Coldplay are an English alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead singer Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After forming Pectorals, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a drummer, backing vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, completing the lineup. Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. The band renamed themselves "Coldplay" in 1998before recording and releasing three EPs; Safety in 1998, Brothers & Sisters as a single in 1999 and The Blue Room in the same year. The latter was their first release on a major label, after signing to Parlophone. Coldplay has received 43 awards from 117 nominations. They received six awards from fourteen nominations from the Brit Awards—winning Best British Group three times. They have won seven Grammy Awards from twenty nominations. 2009 was their most successful year having received seven choices at the 51st Grammy Awards—more than they had done previously—of which they won three.
Coldplay's early material was compared to acts such as Radiohead, U2, A-ha, and Travis.[6] They achieved worldwide fame with the release of the single "Yellow" in 2000, charted by their debut album released in the same year, Parachutes, which was chosen for the Mercury Prize. The band's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won multiple awards, plus NME's Album of the Year. Their next issue, X&Y, received a slightly less keen yet still generally positive reception upon its release in 2005. The band's fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), was produced by Brian Eno and released again to largely favourable reviews, earning several Grammy nominations and wins. Coldplay have sold over 50 million records worldwide.
Band members
- Guy Berryman – bass, backing vocals
- Jonny Buckland – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Will Champion – drums, backing vocals
- Chris Martin – lead vocals, keyboards, guitar
