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Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer and percussionist Will Champion, and manager Phil Harvey. They are best known for their live performances, and for impacting popular culture through their artistry, advocacy and achievements.

The members of the band initially met at University College London, calling themselves Big Fat Noises and changing to Starfish, before settling on the current name. After releasing Safety (1998) independently, Coldplay signed with Parlophone in 1999 and wrote their debut album, Parachutes (2000). It featured breakthrough single "Yellow" and received a Brit Award for British Album of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The group's follow-up, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), won the same accolades. X&Y (2005) completed what they regarded as a trilogy and was shortlisted for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards. Its successor, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), prevailed in the category. Both releases were the best-sellers of their respective years, topping the charts in over 30 countries. Viva la Vida's title track was the first song from a British act to lead the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart simultaneously in the 21st century.

Coldplay further expanded their repertoire in subsequent albums, with Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full of Dreams (2015), Everyday Life (2019) and Music of the Spheres (2021) exploring genres like electronica, R&B, ambient, disco, funk, gospel, blues and progressive rock. Additional endeavours for the band involve philanthropy, politics and activism, as they donate 10% of their profits to charity and endorse various humanitarian organisations. In 2018, a career-spanning film directed by Mat Whitecross was premiered in cinemas for their 20th anniversary.

With over 100 million albums sold worldwide, Coldplay are among the best-selling music acts of all time. Fuse placed them as the sixth-most awarded group in history, which includes securing the most Brit Award wins by a band. They own three of the 50 best-selling albums in the United Kingdom and the most number-one albums in the region without missing the top (nine), while "My Universe" is the first British group single to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100. Coldplay have two of the 15 highest-grossing tours of all time. The British Phonographic Industry described them as one of the "most influential and pioneering" artists in the world, while the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) on the 200 Definitive Albums index and "Yellow" on the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll exhibit. In 2023, Time cited the band among the most impactful climate action leaders. Despite their popularity and recognition, they have been considered polarising cultural figures by critics. (Full article...)