Good evening.
On 17 October, Coldplay will tape their first ever US daytime television appearance,
for The Ellen DeGeneres Show (with the performance airing on 27 October). If you'd like to attend the recording - which will be in the afternoon - in Burbank, CA, then click here to enter for the chance to win one of the 20 pairs we have to give away, before 5pm PST on 12 October. NB: You must be over 14 to enter, and the prize consists just of tickets (not travel or accommodation). Winners will watch Coldplay's performance, but not the taping of the rest of the show.
Anchorman
KROQ performance to webcast worldwide
10 October 2011 3:25 pm
Good afternoon. It's just been announced that Coldplay will launch KROQ's new Red Bull Sound Space with a live performance for the LA radio station on Tuesday, 18 October.
The show will be webcast worldwide via USTREAM. Southern California fans can listen live on 106.7FM KROQ, while the rest of us can view the globally streamed webcast via http://www.kroq.com/soundspace and www.redbullusa.com/soundspace. It begins at 7:30am PDT/10:30am EDT/3.30pm UK time (click to find out what time that is where you are).
Anchorman
Norwich show - BBC Radio 1 Student Tour
10 October 2011 11:15 am
Good morning. It's just been announced that Coldplay will play a special show in Norwich on Thursday, 27 October, as part of BBC Radio 1's Student Tour.
The gig will take place at the city's University of East Anglia venue, and will broadcast live on BBC Radio 1 (listen live on your radio in the UK, or online anywhere in the world).
Tickets, priced £20, will go on sale at 9am on Saturday, 15 October from the Box Office, Union House, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7NJ.
Tickets are available to all members of the general public. They can only be purchased in person and please be aware we expect high demand for these tickets so a queue is expected to form early.
Tickets are limited to two per customer. To avoid these tickets being resold at vastly inflated prices entry for these shows will be via wristband only. On 15 October a ticket voucher will be issued clearly showing your name and address. On the show day 27 October wristbanding will open at midday at the venue.
Ticket holders will need to return with their ticket voucher, photo ID matching the name on the ticket voucher and if they have purchased two tickets their guest must be in attendance with them. Each customer will be wristbanded and can then return to the venue in the evening for the concert. Doors open at 6.30 pm and the show starts promptly at 7.00 p.m. so please arrive early. Please note that any wristbands that have been obviously tampered with will be refused entry.
As you get ever more road(ie) miles under your belt, two things start to happen.
Firstly, less phases you. Most things that the crew encounter on a daily basis are a repetition of what’s gone before. I remember on the Rush Of Blood tour, the enormous growth spurt that the band went through meant every few weeks, we seemed to be doing the biggest show that any of us had ever been involved in. It was a steep learning curve and there was always the question nagging at you as to whether you could really cope when the next step up came.
Nowadays, we're seeing a lot of familiar situations, so we have the lay of the land a little better. That's not to say that things don't crop up that throw a spanner in the works, just that we're more comfortable that whatever it is, we'll be able to deal with it somehow.
This brings about the second phenomena. Once you've a couple dozen laps of the planet and several hundred shows, the excitement level can drop a little. Getting off the plane in Chicago and doing my first shows in the USA with Coldplay felt like walking into a cinema screen. "Look - real yellow cabs..!" Ten years later, though and that feeling can't help but be dulled a little.
So going to what is (for most of us, at least) completely uncharted territory, is nothing short of a shot in the arm. We land in Cape Town and suddenly everything seems fresh and exciting once again. The air smells different, nobody knows what the currency is called or what it's worth. People are discussing what sightseeing opportunities there are on the days off. Finally - we're exploring again!
Come gig day, the band get straight into soundchecking the B-stage. Here, the B-stage is out in the middle of the stadium again. This is a challenge that’s been faced before, but requires some time spent re-adjusting. Being a hundred feet or so in front of the PA system means that there is a distinct time delay between hitting the guitar strings and actually hearing it from the speaker. The effect for the band is a little like when you try to talk on the phone, but can hear your own voice coming back at you with a slight delay. It takes a while, but the old tricks come back and things start to slip back into place.
There is promo to do following soundcheck and the “new ground†vibe continues. The band are discussing with the local journalist what kind of reception they’ll get. They’re thinking at first that maybe a lot of people will have bought tickets just because it’s a big event in town. Chris turns and asks the reporter “Do you think anyone will be - you know - INTO IT?â€
This raises a point that I hadn’t considered. They could indeed be something of a curiosity here, rather than a huge band. Perhaps any band that comes sells out stadiums? Perhaps there’s a hardcore of fans, but the majority of the fifty or sixty thousand will have no real idea who Coldplay are, much less know any of the songs. This could make for quite a struggle of a gig.
The answer comes (quite literally) loud and clear once the show is underway.
I’ve always maintained that the best nights out are the ones where you only plan to “show your face†then get to bed - only to find in the wee hours that you’re still up and grinning like a loon. I’m pretty sure that the best gigs are like this too. The ones that have the hugest build up tend to pass in a blur, but the ones you approach with no expectations can really knock you sideways when they turn out to be absolute belters.
And so it is tonight. The crowd are truly astonishing. This fires the band up and the cycle continues. During a brief breather to chat to the audience, Chris thanks them all for turning up and apologises for taking twelve years to make it to South Africa.
“It’s taken us that long to get our Visas…†he explains, possibly not entirely truthfully.
It’s very difficult to quantify “best showsâ€. The band have done so many that have been special - not to mention the fact that one person can be having the night of their lives and another person will remember things completely differently, having had a struggle with something you weren’t even aware of. Each night is tens of thousands of different voyages - every person having their own experience. The band gather to bow at the end of the show and when Chris kneels to kiss the stage, it’s fairly obvious that it’s not just me that thinks it’s been a truly great night.
It’s been so good that there is word coming over the comms system that they might well come back on for an unscheduled encore. I scramble to set my gear up ready for several things that I think they might do. Unbeknownst to me though, it’s decided that the fireworks and ecstatic exuberance of ETIAW is the right way to close things. The band dive into the vans and the police escort whisks them away.
Regular readers will know that I would normally be in one of those vans. By the time it’s obvious that there is to be no extra tune, I’ve long missed the runner. Oh well. If we were heading straight to the airfield, this would have been a problem, but the hotel isn’t far and we’ve got a day off here tomorrow. I decide to hang around and watch the audience slowly drain from the bowl.
I muse to myself that in terms of exploring new territory, we can definitely call this a very successful mission.
R42
Win tickets to Coldplay's Paris show
9 October 2011 1:19 pm
As previously announced, on 31 October, Coldplay are performing a special, intimate gig at la Cigale in Paris for Orange/NRJ.
We have 10 pairs of tickets to give away to Coldplay's online fans. To be in with a chance of winning a pair, click here and enter your details before 5pm (Paris time) on Monday 10 October (NB: form now working - apologies for the problems with that). You must be over 18 to enter, and the prize consists just of tickets (not travel or accommodation).
Anchorman
"Unstaged" Madrid show to live stream
6 October 2011 2:30 pm
Good afternoon. We're very pleased to report that, on Wednesday, 26 October, Coldplay will perform a show in Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid,
which will be webcast in countries across the world. The show will stream live at www.youtube.com/coldplayVEVO at 10pm Spanish time / 9pm UK time / 4pm ET / 1pm PT (click here to find out what time that is where you are). It will also be available to watch live on mobile devices via VEVO and YouTube apps for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Android.
The Unstaged show be available to watch in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korean Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States. (Apologies to those of you in other countries, there will be other big events which you'll be able to watch soon.)
The concert is the latest in the “American Express Unstaged†series, which brings together musical artists with renowned film directors. Coldplay will be paired with award-winning filmmaker and celebrated photographer Anton Corbijn. Known for his masterful use of black and white and striking imagery, Corbijn has been tapped to provide fans with a visually stunning digital viewing and in-venue experience.
Chris Martin said: “Anton Corbijn has been a big hero to us for a long long time so we're thrilled to be beaming this concert out to the world through his lens. We can’t wait to share this experience with him and with all of our fans watching ‘American Express Unstaged’ around the world. It's going to be big.â€
Beginning today, you can find pre-show digital features and one-of-a-kind content at www.youtube.com/coldplayVEVO, including the exclusive “American Express Unstaged†trailer.
For those of you who'd like to go to the show in Madrid, we have an exclusive presale allocation of tickets for Coldplay's online fans. They will go on sale on 7 October at 9am Spanish time, from here (NB updated link). There will also be a presale for American Express Cardmembers, beginning 7 October at 9am Spanish time, from here. Tickets will then be made available to the general public on 10 October at 10am Spanish time, from www.Ticketmaster.es.
Coldplay fans will be able to enjoy a special looped rebroadcast of the “American Express Unstaged†performance throughout the night, immediately following the livestream at www.youtube.com/coldplayVEVO. Following this rebroadcast, the full-length concert will also be available during a limited 48 hour window, via on-demand.
It's all quite exciting.
Anchorman
Steve Jobs
6 October 2011 9:15 am
We are so sad to hear about the passing of Steve Jobs.
In all of our encounters with him he was such a lovely man, and always so humble about his incredible talents. Like all of the people he knew, and the millions of others he didn't, we will miss him.
Love, Coldplay
The Parlotones interview
5 October 2011 4:51 pm
This evening, Coldplay will play the first of two stadium shows in South Africa. At both the dates, the band will be supported by South African group The Parlotones. Ahead of the first show, we gave frontman Kahn Morbee a shout to find out a bit more about them.
Hello Kahn. How are you?
I’m well thanks, very excited (and nervous) for tonight’s show but I have my health.
Where are you right now?
I’m in the production office at Greenpoint stadium replying to your email, Coldplay are running late so I’m using the time to respond to your mail.
So, you've got two stadium shows coming up with Coldplay. Are you looking forward to them?
Most certainly, they are undoubtedly one of the biggest bands in the world. I’ve been a massive fan since day one and to be opening is a massive honour. I’m also very excited to see those songs (pretty much the soundtrack to my life over the last 14 years) performed live.
When the dates were announced, you said that Coldplay are the only band in the world that you would support in your home country - so we take it you're fans?
We’re massive fans. We kinda made a pact a while ago that we wouldn’t open for international bands on our home turf because we generally sell more albums than they do within our borders and generally the openers are given little in terms of production. However, to open for a band who’s had such an inspiration on us is a privilege we could never turn down.
Have you seen them live before?
Never.
Will you be sticking around to watch the shows?
Without a doubt, will have to restrain myself from singing along to every song to ensure I still have a voice left.
Will you approach the support slots slightly differently to a headline show?
Certainly in terms of how we face the production value, the ‘smoke and mirrors’ of show business. As an opener we’re restricted in terms of what bells and whistles we’re entitled to bring. It’s a short set which we’ll deliver with an onslaught of passion as if there’s 60,000 people in front of us… oh wait there is
For Coldplay fans reading this who aren't familiar with your music, please could you tell us a bit about the Parlotones and what you sound like.
We’re a melodic rock band with pop sensibilities. We’ve never been musical snobs and so draw influence from a myriad of genres within the rock context and popular culture. We’ve been compared to The Killers, Radiohead, Coldplay and sometimes Muse. For us those are massive compliments and perhaps fans of those bands and perhaps the bands themselves would not appreciate the comparisons but people like to pigeon hole and as far as we’re concerned that’s pretty good company.
Does your name have anything to do with Coldplay's label, Parlophone?
100%, we’re big fans of the Coldplay, Radiohead and The Beatles. Before Coldplay came around we lived and breathed Radiohead, I learnt to play guitar by digesting The Bends, a while later Muse, Travis and Coldplay came along. Muse offered an edgier Radiohead, Travis a lighter Radiohead and Coldplay kinda nestled between Travis and Radiohead and I became a fan of all the bands. We sort of had desires to be signed to a major (this is ten years ago) and so we looked to see who our favourite bands were signed to, we discovered Radiohead, Coldplay and the Beatles are or were signed to Parlophone and so we morphed the name. We were also big fans of the Smiths and The Cure and so chucked the ‘THE’ in front to kind of pay homage to the era of THE bands. Funnily enough the ‘THE’ band name explosion re-happened a few years later when The Strokes exploded onto the scene.
Some readers might remember you from the star-studded World Cup opening gig which you performed at. How was that night?
Incredible. It was a proud moment for us South Africans. The cherry on the top was that we got to be a part of it, representing our country, doing what we love most in the world, playing our music to our homeland and the world. We were a part of an historic moment in South Africa’s history. It was something our wildest rock star fantasies could never have imagined.
Did you get to go along to some of the World Cup games too?
Yes, I love football, so I went to as many games as I could tickets to, about five.
It seemed like an amazing time for South Africa.
It was, it was almost surreal, kinda felt like a mushroom binge. This kind of Euphoria swept the nation for a month and then POP next month the real world and all its focus on the negative once again dominated headlines.
Is there a strong domestic music scene in South Africa?
It's strong with some amazing talent but is sadly not consistently well supported. We have a myriad of cultures and languages with different musical tastes and so it’s a case of a large industry divided into many pieces. This sadly means very few artists have the luxury of doing it full time. It feels like an industry running on a treadmill, a strong desire to progress and move forward but unfortunately the treadmill is littered with jaded artists who give up or move on and so a new talent enters the treadmill.
There are a couple of days off between the two shows - as a local, is there anything you'd recommend Coldplay to do in those days?
Safari would be the obvious choice, The Kruger is probably the size of or bigger than England, and it's filled with an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat. We have beautiful beaches and mountains which both offer breathtaking views and an abundance of activity. The wine growing regions in the western cape are spectacular and wine is a natural ingredient for good times.
You're heading to North America, the UK and Japan later in the year. Are you looking forward to that tour?
Yes, we love touring, there are aspects we don’t enjoy, but the fact that we’re touring the world and sharing our music makes us extremely content. We’re living a dream very few South Africans have had the opportunity of doing. On the global stage we’re still relatively small but it’s still surreal to believe we’re touring the music doing what we love most in the world.
What should people expect from those shows?
We’ve always subscribed to the belief that we play with same amount of passion in front of 100 people or 20,000 people. We love what we do, we appreciate the fact that people have invested money and most importantly time to see us and we hope that this love for what we do spills over onto the audience. Tastes and people are fickle, moments can be fleeting and we will savour them all as if it’s our last.
Finally, what is your favourite Coldplay song?
Sheesh, that’s so difficult to answer. Like I alluded to earlier they pretty much were part of a soundtrack to the last 14 or so years of my life. Various songs reflect different moods and phases. However if pushed to answer I’d probably say ‘Clocks’. We all love riffs, traditionally the domain of guitar, Clocks kinda says that a piano can rock a riff just as well!!
