Aug. 16, 2009
A Look At The "Mystery" Of Coldplay
60 Minutes' Steve Kroft Gets A Rare Glimpse At The Inner Workings Of The Popular Band
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Play CBS Video Video Coldplay The British rock group that has taken its place among the most popular bands in the world gives 60 Minutes a rare look inside its world that includes a candid interview with frontman Chris Martin.
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Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. (CBS)
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Photo Essay Coldplay British rockers have four platinum albums in a row
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Interactive The Grammys Performers, winners, losers, fashion stars and disasters, awards history and more.
"I couldn't imagine coming out of my house and there being photographers out there. I wouldn't be able to just walk away from that," Berryman explained.
"It’s a blessing to be in this band and to not be the singer," Champion added.
"They seem perfectly happy to let you have…the spotlight," Kroft noted.
"I know, and that annoys me. My dream is that Will suddenly says, 'I'm gonna be a flamboyant, homosexual, drummer, wear outrageous clothes, and say outrageous things,'" Martin said. "I would love nothing more, partly just to see how it looked, but also, because, you know, sometimes, you want a bit of help."
Someone wrote that Chris Martin "is like watching an unsteady trapeze act" - one moment brimming with self confidence, anxious and angst ridden the next.
We saw some of it at the band's Camden recording studio, where he was both structured and random, a bundle of kinetic energy always on the move.
"One of the things that surprises me, you're out on tour. You're not even finished with this tour, and you're already workin' on the next album?" Kroft asked. "Take a break?"
"No. Take a break when I'm 40, or 35," Martin said. "Not now. I've gotta keep writin' songs as long as I've got hair, 'cause once it goes, then I won't be able to go on stage."
He is a compulsive worrier and list-maker. He sends himself electronic messages, and scrawls notes on scraps of paper, on his hands, and anything else that's available, lest he forget some brilliant idea.
"And you have notes written on the piano," Kroft pointed out.
"Yeah a little, but this is just the beginning, so, in six months, this will all be covered, I think," Martin explained.
"Then you have to repaint the piano?" Kroft asked.
"Yeah. So when we finish something, we repaint, you know?" Martin said.
Produced by John Hamlin
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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- Couldn't help but jump on SILHOUETTE FACTOR:
SILHOUETTE FACTOR
by patrick george harrison*
Copyright August 16, 2009
Please don't be a silhouette
in my exit sign;
If you are, I'll know
things aren't so sublime.
I can't stand it if you
walk out on me.
It's not the applause
that brings me to my knee,
But seeing your silhouette
in my exit sign,
Tells me I'm doing wrong,
and its' quitting time.
Please don't be a silhouette
in my exit sign;
If you are, I'll know
things aren't so sublime.
I can't stand it if you
walk out on me.
It's not the applause
that brings me to my knee,
But seeing your silhouette
in my exit sign,
Tells me I'm doing wrong,
and its' quitting time;
it's quitting time.
patrick george harrison*
Copyright August 16, 2009
* patrick "GB" harrison,
Amazon #1 International Best Selling Children's Book Author:
WHO SAYS KIDS CAN'T FIGHT GLOBAL WARMiNG
Expanded 4th Edition, Copyright 2009
Participant in the Oregon Author's Book Signings,
Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene Oregon, 8-18 and 8-20-2009 - Reply to this comment
- Great Job Steve Kroft !!! As you stated in your story Coldplay has a fan base that spans generations. I am 44. Old enough to know what a B-17 is when referred to in an Andy Rooney story but also a huge fan of Coldplay. With all the bad news in the world your story was a breath of fresh air. Your story captured their true character. Hard working, modest and down to earth. I challenge all those who left negative comments about Chris Martin and Coldplay to actually listen to some of their songs and I think you will be amazed at their talent. They can be as energizing as U2 and be as soothing as Enya. They really do have beautifull songs even if Chris is not sure what they are about. If you listen to "Yellow" I think you will come to your own conclusion about the meaning. Maybe that was their/his plan all along. Their CD's seem right at home next to my Boston, Heart, Chicago and Enya. Really, with all the hip-hop and rap around (not music) THANK GOD for Coldplay!! Steve, you are so good at the interviews you do and I would love for you to do one with Avril Lavigne. Another young talent who like Coldplay has many more years of great songs ahead of her. Avril is also hard to pin down on what makes her tick. I bet you can figure her out. In conclusion, Chris Martin and his band are a class act in a music world of "rock stars" who think of themselves as little gods on earth. Once again Steve THANK YOU SO MUCH for the outstanding job! Your story really made me feel "Yellow" !! and thats a good thing :)
- Reply to this comment
- coldplay is boring
NO! WAIT! They''re awesome! Please don''t erase this post too, CBS. But then again, I guess it''s too intense (unlike coldplay). - Reply to this comment
- This segment was great to watch right before the Grammys. I am so tired of people saying they don''t like Coldplay because they "sold out". Is finding success through music a bad thing now for bands. Coldplay has always been upfront about things like ring tones and other tie ins that could be seen as selling out but they are extremely talented and people like them a lot. There performance on Saturday Night Live in October was one of the greatest I''ve ever seen on that aging show. Chris Martin still has a lot to say and I, like a lot of fans, will be there to purchase it. Good segment Mr. Kroft. You interview musicians well.
- Reply to this comment
- The lead singer of Coldplay doesn''t have a good voice. It doesn''t surprise me though because the popular music of today doesn''t rely on great voices.
Posted by ontheleft
Great voices, h-e-l-l, it doesn''t even rely on GOOD voices. Any of that c-r-a-p, hip-hop, violent, profane, noise that is making millionaires out of ghetto thugs and druggies. How many of the rap/hip-hop "tunes" can you hum or sing in the shower? Or even understand? I may be an old fuddy-duddy, but I know music when I hear it, and that aint it! - Reply to this comment
- Musicians hate it because it''s cheesy, but the way to pop music success still lies in overblown orchestral add-ins of instruments that don''t normally form part of the "rock" world, like violins/cellos/brass/flute, etc. Listen to all your top-40 stuff from the ''60''s and notice how the violins and orchestra come on cue to texture it all up. It''s a formula, baby, and the Brits are born to it from their choirboy heritage and lack of concern about staying true to delta roots that aren''t theirs to worry about...
- Reply to this comment
- The lead singer of Coldplay doesn''''t have a good voice. It doesn''''t surprise me though because the popular music of today doesn''''t rely on great voices.
Posted by ontheleft
Two words, Joe Walsh! - Reply to this comment
- And the Beatles, Stones and Zeppelin in their early careers "borrowed" heavily from the great blues artists that preceded them.
- Reply to this comment
- A Look At The "Mystery" Of Coldplay
No mystery. They steal from their betters, like Satriani
Posted by bobgee_1999
Who the h-e-l-l is Satriani? - Reply to this comment
- -WOW- 60 Minutes, Steve Kroft did a super good job with this interview ... and British rock quartet Coldplay, led by singer Chris Martin - A-W-E-S-O-M-E-!
I like their bands style rather non-style no suits, real, relaxed, non-pretentious, non-posturing that''s what makes it all work.
Here I thought Steve Kroft was lame and boring, whew what a surprise! - Reply to this comment
- That was a good look at an impressive band who works hard to keep the music first. Very likeable fellows, all. I look forward to listening to their continued journey to the perfect song.
- Reply to this comment
- A Look At The "Mystery" Of Coldplay
No mystery. They steal from their betters, like Satriani - Reply to this comment
- Coldplay is one band that sings and performs from the heart. They don''t and have not sold out. Their lyrics are amazing and prophetic. They are wonderful musicians because they love what they do. Chris Martin is one of the sweetest and deepest people I know and one person that fame and fortune has not corrupted. In fact, if you look at this history of this band you will find more giving and caring than anything else. This band, if anyone, deserves to be highlighted on 60 minutes. Thank you.
And for you cynics out there.... yes the world is in chaos right now. But perhaps if you''d listen to the words of one of Coldplay''s songs, you would see that they are at least trying to help in the way they know how. That''s more than I can say for the Superbowl and affiliates. - Reply to this comment
- Coldplay is one band that sings and performs from the heart. They don''t and have not sold out. Their lyrics are amazing and prophetic. They are wonderful musicians because they love what they do. Chris Martin is one of the sweetest and deepest people I know and one person that fame and fortune has not corrupted. In fact, if you look at this history of this band you will find more giving and caring than anything else. This band, if anyone, deserves to be highlighted on 60 minutes. Thank you.
And for you cynics out there.... yes the world is in chaos right now. But perhaps if you''d listen to the words of one of Coldplay''s songs, you would see that they are at least trying to help in the way they know how. That''s more than I can say for the Superbowl and affiliates. - Reply to this comment
- Coldplay is one band that sings and performs from the heart. They don''t and have not sold out. Their lyrics are amazing and prophetic. They are wonderful musicians because they love what they do. Chris Martin is one of the sweetest and deepest people I know and one person that fame and fortune has not corrupted. In fact, if you look at this history of this band you will find more giving and caring than anything else. This band, if anyone, deserves to be highlighted on 60 minutes. Thank you.
And for you cynics out there.... yes the world is in chaos right now. But perhaps if you''d listen to the words of one of Coldplay''s songs, you would see that they are at least trying to help in the way they know how. That''s more than I can say for the Superbowl and affiliates. - Reply to this comment
- Coldplay is one band that sings and performs from the heart. They don''t and have not sold out. Their lyrics are amazing and prophetic. They are wonderful musicians because they love what they do. Chris Martin is one of the sweetest and deepest people I know and one person that fame and fortune has not corrupted. In fact, if you look at this history of this band you will find more giving and caring than anything else. This band, if anyone, deserves to be highlighted on 60 minutes. Thank you.
And for you cynics out there.... yes the world is in chaos right now. But perhaps if you''d listen to the words of one of Coldplay''s songs, you would see that they are at least trying to help in the way they know how. That''s more than I can say for the Superbowl and affiliates. - Reply to this comment
- Coldplay is one band that sings and performs from the heart. They don''t and have not sold out. Their lyrics are amazing and prophetic. They are wonderful musicians because they love what they do. Chris Martin is one of the sweetest and deepest people I know and one person that fame and fortune has not corrupted. In fact, if you look at this history of this band you will find more giving and caring than anything else. This band, if anyone, deserves to be highlighted on 60 minutes. Thank you.
And for you cynics out there.... yes the world is in chaos right now. But perhaps if you''d listen to the words of one of Coldplay''s songs, you would see that they are at least trying to help in the way they know how. That''s more than I can say for the Superbowl and affiliates. - Reply to this comment
- Oh stop pontificating kaching? You know what they say? One man''s meat....
- Reply to this comment
- The lead singer of Coldplay doesn''t have a good voice. It doesn''t surprise me though because the popular music of today doesn''t rely on great voices.
- Reply to this comment
- Posted by Kuching88...lighten up, there are enough things to have doom and gloom over.
- Reply to this comment
