today (which was amazing) and as we drove on the M4 to get there, we saw a huge sign that read.."FOR THE ORACLE, LEAVE AT JUNCTION 11". Is this TRULY the residing place of the 'all wise one'? If it isn't, it at least brought a smile to our faces. x

The Oracle replies:

Ha! The Oracle has been to The Oracle a number of times which sounds like some kind of psychosis! The vast shopping mall in Reading, home to the festival has super shops, restaurants and a cinema plus ample parking. Now I sound like an advert...

February 3, 2009 - submitted by Niki, Sweden

Q. Because you know everything dear Oracle I want to ask you a thing. How many people visit coldplay.com each day?

The Oracle replies:

Lots! Well it depends on what we have going on as the numbers go up when there's a lot of activity. For instance, thanks to you guys the day Violet Hill was released, this website ranked as the most visited website among the Bands and Artists category. A little more than 1 out of every 40 visits to Bands and Artists category came here!

February 3, 2009 - submitted by Sandy, United Kingdom

Q. Hey Oracle. Here's a pretty random question - what book are you reading at the moment and what is it doing for you? Keep up the good work. Reading the Oracle entries helps to pass a tea break when working from home and feeling rather isolated and snowed in today. SM

The Oracle replies:

I have just started reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. And what it's doing...? My head in! No, it's interesting actually but a bit deep in places but then what would you expect from a book about Spiritual Enlightenment? I'm also slowly working my way through Toby Young's How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. I haven't seen the film but have reserved it on DVD, well Simon Pegg's in it isn't he and as you know he's a friend of the band.

February 3, 2009 - submitted by Derryn, South Africa

Q. Is it just me or does the piano work in the beginning of Coldplay's Clocks sound awfully similiar to the beginning of Aqualung's Left Behind? which came first..the chicken or the egg? or in this case...Coldplay or Aqualung.

The Oracle replies:

I remember seeing Matt Hales previous band the 45's just before they were dropped and he became Aqualung, jolly good they were too. Anyway, as that was 2002 you can see that both were around at the same time but A Rush of Blood to the Head was released August 2002 and Aqualung's Still Life (album on which Left Behind appears) was released October 2003 so you can see which came first.

February 3, 2009 - submitted by Pepperjack, United States of America

Q. Hey Oracle, like many people I watched the Superbowl (though mostly for the commercials and half time show). So, I was wondering what the first song Bruce Springsteen sang during the half time show was and can I get it any where?

The Oracle replies:

The Boss kicked off his 12 minute set with a golden oldie from the brilliant 1975 album Born to Run. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out was followed by the appropriately titled Born To Run, Working on a Dream (title track from his new album) and Glory Days.

Coldplay were recently nominated for four Brit awards - Best Album, Best Group, Best British Single and Best Live act - and for the latter two it is down to a public vote to decide the winner. Please make your vote count for Coldplay at the Brit Awards website here

Voting for the British Live Act (Supported by listeners of BBC Radio 2) opened at 00:01 GMT on Monday 2 February 2009 and closes at 17.00 GMT on 7 February 2009. There will be seven rounds of voting for the British Single category (supported by listeners of participating UK commercial radio Stations & The Sun): Round One (which runs from 00:01 on the 2 February 2009 to 17:00 on 6 February 2009), you can vote for your favourite single from the full list of 10 eligible singles nominated for the British Single Award. Then, on each day from Monday 9 February 2009 to Friday 13 February 2009, you can still vote to save your favourite single but during this period one single will be eliminated from the list each day until there are 5 remaining singles, which will then be entered into Round Seven.

Have you voted? Join the discussion on the public voting here [thanks mynickismyname]

This just in from Anchorman:

Good morning. Coldplay's new single, Life In Technicolor ii, is released here in the snowy UK today. The track is available on 7-inch vinyl and digital bundle. The B-side of the 7-inch is a new track, The Goldrush. As well as that song, the digital bundle features Life In Technicolor ii (Live @ The O2, London). Click the links below if you'd like to buy it...

- 7-inch from HMV.com

- Digital EP from iTunes

- Digital EP from 7 Digital

Gary Barlow has been voted Britain's greatest songwriter of all time.

The 38-year-old - the man behind some of his group Take That's biggest hits - was voted into the top spot in the onepoll.com survey by 3,000 music fans, reports The Sun. A spokesman for the website said Gary "has been responsible for some of the biggest hits of the past decade". The star - whose songs include Take That's 2006 comeback single Patience - was followed by the late John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who took second and third place respectively.

Coldplay's Chris Martin was fourth and former Wham! star George Michael rounded out the top five. Other musicians to feature in the survey included Noel Gallagher and Kate Bush.

A meeting which members of Coldplay, Blur and Radiohead had been set to attend in London today (February 2) has been cancelled because of the transport problems caused by snowfall.

The Featured Artists Coalition had been set to meet in the ICA in capital to discuss their aims, which include copyright extension and new strategies in terms of music in relation to digital technology. However, after snow hit the capital Transport For London decided to cancel all bus services in the city, with trains and tube lines also affected by the weather, the meeting was cancelled.

Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Kate Nash and Robbie Williams are among those who back the coalition. A message at Featuredartistscoalition.com explained that the meeting would be rescheduled.

Chris Martin has been banned from recording with Coldplay for two weeks.

The lead singer revealed to Absolute Radio he received a letter from Viva La Vida producer Brian Eno who is working on the band's new album, telling him not to come to 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 and Robbie Williams are expected at the first meeting of a group to push for a greater voice for musicians in their industry.

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) wants to promote artists' rights, and ultimately hopes to distribute revenues from their work. Directors include Blur's Dave Rowntree, Kate Nash and Radiohead's Ed O'Brien. "By making ourselves heard and arguing for what's fair, we can help reshape the industry," Rowntree said.

The other directors of the coalition, which is holding its meeting in central London, are Soul II Soul's Jazzie B, Billy Bragg and hip-hop MC Master Shortie. Other artists expected at the meeting include Annie Lennox, The Guillemots, Badly Drawn Boy, The Feeling and The Futureheads.

More on this news at the Coldplay forum here [thanks mimixxx]

Sydney band Decoder Ring has been chosen as Coldplay support act for the Australian leg of the Viva La Vida tour.

Decoder Ring spends their time equal between recording albums and soundtracks. Their 2004 album ‘Somersault’ doubled as a soundtrack for the film of the same name. The band has been recognised more by the film industry than the music industry with awarded from the AFI’s and the Jackson Hole Film Festival.

150,000 tickets have been sold so far for Coldplay’s 11 Australian shows and the tour starts later this month in Perth.

More on this support act news at the Coldplay Live forum here

Chris Martin has finished the sixth and final of his scheduled UK radio sessions, the last one coming on the Jonathan Ross show on BBC Radio 2 just after noon (GMT) today. The picture from Wossy's twitter is below. He wasn't the only one twittering, Phil Harvey, or Prospekt, or "p" as he makes himself known as on Coldplay's Twitter account, also provided us with real-time updates throughout the day.

Chris's setlist was: 1. Viva La Vida (piano) 2. Life In Technicolor (piano) 3. Back on TV (new song, written for Jonathan Ross, piano). For full discussion on the session, and maybe one or two downloads for those who missed the show, click here

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin might have lost the day job — thanks to rock legend Brian Eno [pictured].

Chris told fans at a lunchtime gig yesterday: “The rest of the band are in the studio. Brian Eno has been producing our music — which is why we’ve got better. “He wrote to us and said he thought the last album was OK but it could have been better. He said he still wanted to work with us but I was banned from the studio! He said it would be better without me for the first two weeks — ‘You can do better without the singer!’”

I don’t think Chris needs to go busking just yet. But he worked up a right sweat singing hits including The Scientist and Violet Hill in the Absolute Radio Zoo. DJ Christian O'Connell joked: “We’ve got a lunchbox for you. Do you want a Capri Sun?”

Chris replied: “I’m more an Um Bongo man.”

The wait is almost over - Video Hits and Chugg Entertainment are bringing Coldplay's Viva La Vida Tour to Australia and Video Hits is giving viewers the chance to be there! One lucky winner and a friend in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne & Perth will score themselves a double pass to see Coldplay in concert PLUS access to the Coldplay soundcheck party where you'll get to meet Chris Martin and the band in the flesh!

Video Hits is also super pumped to be able to offer viewers the chance to share in our Coldplay ticket jackpot - 10 runners up in each city will score themselves a double pass Coldplay's show. (Registration to Video Hits is required to enter but is free). All you have to do is answer the question : In 25 words or less tell us why you deserve to see Coldplay live?

For your chance to experience Coldplay live, come up with your answer and enter it here now! [thanks Cobalt]

Coldplay's Chris Martin has said that he would love a stage invasion after one of their concerts.

The frontman admitted that he has discussed with the band's management the possibility of some audience interaction, but claimed that he was mocked for his suggestion. "We asked our tour manager if we could have a stage invasion at the end of [our December tour]," Martin told XFM. "He went away looking away very serious, but we could see them in a room, giggling. He came back and said, 'This is the stupidest idea you've ever had'. "I'd love a stage invasion, it's not very Coldplay, but it would be great. And I've always liked to leave the stage in a hot air balloon... but it's not possible."

Good idea? We'd love to hear your views! Let us know at the Coldplay forum here

In other live tour news, Coldplay have slightly changed their Roskilde date. They will now play the Danish festival on 5th July instead of the 4th as was previously announced.

MAX and Channel [V] are thrilled to present Coldplay's Viva La Vida Australian tour in 2009. On their last concert tour of Australia in June 2006, Coldplay sold out a total of ten arena shows, playing to more than 100,000 people, garnering rave reviews and leaving rapturous fans in their wake.

To celebrate Coldplay's return to Australia they're giving you the chance to catch them at one of their Aussie shows (Deadline 1st February 2009). All you've got to do is simply register to enter and tell them: In 25 words or less, Why you are Coldplay’s biggest Australian fan?

Full details on prizes, deadline date and how to enter at the Coldplay forum here [thanks anniea89]

Concerts where this prize will be facilitated are:

Fri 27 Feb Burswood Dome, Perth

Tue 3 Mar Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Sun 8 Mar Entertainment Centre, Brisbane

Wed 11 Mar Acer Arena, Sydney

Coldplay recently brought the number of Australian shows to their itinery for 2009 to eleven, with the addition of a fourth Sydney show. The full list is:

Friday 27th February - Perth, Burswood Dome [discussion]

Saturday 28th February - Perth, Burswood Dome [discussion]

Tuesday 3rd March - Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena [discussion]

Wednesday 4th March - Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena [discussion]

Thursday 5th March – Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena [discussion]

Sunday 8th March - Brisbane, Entertainment Centre [discussion]

Monday 9th March - Brisbane, Entertainment Centre [discussion]

Wednesday 11th March - Sydney, Acer Arena [discussion]

Thursday 12th March - Sydney, Acer Arena [discussion]

Saturday 14th March - Sydney, Acer Arena [discussion]

Sunday 15th March – Sydney, Acer Arena [discussion]

New Zealand:

Wednesday 18th March - Auckland, Vector Arena [discussion]

Thursday 19th March - Auckland, Vector Arena [discussion]

It was rumoured yesterday on Blogspot that Coldplay would be headlining the Main Square Festival in France - today is has been confirmed by the official site, making this the first of three festival dates in three consecutive days in early July, following on from the announced Werchter and Roskilde festivals (on 3rd & 4th July respectively). Here's Anchorman with more details on the Main Square date:

Good evening. We're pleased to announce that Coldplay are to perform at the Main Square Festival in Arras, northern France on Thursday 2nd July. Tickets go on sale on February 5th at 10am. For more info, see mainsquarefestival.fr.

More discussion on this date in the dedicated Main Square Festival thread in the Coldplay Live forum here [thanks Khalplay]

Chris Martin has completed another two radio sessions today, at Absolute Radio and 6Music with and Steve Lamacq respectively.

Chris's setlist for Absolute Radio was: 1. Viva La Vida (piano) 2. The Scientist (piano) 3. Life In Technicolor ii (piano) and 4. Violet Hill (guitar). Absolute will have the full session video and the video interview with Chris on Monday 2nd February on their website here [bookmark it!]. In the meantime they have already uploaded some excellent photos on their website.

Chris's setlist for 6Music was: 1. Life in Technicolor ii (piano) 2. Shiver (guitar) 3. Death And All His Friends (piano).

Chris Martin at Absolute Radio studios, 30th January 2009

Coldplay's Chris Martin came into Xfm Towers to play a very special acoustic set for a select few competition winners yesterday, and it is now online, along with pictures. Here's anchorman with more details:

Good morning. The kind folks at Xfm have been in touch to let us know that they've just posted videos of Chris's acoustic session at the station yesterday. So now you can see what he looked like while performing Viva La Vida, Talk, Fix You and LITii. You can also hear Chris's interview in full. Click here to check it all out.

Meanwhile, over at the Xfm site, they report: Here at Xfm Towers, we always like to have a bit of a house party. You know, get a few drinks in, have some chums 'round.... but what if one of those chums was none other than Chris Martin of Coldplay? And what if he decided to play some songs for the rest of your chums? And those chums were lucky competition winners?

Wonder no longer, because that's exactly what happened. Chris stopped round the Xfm offices and delivered stunning 'Viva La Vida', 'Life In Technicolor', 'Talk' and 'Fix You', while Ian Camfield asked the questions that mattered... What are Coldplay up to in the studio at the moment? Are they still gutted that they never won the Xfm Demo Clash? And why does Chris get mistaken for an insurance salesman?

Digital Spy have the first online review of Coldplay's new B-Side 'The Goldrush'. It will be released alongside 'Life In Technicolor ii' [pictured] next week. Here is their article:

We've already shone a spotlight on Girls Aloud, Pink and Lily Allen, so it's about time we gave the boys a chance in our B-side Of The Week feature. It's not a massive week on the new releases front, but one B-side worthy of a wee listen is 'Goldrush', the flipside to Coldplay's new single 'Life in Technicolor ii'. Originally intended for the group's fourth album Viva La Vida, 'Goldrush' presumably missed the final cut because it's so different from the rest of the record. It sounds like it was written during a late-night jamming session long after Chris Martin had been tucked up in bed, with drummer Will Champion taking on lead vocals instead. "I went digging for gold, down by the river, over by the mountain, where the prospector had been told," he trills here.

The result is a more modest, intimate offering than we've come to expect from the stadium-filling Coldplay. In fact, 'Goldrush' conjures up images of a straw-capped band perching on hay bales as their hillbilly pals stand around tapping their cowboy boots in unison. Yee-haw! The full version is available on the 'Life in Technicolor ii' CD single, 7" vinyl and download, all out Monday.

7digital have now made available short previews of the B-sides to Coldplay's forthcoming single 'Life In Technicolor ii'. 30 second previews of the tracks 'The Goldrush' and 'Life In Technicolor ii' (live at the 02 in London) are online and you can hear them both here now.

What do you think of the previews? Let us know in the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks Dvid & Mc.]

A reminder for those who didn't get Coldplay.com's pre-sale tickets yesterday for Coldplay's War Child gig on 18th February, the rest of the tickets will be up for grabs via the lottery system at 9am today (GMT). To enter the lottery, you will need to register your details. Registration will close at 5pm on Tuesday 3rd February and if you have won a chance to purchase tickets you will be notified by Friday 6th February. This article just in from TheTripWire.com:

Coldplay and The Killers must have made New Year’s Resolutions to be more like Bono — they’re hitting Shepherds Bush Empire in February for a one-night-only charity gig to benefit War Child. Mostly all we know so far is that it’s supposed to be super intimate, with you and 2,000 of your best friends. All good deeds and charities aside, they need to take a hint from Morrissey on how to make a show intimate.

Tickets for the February 18 gig are £50 each, and they’ll be available for very lucky fans through a lottery system. The lottery opens for entries at 9 a.m. tomorrow (that’s 4 a.m. EST), through the War Child web site.

War Child works to protect children in war zones. The concert actually celebrates the charity’s 15th anniversary and the release of the album Heroes, which is out on February 16 and features tons of big names (Hot Chip, TV On The Radio, Elbow, etc.) re-recording tracks to benefit the organization.

Not to be outdone, The Killers added: Coldplay were one of the bands that gave us hope when we were just four boys in a garage. To share the stage with them for the War Child cause is an honour.

More discussion on the War Child gig and of course Friday's lottery system at the Coldplay forum here [thanks iriden & miumiu]

Following yesterday's announcement that Coldplay and The Killers are to play a one-off gig at London's O2 Shepherds Bush Empire together in aid of the War Child charity on 18th February, Coldplay.com's batch of 200 tickets were depleted in only 120 seconds (give or take) shortly after 5pm (GMT) today. Here's Anchorman's twitter: "Crikey. Seems our War Child tickets were snapped up in under two minutes. The lottery opens tomorrow."

If you missed out, you can still apply to buy tickets through War Child's lottery system. The opportunity to enter the lottery will begin at 9am, Friday January 30th (GMT) through warchildheroes.com.

Did you manage to get tickets in the official site's pre-sale? A trigger-happy few did and lived to tell the tale... more discussion on the War Child gig and of course Friday's lottery system at the Coldplay forum here [thanks iriden & miumiu]

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin showed his continued support for the new US president in London today (January 28th), report Gigwise.

The singer was pictured wearing a handmade Barack Obama armband as he left the BBC Radio 1 studios. Chris, who performed on the radio station this afternoon, began wearing the badge on his right arm last year during the new president's election campaign. In an interview before Mr Obama's election victory, Martin said he thought the politician had the ability to “immediately change the whole outside world's opinion of America overnight”.

For the rest of the Coldplayers who couldn't give a stuff about Politics, click here for pictures of Chris (and Phil Harvey) arriving at the Radio 1 studios.

More questions answered by The Oracle... (submit yours now!)

January 28, 2009 - submitted by Richard, United States of America

Q. Dear Oracle, Another website lists songs used in TV shows. According to this website, there is supposed to be a Coldplay song called, It's Not Easy To Be Me. I have nearly ALL The Coldplay single B-sides and have never heard or this song. If it exists, where can it be found?

The Oracle replies:

The song exists but it isn't written and/or performed by Coldplay. There are many mistakes when it comes to songs, I'm always getting asked about Under the Tracks by Creeper Lagoon. I don't know why because it sounds nothing like them!

January 28, 2009 - submitted by daniel, Germany

Q. dear Orakel, are their any german bands you or the band know and/or like?

The Oracle replies:

They are friends and fans of Rammstein.

January 28, 2009 - submitted by Claire, Canada

Q. I just realized that Chris and Jonny were in Shaun of the Dead. But i don't have the dvd so i was wondering, oh great Oracle, if you could show me a video of Chris as a zombie. I understand that he did a cameo as a zombie?? Thanks. COLDPLAY LOVE FOREVER, Claire from Montreal

The Oracle replies:

This is a good opportunity to point everyone to our new tags that will help you search for previously answered questions. This being one of them...