ARTIST

Coldplay

Chris Martin (vocals/guitar/piano), age 22, grew up in Devon, England, where from an early age he could be found merrily bashing out tunes on the family piano. He graduated to the guitar and has been in bands since he was 15.

Guy Berryman (bass), age 21, was born in Fife, Scotland, though his family later moved to Kent. Inspired by his love of funk and rare groove records, he started playing bass at 13.

Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), age 22, is from Mold, North Wales. He first picked up a guitar at the tender age of 11, encouraged by his older brother, although it wasn't until he heard the Stone Roses that he started taking his playing seriously.

Will Champion (drums), age 21, born in Southampton, spent his formative years learning to play a variety of instruments while watching his beloved soccer team, Southampton F.C., narrowly avoid relegation year after year.

All four met during college in London in 1996, and were friends before they existed as Coldplay. The band came together after Chris and Jon started playing guitar and writing songs together. Soon after, not wanting to miss out, Guy came along to add some bass. The completed lineup formed after Will decided he'd play drums for them, even though he never had before. As he could already play guitar, bass, piano, and the tin whistle, he soon picked it up. Stealing the name Coldplay from their friend Tim before he could use it for his band, they began rehearsing as a four-piece in 1998.

Coldplay is a gang, best mates, who happen to live and breathe to make music. From day one at their very first rehearsal, they realized that they had something special. Sensing this, Chris' close friend Phil became their manager and financed the Safety EP, Coldplay's first recording, which got the band its first gig at a Cuban cafe called "In The City" in Manchester in late 1998. A scout from Parlophone Records happened to be in the audience and quickly became a devout fan. The next show won over a writer from NME and got the band its first bit of press as well as a single on the writer's independent label. The single, "Brothers & Sisters," solidified Parlophone's interest and the band signed in early 1999.

The band's first release on Parlophone was The Blue Room EP in October 1999. With airplay, press, and a strong fan following, Coldplay completed its first English tour. Shortly thereafter, the band went into the studio to record Parachutes, co-produced by Coldplay and Ken Nelson, who had previously worked with Gomez. The songs veer from fragile to forceful, from understated to epic, all the while held together by Chris' gorgeous voice and endearingly bashful lyrics.

Since the July release of Parachutes in their native U.K., the album debuted at number one on the British charts, with more than 70,000 copies sold in its first week alone. Even more notable is their nomination for the Mercury Music Prize (like the U.S. Grammy), an annual award that celebrates the best albums the Brits have produced that year. Coldplay is largely considered the frontrunner to win the prestigious award.

Courtesy of Nettwerk America