Chris Martin

Chris Martin

Chris Martin is a British singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of Coldplay. He studies at University College London, where he meets guitarist Jonny Buckland, drummer Will Champion and bassist Guy Berryman. In 1997, they form Coldplay, a rock band that goes on to achieve international success from its debut album, Parachutes, in 2000.

Coldplay

With Coldplay, Martin is part of a run of studio albums that includes A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), X&Y (2005), Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full of Dreams (2015), Everyday Life (2019) and Music of the Spheres (2021).

Songwriting and collaborations

As a solo writer, Martin writes songs for other acts, including Embrace’s “Gravity” and Jamelia’s “See It in a Boy’s Eyes”. He also collaborates with Ron Sexsmith, Faultline, The Streets and Ian McCulloch. His guest work includes singing part of Band Aid 20’s 2004 single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, contributing to Nelly Furtado’s “All Good Things (Come to an End)”, appearing on Swizz Beatz’s “Part of the Plan”, and performing the chorus on Kanye West’s “Homecoming”. He also works with Jay-Z on “Beach Chair”, putting together chords for the track, which Dr. Dre completes with the drum line.

Other appearances

Martin meets Jay-Z earlier in 2006, and the two perform “Beach Chair” together at Royal Albert Hall during Jay-Z’s European tour. He also shares a jam session with Kanye West at Abbey Road Studios in 2006.