Project: My Favourite British Band
Mentor: Prof. Jasna Sukič Krajnc
Author: Špela Ekselenski
II. gymnasium Maribor
Jakobski Dol, March 2011
II. gymansium Maribor
INDEX OF CONTENTS
INDEX OF IMAGES ................................................................................................................. 1
FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................. 2
HISTORY ................................................................................................................................... 2
COLDPLAY´S LINE UP ........................................................................................................... 6
CHRIS MARTIN .................................................................................................................... 6
MUSICAL INFLUENCES ................................................................................................. 6
PERSONAL LIFE .............................................................................................................. 7
JOHNNY BUCKLAND ......................................................................................................... 7
PERSONAL LIFE .............................................................................................................. 8
GUY BERRYMAN ................................................................................................................ 8
PERSONAL LIFE .............................................................................................................. 9
WILL CHAMPION ................................................................................................................ 9
PERSONAL LIFE .............................................................................................................. 9
COLDPLAY´S NOMINATION AND AWARDS .................................................................. 10
MUSICAL STYLE .................................................................................................................. 11
CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................ 11
POVZETEK ............................................................................................................................. 11
SOURCES ................................................................................................................................ 12
INDEX OF IMAGES
Picture 1: University College London ........................................................................................ 2
Picture 2: Safety cover ............................................................................................................... 3
Picture 3: Glastonbury Festival .................................................................................................. 3
Picture 4: Parachutes cover ........................................................................................................ 4
Picture 5: A Rush of Blood to the Head cover ........................................................................... 4
Picture 6: X&Y cover ................................................................................................................. 5
Picture 7: Viva la Vida cover ..................................................................................................... 6
Pisture 8: Chris Martina with his family .................................................................................... 7
Picture 9: Johnny Buckland........................................................................................................ 8
Picture 10: Guy Berryman.......................................................................................................... 9
Picture 11: Will Chapion with his family................................................................................. 10
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FOREWORD
In this project, I decided to dedicate some attention to a special rock music, which is
made by a British band Coldplay. I believe they are very well known by the people all over
the world. So far, I haven´t found a person, that wouldn’t know at least one song from them.
The most frequent answer on the question “Which Coldplay´s songs do you know” was “Viva
la vida”, which I think gave them world wide success and special place in today´s music
world. But the real question, that spring up is not how much do people know their music, but
how much they really know about Coldplay as a band, about members, band´s history,
concerts thay had, successfilness they´ve acheaved, how many grammys and other awards
they´ve got … On one hand it´s music they are making all that matters. But on the other hand
it´s good to know some facts about popular bands. Especially if we listen to their music. The
main idea of writing this assignment is to learn about Coldplay not just as “music makers”,
but as group, which cares about their fans. And so far, Coldplay has never let down fans as
fans have never let down the band.
HISTORY
History of a band started in September 1996, when Chris Martin and Johnny Buckland
first met at University College London. The two of them spent rest of the university years
planning a band; convince the group will be named Pectoralz. Martins´s and Buckland´s
classmate, Guy Berryman, joined the group and by 1997 performed gigs for local Camden
promoters at small group. Not as Pectoralz, but as Starfish. Martin recruited his longtime
school friend Phil Harvey, to be the band´s manager. Coldplay, or as they were called in those
time, Starfish accepted Harvey as member of a group. The band´s line up was completed
when Will Champion joined to percussion duties. By local student´s, Tim Crompton,
suggestion, the band finally settled as Coldplay (Coldplay, 2011).
Picture 1: University College London (source: College London, 2011)
In 1998, the band released 500 copies of their first demo records Safety EP. (EP is
short for extended play). Most of the copies were given to friends and record company; only
50 copies were sent for sale to the public.
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Picture 2: Safety cover (source: Safety, 2011)
The Safety EP is unavailable on iTunes and is souch a rarity that his price on e-Bay is
very closely to £2000. In spring, 1999 Coldplay signed to Parlophone for a five-album
contract. After their first appearance at Glastonbury (Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary
Performing Arts), the band started to record third EP with title The Blue Room. While they
were recording it, Martin kicked Champion out of the band and later pleaded him to return.
Martin went in a drinking binge because of his guilt. That was the moment, when Coldplay
decided that they will operate, as democracy as posible.
Picture 3: Glastonbury Festival (source: Glastonbury, 2011)
June 2000 was a pivotal moment in Coldplay´s history. Why? The band started with
their first headlining tour, which included a showing at the Glastonbury Festival. And this
wasn’t the only success they’ve acheaved in that year. The band also realized the
breakthrough single Yellow, which became number four on the UK Singles Chart. In July
2000 Coldplay released their first studio album Parachutes. When they became known in
Europe, they decided to find success in North America, where they’ve released an album.
Although Parachutes was a slow-burning success in the United States, it eventually reached
double-platinum status. Critically rewiecs were good and in 2002 Grammy Awards the album
earned Best Alternative Music Album tittle. Chris Martin said that the main reason for
releasing Parachutes was to change the band´s status as the “biggest, best band in the fuking
world.” 1
1
Chris Martin about reasons for releasing Parachutes. (Coldplay – Wikipedia, 2011)
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Picture 4: Parachutes cover (source: Parachutes,2011)
In September 2001 Coldplay returned to the studio to begin work on their second
album A Rush of Blood in the Head. They started recording album in London, a week after the
September 11 attacks in USA. Since the band had never stayed in London before, they had
trouble focusing. They decided to relocate in Liverpool, where they recorded some of the
songs on Parachutes. The first song, recorded on album was In My Place. That song kept
them going recording new songs and soon, they’ve wrote more than 20 songs for the album.
Some of them were well known Cloks and the ballad The Scientist. From June 2002 to
September 2003 Coldplay tured for A Rush of Blood in the Head Tour.2
Picture 5: A Rush of Blood to the Head cover (source: A rush of blood in the head,
2011)
In 2004 Coldplay took a break from touring and started recording their third album
X&Y, which was released in June 2005. It became the best-selling album of 2005 with
worldwide sales of 8.3 million. The album debuted at number one in 20 countries worldwide
and was the third-fastest selling album in UK chart history. Comparisons between Coldplay
2
for A Rush of Blood in the Head Tour (coldplay - wikipedia, 2011)
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and U2 became increasingly common, although critical reaction to the album was still largely
positive.
Picture 6: X&Y cover (source: X and Y,2011)
From June 2005 to July 2006, Coldplay went on their Twisted Logic Tour. In
September, Coldplay recorded a new version of "How You See the World" with different
lyrics for War Child´s Help!: A Day in the Life charity album.
In October 2006, Coldplay began work on their fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or
Death and All His Friends. Taking a break from recording in 2007, the band toured Latin
America performing in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. During their tour they’ve
recorded in churches and other venues in Latin America. Because of that, the band decided
the album will contain a bit of Hispanic influence. Martin described Viva la Vida as a new
direction for Coldplay: a change from their past three albums, which they have referred to as a
"trilogy".
Violet Hill was confirmed as the first single, which was freely obtainable from
Coldplay´s website and in one week acheaved two million downloads. Violet Hill entered the
UK Top 10, US Top 40 and charted well in the rest of the world. Upon release, Viva la Vida
or Death and All His Friends topped the UK album chart, despite having come on the market
only three days previously. In that time, it sold 302,000 copies. 3
3
Viva la vida (Coldplay – wikipedia, 2011)
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Picture 7: Viva la Vida cover (source: Viva la Vida, 2011)
Coldplay are working with Brian Eno again for their fifth studio album. When Martin
and Champion were interviewed by BBC Radio on 7 January 2007 about band´s newest
record, Martin replied: "It's about love, addiction, OCD, escape and working for someone you
don't like."4
COLDPLAY´S LINE UP




Chris Martin – lead vocal, keyboards, guitar
Jonny Buckland – lead guitar, backing vocals
Guy Berryman – bass, backing vocals
Will Champion – drums, backing vocals
CHRIS MARTIN
Chris Martin or Christopher Anthony John Martin (by his birth name) was born
on 2 March 1997 in Devon (England) as the eldest of five childrens. Because his mother was
a music teacher, he had music in blood. He formed his first band in preparatory school with
Nick Repton and Iwan Gronow: The Rocking Honkies. This music talent brought him till the
present. Today he knows how to play piano, guitar, mandolin, clarinet, harmonica, bass,
organ, glockenspiel and he can sing, too. His studying at University College London was a
pivotal decision, because that was the place where he met Coldplay manager Phil Harvey and
bandmates Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Guy Berryman.
nd
MUSICAL INFLUENCES
Martin´s first influence is the British rock band Radiohead.
Big part of his “music heart” takes bands:
4
Chris Martin about work on their new album (Coldpray, 2009)
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






a-ha (New Wave/Synthpop band from Norway)
U2(sisocally and politically influence),
Oasis (Manchester rock band),
Westlife (Irish pop group),
Girls Around (British pop group),
Take That (British pop group),
Arcede Fire (Canadian indie rock band).
Influence on Martin doesn’t have just bands, but also solo artist as:



Leona Lewis,
Noel Gallagher,
Kyle Minogue.
PERSONAL LIFE
Martin is married to an American actress Gwyneth Paltrov, which he met in backstage
gig after the dead of actress´s father, Bruce Paltrow. The couple married on 5 December 2003.
Soon after they got married, their first child was born. Daughter Apple Blythe Alison Martin
was born on 14. May 2004 in London. Their second child, Moses Bruce Anthony Martin, was
born on 8 April 2006 in New York City.
Picture 8: Chris Martina with his family (source: Chris Martin ,2011)
Chris has a very healthy way of living. He is a vegan and practices yoga. He doesn’t
drink alcohol or smoke. He is also religious. He believes in God and doesn’t care who that
God is.
He is also superstitious.5 He has about 18 things, he always does before the concert.
One of those things is brushing the teeth, what give him more self-confident.
JOHNNY BUCKLAND
Jonathan Mark Buckland was born on 11 September 1977 in London (England) and
lived there until he moved with his family to North Wales. By the age of eleven he started to
5
Taken from Smrklja, 2010
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play a guitar, and now he knows how to play keyboards, bass, mandolin, lute, percussion,
organ, piano and gong.
Johnny´s first influences were The Stone Roses, Ride George Harrison and My
Bloody Valentine. He was always being encouraged by his elder brother Tim.
Picture 9: Johnny Buckland (source: Jonathan Mark Buckland,2011)
PERSONAL LIFE
Martin snd Johnny are very god friends. Because they trust each other, Martin
confided Johnny his first child, Apple, to be her godfather. Johnny is a fan of Tottenham
Hotspur football club.
Buckland is in a relationship with longterm girlfriend, Chloe Lee-Evans. They have a
daughter Violet, who was born 3 November 2007. On 14 November 2009, Buckland and LeeEvans married in London.
GUY BERRYMAN
Guy Rupert Berryman was born on 12 April 1978 in Scotland. He studied at
University College London, where he dropped out of his architecture degree after one year to
focus on playing bass with Coldplay. He is a bassman, but he also plays piano, keyboard,
mandolin, percussion, sarangi and santoor.
He is called the "most handsome one in the band" with Chris Martin usually
commenting on his dark and yet handsome appearance.6
6
Chris Martin about Guy Berryman. (Guy Berryman – Wikipedia, 2011)
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Picture 10: Guy Berryman (source: Guy Rupert Berryman,2011)
PERSONAL LIFE
In 2004 he married Joanna Briston, his childhood sweatheart. They have one child,
daughter Nico, who was born on 17 September 2006. In 2007 Coldplay's spokesman
confirmed that Guy and Joanna separated after three years of marriage. They are now
divorced, but see each other frequently for the wellbeing of their daughter Nico.
Guy is a sportman, because he likes to run marathon and even if band is on the tour, he
would run to the nearest park. He is also interested in photography, fashion and electronic
badges. He is very attached to his brother Mark, who lives in Scandinavia and has been with
the band from day one. Brothers have important part of band´s success, because they were the
main promoters during the early days.
WILL CHAMPION
William Champion was born on 31 July 1978 in Sauthampton (England). His first
musical influences were Tom Waits and traditional Irish folk music. He grew up playing
guitar, and today he knows how to play drums, violin, percussion, bass, banjo, keyboards and
timpani.
Will was the last joined member to Coldplay. He took the position as drummer with
no experiences, but quickly fills the missing role.
In 1999, lead singer Chris Martin fired Champion, but the band asked him to return
soon after. In Coldplay, he is often regarded as the rationality of the group.7
PERSONAL LIFE
The album Parachutes was dedicated to Champion´s mother, because she died in the
year 2000. Will was the first member, who married. In 2003 he married Marianne Dard and
three years after that, they’ve got a first child, daughter Ava born on 28 April 2006. On May
2008, Marianne gave birth to twins Juno and Rex.
7
Will Champion´s life (Will Champion- wikipedia, 2011)
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Picture 11: Will Chapion with his family (source: Will Champion, 2011)
COLDPLAY´S NOMINATION AND
AWARDS
Table 1: Awards and nominations (source: List of awards and nominations received by
Coldplay – wikipedia, 2011)
Avard
American Music Award
Brit Awards
Echo Awards
Grammy Awards
Ivor Novella Awards
Juno Awards
Los Promios MTV Lationoamerica
Meteor Music Awards
MTV Asia Awards
MTV Europe Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards Japan
Muchmusic Video Awards
NME Awards
NRJ Music Awards
People´S Choice Awards
Q Awards
World Music Awards
GQ Awards
Intetrnational Dance Music Awards
Mercury Prize
Wins
0
6
2
7
1
2
1
1
0
4
4
0
0
5
1
0
5
3
1
1
0
Nominations
5
15
2
20
6
2
2
3
1
13
16
1
1
7
4
2
16
3
1
2
3
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MUSICAL STYLE
Coldplay´s early songs could be comparing with songs from Radiohead, U2, A-ha and Travis.
So they must have been talented outsed when they started to work together as a group, in
1996. The band´s music has been called blue romantic as reflection on their emotions.
CONCLUSION
Coldplay are a successful band, which woudn´t be here if they wouldn’t have fans.
Although they became popular, they didn’t change much as persons. I believe that is why they
have so many fans. It is not just music, which make artist popular. People are. Probably
someone can do a mayor hit, but if he won´t go in public to share it with people in live, he´ll
be forgotten very soon.
POVZETEK
V svoji seminarski nalogi sem se odločila, da na kratko napišem nekaj o Coldplay,
verjetno najbolj znani britanski glasbeni skupini. Do sedaj še nisem naletela na človeka, ki ne
bi vsaj enkrat v življenju slišal vsaj ene njihove pesmi. Najbolj pogost odgovor na vprašanja
“katero Coldplay pesem poznaš” je bil “Viva la vida”, ki je dejansko njihova zadnja največja
uspešnice in še vedno odmeva po glasbenih postajah celega sveta.
INDEX
C
Coldplay´s line up
Chris Martin
Coldplay´s nominations and awards
Conclusion
F
Foreword
G
Guy Berryman
H
Histroy
I
Index of images
J
Johnny Buckland
M
Musical style
P
Povzetek
S
Sources
W
Will Champion
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SOURCES

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A rush of blood in the head. Online. Available on URL: http://www.flashscreen.com/free-wallpaper/uploads/200811/thus/1226300782_470x353_coldplay-arush-of-blood-to-the-head.jpg , 7.3.2011, at 17.23
Chris Martin – Wikipedia. Online. Avaliable on Url:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Martin, 5.3.2011, at 19.49
Chris Martin. Online. Available on URL:
http://www.algoafm.co.za/assets/images/gwynethwi0908_468x446.jpg, 7.3.2011, at
15.49
Coldplay – wikipedia. Online. Available on URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldplay, 4.2.2011, at 17.54
Coldpray. Online. "Coldplay work on new album in church". The Sun. 7. 12. 2009.
Available on URL:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2760417/Coldplay-work-onnew-album-in-church.html, Retrieved 2. 3. 2011 at 17.56
College London. Online. Available on URL:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/246302725_f305a2ba4b.jpg, 7.3.2011, at 15.44
Glastonbury. Online. Available on URL:
http://www.gigsport.com/images/newsimages/glastonbury-festival.jpg, 4.3.2011, at
16. 32
Guy Berryman – Wikipedia. Online. Avaliable on Url:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Berryman, 7.2.2011, at 16.33
Guy Rupert Berryman. Online. Available on URL: http://userserveak.last.fm/serve/_/614617/Guy+Berryman.jpg, 5.3.2011, at 14.57
Jonny Buckland – wikipedia. Online. Available on URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Buckland, 5.3.2011, at 14.55
Jonathan Mark Buckland. Online. Available on URL:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/images/2005/12/19/coldplay_039_300x400.jpg,
1.3.2011, at 17.03
List of awards and nominations received by Coldplay – wikipedia. Online. Available
on URL:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Coldplay
21.3.2011, at 7.13
Parachutes. Online. Available on URL:: http://www.musicalscene.eu/besedila/salbumi/Coldplay-Parachutes.jpg, 8.2.2011, at 16.01
Picture on the cover 1: Coldplay 1. Online. Avaliable on URL:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3354/3258744986_478738a72a_o.jpg,
7.3.2011, at 18.08
Picture on the cover 2: Codplay 2. Online. Avaliable on URL:
http://download.ultradownloads.uol.com.br/wallpaper/162550_Papel-de-ParedeColdplay--162550_1024x768.jpg,7.3.2011, at 18.09
Safety. Online. Available on URL: http://eil.com/Gallery/269292b.jpg,
7.3.2011, at 18.45
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



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
Superstitious. Online.“Umivanje zob je nujno“. Smrklja. 16.03.2009 at 10.06.
Retrieved 6.3.2011 at 18.49. Available on URL:
http://www.smrklja.si/cukr/zvezde/29892
Timeline. Online. Available on URL:http://www.coldplay.com/timeline.php, 1.2.2011,
at 15.45
Viva la Vida. Online. Available on URL:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vWXhdsruY4g/SCxy_D0vWMI/AAAAAAAAA7w/4Wd8
00XAd0c/s400/COLDPLAY-VIVA-LA-VIDA.gif, 2.3.2011, at 19.59
Will Champion – Wikipedia. Online. Avaliable on Url:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Champion, 5.3.2011, at 19.37
Will Champion. Online. Available on URL:
http://www2.pictures.fp.zimbio.com/Coldplay+Leaving+Perth+Domestic+Airport+Bi
PEwsXfixil.jpg, 4.3.2011, at 17.38
X and Y. Online. Available on URL: http://991.com/NewGallery/Coldplay-X--Y365095.jpg, 12.1.2011, at 19.22
TOČKOVNIK
ELEMENTI
ELEMENTI
PROJEKTNE NALOGE PROJEKTNE
NALOGE
ELEMENTI PROJEKTNE NALOGE
OSNOVNI ELEMENTI
OSNOVNI
ELEMENTI
OSNOVNI ELEMENTI
1
naslovnica
3
besedilo:K, L, P
2
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1
4000 znakov ali
več9
4
poravnave:
L,D,S,O
6
glava,noga, štev. strani
3
uvod, jedro,
zaključek
4
2
avtom.
označ.,oštevilč.10
pretvorba v PDF format11
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4
tabela, obrobe in 1
senčenje
WordArt
1
prelom strani13
1
tabulator14
6
kazala:vsebinsko,stvarno,slikovno
3
tip, velikost, barva 2
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besedila16
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18 SKUPNO ŠT.
19 SKUPNO ŠT. TOČK
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Seminarska naloga vsebuje 15.700 znakov brez presledkov Vir: WordCount.
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Seminarska naloga vsebuje avtomatsko oštevilčenje in označevanje.
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Seminarska naloga vsebuje različico PDF.
12
Seminarska naloga vsebuje rob 2-3 cm.
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Seminarska naloga vsebuje prelom strani
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Tip pisave: Timrs New Roman; Velikost pisave: 12 (besedilo) in 24 (naslovi); barva pisave: črna, modra.
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Seminarska naloga vsebuje barvno ozadje; barva naslovne strani: modra.
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TOČK
TOČK
ELEMENTI PROJEKTNE NALOGE
ELEMENTI PROJEKTNE NALOGE
ELEMENTI PROJEKTNE NALOGE
NADGRADNJA
UPORABA DRUGIH PROGRAMOV
KOLIČINA VLOŽENEGA DELA (oceni
profesor)
SKUPNO ŠT. TOČK
3
izdelava spletne strani s 1
karatkim povzetkom,
povezava na PDF
format, objava na osebni
spletni strani
za nalogo ni bilo otrebno
veliko casa in truda;
2
kopiranje naloge (*.pdf in
*.zip) na "
skupni račun "informatika" OBVEZNO!!!
2
ucenec se je trudil, da bi
bila naloga uspešna
4
objava naloge (*.PDF) na
spletni strani za
prijavo OBVEZNO!!!
3
razvidno je, da je bilo
uporabljeno veliko casa
in truda
9
SKUPNO ŠT. TOČK
3
SKUPNO ŠT. TOČK
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