Chris Martin says he’s happy to be a human ‘punching bag’ as Coldplay perform landmark show in Jordan
AS the frontman of the world’s biggest band, Chris Martin enjoys all the trappings of superstardom – but it hasn’t saved him from his fair share of abuse.
After two decades at the top, the Coldplay singer tells me he’s finally started to find value in being slated, explaining why he’s happy to be a human “punching bag”.
In an exclusive interview ahead of a landmark performance at a Roman citadel in Amman, Jordan, Chris tells how he feels he is providing a service by taking flack for his outspoken views — and insists he is happy to walk away from the biggest chart head-to-head of the year and hand this week’s No1 spot to rival Robbie Williams after years of commercial success.
In fact he has no idea how the band’s triumphant new record, Everyday Life, has been received after its release last Friday — due to a self-imposed ban on using the internet.
Chatting backstage inside the ancient ruins as he prepares for the performance, Chris says: “I don’t know how the album has gone down at all, and honestly I really don’t want to know. Please don’t tell me.
“I haven’t looked at any of the response or reaction.
“Normally I’m on websites every day checking the latest music news so it’s rare for me not to be, but I have no idea what is going on at the moment.
“I just have to stay off everything. It’s because if you feel like you’re on a mission and you’re focused, you don’t want to be thrown off course by something you read.”
And as I tell him Robbie recently admitted he would be “crushed” if he missed out on the top chart spot to the rockers, Chris jokes: “Robbie Williams, we don’t mind. Honestly, we’re cool with that.
“He can have it, all power to Robbie. Really, he was around first, too.”
Chris surprised fans last week when he announced the band would no longer tour until they could guarantee shows would be environmentally sustainable — and insists he is totally serious despite mockery and jibes.
He explains: “No, we definitely aren’t going to tour this album. We are going to do our very best to tour again in the future, but I’m serious about what I said.
“I’ve been talking about that sort of thing, environment sustainability, for a long time — and getting some flack for it along the road — so yes, it’s good to see other artists are getting on board with it. But listen, really taking flack is what we do — it’s okay, I’m cool with that.
“I’m pretty thick-skinned, and I’ve realised that even being a human punching bag is being useful to somebody, so now I’m okay with that too.”
bizbit
AFTER Will banned him from using expletives on their last seven albums, Chris said it was refreshing when the drummer finally allowed him to swear.
He said of his three F-words: “I mean, I am 42 now so I figured it must be all right.”
The band’s performances in Jordan came after almost a decade of discussions about making a statement in the Middle East, with Chris previously telling the band’s management he would love to play in Syrian capital Damascus — an idea which proved too challenging in the current climate.
But he hopes the decision to play in Amman, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the area’s conflict zone, will help dispel Western fears about the Arab world.
The site provided an incredible backdrop to the gig, with Chris talking excitedly about the venue before taking to the stage with bandmates Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion — quipping they had it built specially for them a week earlier.
But he tells me: “We feel so lucky to be here, we can’t believe it.
“I think we’ve come here because it’s in the very middle of the biggest zone that bands like us seem to feel they can’t go to — and because it’s in the middle of this region which we are told to be a bit scared of at the moment.
“So we kind of thought, ‘Let’s go there, right to the middle, then.’ To break some of that thinking.
“In our experience, most people, seem to only think about or hear about the very extremes of society — and obviously that’s especially true of this area.
“But when you come here, what you find is that most people just want to live their lives like anyone else.” Chris expanded that point later on stage, saying: “It’s all about trying to get different people across the world to be friends with each other, and this is sort of our vague attempt.”
And he also revealed what Coldplay stood for: “We don’t agree with oppression or suppression of any kind.
“We stand for love and for peace and for brotherhood.”
The decision not to tour the world promoting their latest record will enable the band to begin work on their next project almost immediately — which Chris insists will not be a bid for even more fame, fortune or success.
“I don’t even think about commercialism and those sorts of words any more,” he says. “We’ve done all that.
“Now it’s all about what comes through, and what feels right. If it feels right for us, we’ll do it. Simple as that.
“This is probably the most overtly political album we’ve released but you know what? I now think, ‘F*** it, man, if it feels right we’re going to do it.’ ”
But don’t expect to hear much more from Chris. Despite his reputation as an outspoken advocate, he admits he is winding down the number of interviews he will give.
Instead he hopes the songs — which tackle a wide range of issues including conflict, love and hints about his own personal life — will do the talking for him.
The Sun gets a shout out
I’VE been called a lot of things by a number of big-name stars in my time, but being told I’m “sweet” and “sexy” by Chris is definitely a personal highlight.
After he gave me a shout out on stage, Chris also noted The Sun’s long-running support, saying we were one of the first publications “who talked about the band”.
Dedicating new song Eko to us, he added: “Without them we probably wouldn’t be here tonight, so thank you for sticking with us.”
You’re welcome lads – and thanks for inviting me along for the ride.
He adds: “I’ve hardly done any interviews for this and I won’t.
“For me I just feel now that it’s all in the songs and any messages are there to see.
“I want the attention to be on those and for the songs to speak.”
Coldplay live in Jordan
★★★★★
SOMETIMES a gig becomes so big it starts to feel like a major cultural event – but this was something else entirely.
The boys have gone from packing out stadiums around the world to performing at an ancient holy site in front of just 600 fans, but in doing so they made a statement they hope will have a global reach.
The venue itself – The Citadel in Amman, Jordan – feels almost too striking to match – but in a show packed with huge hits and likeable hooks from their eighth album, the British four-piece were equal to it.
Chatting to the audience for the first time after an admirable attempt at an Arabic greeting, Chris insisted: “When we first decided to come here it was to do two online broadcasts, and we decided we wouldn’t have any audience here because I didn’t know whether anybody here even liked us.” He needn’t have worried.
New songs including opening singles Orphans and Arabesque are immediately lapped up, thanks to an enthusiastic singalong chorus and upbeat baselines, while revised arrangements of classics including Viva La Vida, Fix You and The Scientist featuring a local string ensemble are mesmerisingly good.
A quick “band meeting” in the middle of the set sparks an impromptu decision to add more favourites including Yellow and Sky Full Of Stars, while a guest appearance from African musician Femi Kuti and his band adds sensational variety to the evening.
The full breadth of Coldplay’s ability to reinvent themselves and push the boundaries of popular rock is on show – demonstrated when Chris performs a stripped-back acoustic version of Something Just Like This on a smaller stage in the centre of the venue, after miraculously battling his way through the crowd to get there.
A poignant performance of politically charged new track Guns feels even more powerful at this venue, with such violent conflict across the borders, before the band reinvigorate the mood with a rapturous version of Adventure Of A Lifetime – even if the crowd, not used to seeing Western acts live, struggled to grasp the frontman’s instructions to crouch down and jump up.
A finale of Everyday Life left the evening on a perfect note, with a gospel choir of guest singers joining the string section for an impressive and layered finale.
A masterful performance that more than justified the enormous effort, as roadies spent five days hauling band equipment by hand up a steep hill to the citadel. But this is a band who don’t do anything by halves.
Paul's porkie pies out of order
PAUL HOLLYWOOD clearly did not heed the advice I dished out on Saturday in this column about showing The Sun and its readers the respect they deserve.
Well, I have another public service announcement about the latest industry fibber.
Yesterday, The Sun on Sunday revealed pictures of him holidaying with Melissa Spalding, a woman young enough to be his daughter.
In late September The Sun’s TV Editor Andy Halls contacted Paul and his team with our true story that he was dating the local barmaid.
But shameless Bake Off judge Paul denied any involvement. He also accused The Sun of “destroying” his and Mel’s lives, despite the fact the report was spot on.
Paul, a word of advice – if you’re going to take your latest squeeze on a romantic holiday, try not to take her to the place you take all your various women.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Paul’s antics come hot on the heels of truth-bending responses from executives at Netflix and Bafta, who both lied to members of my team last week and tried to fob us off with nonsense.
As I said on Saturday, Bizarre will support the great and the good of the showbiz industry tirelessly, and keep readers clued up about the biggest news day in, day out.
But we will not stand for celebs who want all the trappings of fame but can’t even bring themselves to be honest and respectful to those people who help line their pockets.
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