New from Oracle the Cat: Jonny's MX guitars, Chris's guitar pickups, ETIAW video and more...

More questions answered by The Oracle... (circa. 5200! questions now answered - submit yours now. Also via Twitter!)

November 21, 2013 - submitted by coldplayzoneit, twitter

Q. @coldplayzoneit In this video there are some images recorded NOT live. When, where and how that part was shot?

The Oracle replies:

This clip of Charlie Brown is taken from the Coldplay Live 2012. The majority of the live footage was from their Glastonbury Pyramid Stage headlining appearance, June 2011. The film director, Paul Dugdale, created a montage rather than shoot a straight performance.

November 21, 2013 - submitted by Sloane, United States of America

Q. Dear Oracle, Just a quick question, but does the origination of the Coldplay Anchorman have anything to do with Will Ferrell's Anchorman? Just wondering if they got the name from there. Thanks a bunch!

The Oracle replies:

Well, Will Ferrell obviously chose the name for the film because he was playing the part of an Anchorman which is what you folks in the U.S call the person who reads the news. We call them newsreaders over here. If Anchorman was named Newsreader it wouldn't have the same ring to it. Funnily enough, Anchorman tweeted about Anchorman recently.

November 21, 2013 - submitted by I Am Oracle Tester, United Kingdom

Q. Testing mailing list submission. Ignore me....

The Oracle replies:

Ok.

November 21, 2013 - submitted by Abby , United States of America

Q. If you could be any animal what would you be? (By the way that one question about naming a child was my BFF Olivia we just usually sign everything Abby and Olivia and yes we were yanking your chain we didn't think you'd respond!)

The Oracle replies:

A cat. Without hesitation. I practically am one already. Ahh, you little tinkers!

November 20, 2013 - submitted by Jort, Netherlands

Q. I found out that at the beginning of the MX-tour Jonny played almost only Fender stratocasters, but later in the tour he started playing Fender telecasters in almost every song. Why did he change?

The Oracle replies:

Jort, I hand this over to the capable guitar tech hands of Matt McGinn:

"Well, this is sort of half-true. We used Stratocasters a lot early on during Mylo, but they never sounded as fat as the Tele's at gigs, which have humbucker pickups rather than the classic single-coils Strats usually come with. In the end we reverted to the Tele's - 'Sunny', his fave, in particular - for most tunes, except Violet Hill (on which he's always played a 1974 Les Paul Deluxe) and God Put A Smile Upon Your Face. If you look at the live DVD footage from Paris Stade De France you'll see Jonny is playing 'Punky' on this track, which is a white, painted Strat with a Lollar Regal Humbucker fitted at the bridge position. We did this so he can do all the nice Van Halen-y dive-bomb bits/feedback, etc. The whammy system has been doctored inside as well; it hardly ever goes out of tune, which is amazing if you look at what he's asking of it! All clever stuff done by the good people at Noden Guitars of London, as always. Unmodified Strats remained in use on the C-Stage throughout the tour however; they sounded pretty on the quieter numbers, when they were more out on their own and not competing with the big main-stage noise. These were hardtails, i.e. no whammy's. Finally, the Tele's are actual Fenders but the Strats definitely aren't! They are Nash S63's, custom built by

Nash Guitars

, near Seattle, then hand-painted by graffiti artist Paris."

Thanks to Matt for this comprehensive answer.

November 20, 2013 - submitted by Abby and Olivia, United States of America

Q. Is it alright if I name my daughter after u (btw she's 5 but it will have to take some time to get used to.)

The Oracle replies:

I have a feeling that Abby and/or Olivia are yanking my chain. It's unclear whether you are thinking of calling her Coldplay or Oracle (or what) to be honest. If she's 5 I'd assume she's already been named but if you do go for Coldplay or Oracle I'm sure a lifetime wouldn't be long enough to get used to it. You're obviously entitled to give your child whatever name you choose but don't be surprised if she decides to change it when she's legally allowed to. I'd be honoured and flattered of course but it doesn't suit everyone. How about Fleur? If this was a serious question, I apologize for ridicule.

November 20, 2013 - submitted by Greg, United States of America

Q. I was reading Roadie by JB's right-hand-man Matt McGinn again and I came across a picture where it looks like JB is helping Matt with some tuning or whatever. Anyways, the caption for it read: Hang on, who's roadie-ing for who here? Mayfair Studios, London, 2003. I remember vaguely in some Viva interviews they said the new studio(s) meant they had no time limits, could do whatever they want whenever they want, weren't being charged for each session, etc. So,I searched the Beehive tag and came up with something close to an answer posted on Nov. 23, 2009. You referred to Rockfield, Parr St., and Sarm studios to record the first 3 LPs. (Not disputing it, just so happens on Parr St. website they boast that it's the home of Coldplay's first 3 albums, curious about that info's veracity). So, this got me wondering why the boys didn't have a Bakery or a Beehive back then. Was it simply not a viable economic option then, or did the idea strike them before the Viva sessions? Thanks for the time, Oracle and Coldplayers!

The Oracle replies:

When I listed those 3 studios almost 4 years to the day back on Nov 23, 2009, I wasn't listing them in album order. For example Parachutes was recorded at Rockfield and Parr St., AROBTTH was recorded at Parr St. and X&Y was part-recorded at Parr St. before the rest was completed at Sarm. FYI High Speed on their debut, wasn't part of the Ken Nelson sessions so wasn't a Parr St. track. Obviously this isn't an exhaustive, definitive list as I haven't taken mixing into consideration. Not all bands have their own studios but it was something they aimed to have. They'd been very happy up in Liverpool but it was clear that X&Y hadn't been an easy record to make. It made sense to find the right space in London where they can be creative, productive, comfortable and without time constraints and pressures. The Bakery was that right place.

November 19, 2013 - submitted by Sjors , Netherlands

Q. Dear Oracle, Do you know/can you ask Hoppy or Chris which guitar-pickup they use for the acoustic guitars for the band? Thanks and greetings from Holland!

The Oracle replies:

Your wish is my command! Here's what Hoppy told me:

"The band's acoustic guitars are currently fitted with Fishman Matrix Infinity pick-ups and have been for some time. As far as I recall we have been using them since the X & Y tour. Hope this helps!"

November 19, 2013 - submitted by Cheggy, United Kingdom

Q. Alright so I was watching a film called The Wee Man, based in Glasgow. At 1:15:25 it comes to a part at the building which is at the end of the music video for Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. I also noticed in the background I can see a clock tower near where I live so it made me curious to where exactly in Glasgow that building is, and how did the band come across that building as their idea for the music video? thanks :)

The Oracle replies:

That's the beauty of film, Cheggy. It may appear to be filmed at one place but is in fact another. The building used in the ETIAW video is in London, not Glasgow. As you may know, filmmakers often use different locations for certain scenes and even edit the background to match the rest of the film. There's a part in Withnail & I that springs to mind. Paul McGann walks out of Uncle Monty's cottage and the view from the door is spectacular. Having been to Uncle Monty's Lake District home I can testify that the view shown on film is not the view from that door.

November 18, 2013 - submitted by Joey, United States of America

Q. Hello Oracle! Hope all is going swell with you! I had a question about a song I heard the band play live about a year ago. It was Speed of Sound at Stockholm and Chris didn't sing the normal lyrics at first, he opened up with something else and then said "Sorry that was other one" What is that supposed to mean? Was there another version of the song?! Thank you! :)

The Oracle replies:

I'm pretty good thanks, Joey. There wasn't another version of the song. Chris sang: "My mama told me when I was young, we are all born superstars which is a line from Lady Gaga's Born This Way.

New photos of Chris Martin and Bono on stage during @RED auction at Sotheby's, NY (23 November):