Coldplay
United Kingdom, 1996–now
London band formed in 1996. They moved from the restrained 'Yellow' and A Rush of Blood to the Head towards large-scale, electronically arranged pop.
MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced Coldplay and 0 artists Coldplay influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Coldplay?
- Travis — Chris Martin has credited Travis with the very creation of Coldplay — the gentle, introspective post-Britpop template Coldplay built on.
- U2 — U2 are Martin's avowed model — 'the only band whose entire catalogue I know by heart' — the stadium-anthem scale Coldplay reached for.
- Radiohead — Radiohead were a defining influence on Coldplay — Martin has openly held them as the higher standard the band measured itself against.
- R.E.M. — R.E.M. shaped Coldplay's ethic and sound — the band modelled its democratic structure on R.E.M. and U2, and Martin called 'Nightswimming' the greatest song ever written.