# Coldplay

By [Santa](https://paragraph.com/@takerelax) · 2023-01-19

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**Coldplay** are a British [rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music) band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist [Chris Martin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Martin), guitarist [Jonny Buckland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Buckland), bassist [Guy Berryman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Berryman), drummer [Will Champion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Champion) and creative director [Phil Harvey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Harvey_\(manager\)).[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldplay#cite_note-TCR-4) They met at [University College London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_College_London) and began playing music together from 1996 to 1998, initially calling themselves Starfish.

After independently releasing an extended play, [_Safety_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_\(EP\)) (1998), Coldplay signed with [Parlophone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parlophone) in 1999. The band's debut album, [_Parachutes_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachutes_\(Coldplay_album\)) (2000), included their breakthrough single "[Yellow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_\(Coldplay_song\))" and received a [Brit Award for British Album of the Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_Award_for_British_Album_of_the_Year), a [Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Alternative_Music_Album) and a [Mercury Prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Prize) nomination. Their second album, [_A Rush of Blood to the Head_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Rush_of_Blood_to_the_Head) (2002), won the same accolades and included the single "[Clocks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clocks_\(song\))", which won a [Grammy Award for Record of the Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Record_of_the_Year). The band's third album, [_X&Y_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X%26Y) (2005), which completed what the band considered to be a trilogy, and their fourth album, [_Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_la_Vida_or_Death_and_All_His_Friends) (2008), were both nominated for a [Grammy Award for Best Rock Album](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rock_Album), with the latter winning; both albums were the [best-selling of their respective years](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums#Best-selling_album_by_year_worldwide), topping the charts in over 30 countries. _Viva la Vida_ was also nominated for [Album of the Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year), while its [title track](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_la_Vida) became the first single by a British group to simultaneously reach number one in the United Kingdom and United States in the 21st century.

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*Originally published on [Santa](https://paragraph.com/@takerelax/coldplay)*