Coldplay: More tours coming up

Three days before the Coldplay’s first-ever concert in Manila Tuesday night (titled A Head Full of Dreams Tour, inspired by the band’s seventh album released in 2015), a rumor was circulated on social media that the concert was cancelled for the same reason that James Taylor (or the producers) scrapped his Manila concert last February. Perhaps to lend credence to the yarn, the rumormongers used the logo of an international newscast as backdrop. Naturally, Coldplay diehards were alarmed (especially holders of the P22,500 most expensive tickets) until they realized that it was April 1 and the “fools” were merely playing tricks.

The Coldplay guys flew in safe and sound from Singapore where they did a show two days earlier, and eager to entertain their fans who filled up the huge stages (two wings were added to the main stage) of the MOA Grounds. Lead vocalist Chris Martin arrived on a Singapore Airlines (SQ) flight Sunday night while the three other members — Jonny Buckland (lead guitar/piano/keyboards/backing vocals); Guy Berryman (bass/piano/keyboards/backing vocals); and Will Champion (drums/percussion, piano, keyboards/backing vocals) — arrived Tuesday on a chartered flight also from Singapore. 

There were Chris “sightings” the day after his arrival. Monday afternoon, he was spotted in Intramuros, maybe for a leisurely stroll incognito, until he stopped at a McDonald’s outlet (near the Lyceum of the Philippines) where a girl recognized him and asked to have a selfie with him. Click!!! To avoid being “mobbed,” Chris told the girl to keep quiet...until the girl couldn’t help it and posted the photo on social media.

That same night, Chris (Gwyneth Paltrow’s ex-husband with whom he decided to do a “conscious uncoupling” in 2014; they have two children), “gate crashed” an event at the Sofitel where he was billeted and it turned out to be the birthday party of Ria Atayde (daughter of Greatest Love star Sylvia Sanchez). Chris didn’t have an idea what he had accidentally “graced.” Of course, he was very much welcome.

That was how Coldplay’s arrival went viral which was an added promo for the band’s concert produced by Music Management International Live (MMI Live, headed by Rhiza “RP” Pascua) and Globe. Tuesday afternoon, Rhiza posted on social media a picture of Chris when he visited his fan named Ken Santiago who had bought a ticket but couldn’t watch the concert because he was in the hospital diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

Four hours before the start of the concert, The STAR sat down with Guy and Will for a one-on-two, after which they agreed to pose for souvenir shots. The four members were divided into two groups, with Chris and Jonny assigned to the other media guys.

How has your concert (that was kicked off in October last year) been so far?

Will: Amazing! We did two shows in Singapore, and from Manila, we are going to Bangkok for one show, then to Taiwan for two shows, to Seoul for two shows and to Tokyo for another show.

Did you know that some Filipino fans went to Singapore purposely to watch your show? (Among them: Kean Cipriano and wife Chynna Ortaleza, and Angelica Panganiban with Glaiza de Castro.)

Guy: It’s wonderful; it’s a long way!

How do you reciprocate this fan adulation?

Will: What we can do best is to provide a show worth the money of the people who come and see us. We strive to give the best show possible and we love putting on the kind of show that we are really proud of.

Did you know that there was an April Fools Day joke on social media that your show was cancelled?

Guy: Oh really? 

That was a big joke. Anyway, what is your take on social  media? What do you think are the risks of using social media, what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Guy: I think the world on an individual level is connected to each other. It makes the world seem like a very small place. But of course, there is a danger about social media as well. This technology can be used for both good things and bad things. But then, we are in the age of connectivity, so…

Who’s the most active on social media among the four of you?

Will: We have a band account and we all contribute to that. But outside of that I don’t really get involved with social media.

Why not?

Will: Because I find it a bit overwhelming; it can be terrifying. So the people I want to get in touch with, I simply call them.

As a band, what do you usually post on social media?

Guy: Well, what time we come onstage, photos of things that are happening to us, and links to what we want our fans to see.

Did you know that the Philippines is a very musical country?

Will: Yes. I know that the karaoke is very popular here.

Any Filipino artist that you have heard of?

Will: Yes, apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda of Blackeyed Peas).

 There’s a rumor that we have to clarify. There’s a report that this is your final tour. True or false?

Guy: No, it’s not!

Thank God!

Will: We have a lot more things to do. Don’t worry.

How come it took your band so long to perform in Manila?

Will: It’s a very good question…we have to apologize for taking so long to get here. And we are very happy that we are finally here.

Guy: I think we were waiting until we had the perfect show for the Philippines and we assure you that it’s a very good show worth the long wait.

Your concert is titled A Head Full of Dreams. What more dreams do you have in your heads?

Guy: Well, we are very lucky in that we manage to live a life that we have always dreamed about…being in a band and play beautiful music together as friends, to travel the world and to visit amazing countries, to meet wonderful people, and to play music to them. That really is an extraordinary thing. And we are very grateful to our fans for allowing us to live that life. In terms of dreams beyond what we are doing, we’re so lucky for being able to live this kind of life.

Together for many more years?

Will: Absolutely?

Guy: I don’t know what else I would do.

Among your songs, what do you consider the most memorable?

Guy: Viva la Vida (or Death and All His Friends, released in 2007). I like that song because it’s very easy for people to sing along to it. It doesn’t have words as a chant, so whatever country you are from, whatever language you speak, you can be involved in it.

Will: I agree with Guy. Also, our first big song Yellow is special because it was the song that really allowed us to travel the world and see new countries and meet people. For me, that song is very memorable.

What would you consider the biggest challenge that your group has faced?

Will: Well, I think the fact that we’ve got to maintain a lot of perspective on our situation in the sense that people in the world have huge challenges to face. And anything that we think is difficult probably is not that difficult compared to what other people have to deal with. And also, just maintaining our focus, especially when we are away from our families when we are on tour…that can be difficult but certainly not a huge problem.

Guy: Talking about balance…trying to keep everyone happy, trying to be healthy, and trying to keep the music fresh and exciting. We love what we do and so we want to try everything we can to make sure that we can keep going and that requires a lot of constant work on how long we are working and how much time we can spend with our family. It’s all about keeping the balance.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)