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Chicago Tribune, Gene Kot May 15th A similar spirit guided the most productive sessions for "X&Y." Martin was in Chicago with Paltrow while she was filming the forthcoming movie "Proof" in October 2003. He was enchanted with the fresh air blowing off Lake Michigan and the city's skyline, so he summoned Buckland from London to join him at Chicago Recording Company studios on Ohio Street. More than a dozen songs were written, including four that survived to become the core of the next album... (great article) http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/jobs/news/chi-0505150360may15,1,6506452.story

....Martin tries to continue with the interview, but he's obviously distracted. "I can't go on with this until I do something," he says, and jumps up to summon his tour manager, Dave Holmes. "Let's do a free show!" Martin suggests. "A free show at sound check. We'll do seven songs for anybody who wants to drop in. Announce it on the radio this afternoon and just invite everybody." Holmes gets on it. After agitated phone calls are placed to a local promoter, the idea is shelved because there's a Cubs game at Wrigley Field down the street from Metro that afternoon, and an open invitation from a band as big as Coldplay could turn Clark Street into a riot zone. Martin shifts to Plan B. He authorizes that every available ticket in the band's possession be handed out to ticketless fans milling around in front of Metro before the show, instead of returning them to the box office for sale. At the last minute, about 50 additional fans are ushered into the concert as Coldplay's guests. Some find Martin in the basement Smart Bar after the show to personally thank him. "There were a few people who got in who were almost crying because they got handed these free tickets," said Cirzan, a vice president of Jam Productions who promoted the concert. "A lot of bands would've wanted a press release -- `Look what we did!' These guys just wanted to make a gesture in a difficult situation. When you play in a much smaller place like this, there are bound to be some disappointed people who aren't going to get in." (read the full article here) http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/jobs/news/chi-0505150360may15,1,6506452.story :D