Chris Martin

Christopher Anthony John Martin (born 2 March 1977) is an English singer, songwriter and music producer. He is best known as the vocalist, pianist and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay, which he formed with Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion, at University College London. They rose to global stardom through Parachutes and subsequent albums.

Martin received seven Grammy Awards and nine Brit Awards as part of Coldplay. They have sold over 160 million records worldwide, becoming the most successful group of the 21st century. The Independent and the Evening Standard ranked Martin among the most influential British public figures, while American Songwriter named him one of the best male singers of the 21st century.

Early life Christopher Anthony John Martin was born on 2 March 1977 in Exeter, Devon, England. He is the eldest of five children. His father, Anthony John Martin, is a retired chartered accountant. His mother, Alison Martin, is a music teacher from Zimbabwe. His great-great-grandfather, William Willett, successfully campaigned for British Summer Time to become a universally acknowledged practice.

Martin lived with his family in Zimbabwe when he was 10 years old. He attended the Hylton and Exeter Cathedral primary schools in England, where he found his passion for music. He then attended Sherborne School, where he met Coldplay manager Phil Harvey, and where he was president of the Sting fan club and played with Harvey in a blues band called the Rockin' Honkies.

Before Martin attended university, he worked at Shed Studios, for which he wrote musical jingles for plays at St. George's College, Harare. He then studied at University College London, where he earned a first-class honours degree in Greek and Latin. The pair spent the rest of the year planning a band and began writing their first songs together in early 1997, rehearsing nightly. Guy Berryman joined the group in the following months and the group recorded numerous demos without a drummer. By November, the trio was known as Big Fat Noises. Weeks later, the band settled on the name Coldplay,

Solo work Martin has written songs for a variety of artists, including Embrace ("Gravity") and Jamelia ("See It in a Boy's Eyes", co-written with frequent Coldplay producer Rik Simpson). He has also collaborated with Ron Sexsmith, Faultline, the Streets, and Ian McCulloch. In 2004, he sang on the Band Aid 20 single "Do They Know It's Christmas?". In 2005, Martin worked with Nelly Furtado on "All Good Things (Come to an End)" for her album Loose (2006). The two were once rumoured to be a couple after performing together at Glastonbury Festival in 2002. Furtado joked about it, saying, "Yeah, he's my boyfriend—he just doesn't know it yet".

Martin's interest in hip hop led to a collaboration with rapper Jay-Z on the song "Beach Chair" for the album Kingdom Come (2006). Martin supplied chords and Coldplay producer Rik Simpson created the drum pattern; Jay-Z then brought in Dr. Dre to mix the track. Martin and Jay-Z performed "Beach Chair" at Royal Albert Hall on 27 September 2006. He also recorded the chorus for Kanye West's "Homecoming" on Graduation (2007), following an impromptu jam session at Abbey Road Studios the same year.

In 2015, Martin collaborated with Avicii during sessions for Avicii's album, Stories (2015). Their first joint composition, "Heaven", originated in that period, with Simon Aldred of Cherry Ghost providing early vocals. Martin also sang on "True Believer". In 2017, he performed "A Different Corner" at the Brit Awards in tribute to George Michael. Martin co-wrote "Homesick" for Dua Lipa's self-titled debut album, Dua Lipa (2017). In 2019, Martin was featured on Avicii's posthumous album, Tim (2019); the song "Heaven" features vocals by Martin and was written by Avicii and Martin prior to Avicii's death in 2018.

Philanthropy In December 2012, Martin performed three songs for the 12/12/12: The Concert for Sandy Relief fundraiser, which aided Hurricane Sandy victims. Two years later, he joined Band Aid 30 to record a new version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" at Notting Hill's Sarm West Studios, helping raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa; this marked his second contribution to the franchise, after Band Aid 20. In September 2015, he became the creative director of the Global Citizen Festival. InFocus, a charity dedicated to vision impairment and complex needs, launched and named Exeter's Martin House after him in 2025; the place works as a residential care facility for young people.

Other projects Martin and Coldplay guitarist Jonny Buckland made cameo appearances in the film Shaun of the Dead as supporters of the fictional charity ZombAid. In 2006, Martin had a cameo role in series two, episode four, of the Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant comedy Extras. He also appears singing in the closing credits of the 2009 Sacha Baron Cohen film Brüno, alongside Bono, Sting, Slash, Snoop Dogg, and Elton John. In March 2015, Martin attended the televised launch of music streaming service Tidal via a video link, and, along with other artists, was introduced as a shareholder. In June 2015, he performed "Til Kingdom Come" at the funeral Mass of Beau Biden, son of then United States Vice President Joe Biden, after learning that Beau Biden had been a fan. In August 2017, Martin performed a solo piano rendition of "Crawling" by Linkin Park as a tribute to the band's singer Chester Bennington, who had died the previous month.

Influences

A major influence on Martin and Coldplay was the Scottish rock band Travis, with Martin crediting the band for the creation of his own band. The Irish rock band U2 is another important influence on Martin both musically and politically. Martin wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine'''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" on the band, saying: "I don't buy weekend tickets to Ireland and hang out in front of their gates, but U2 are the only band whose entire catalogue I know by heart. The first song on The Unforgettable Fire, "A Sort of Homecoming", I know backward and forward—it's so rousing, brilliant, and beautiful. It's one of the first songs I played to my unborn baby."

Martin is very vocal about his love for Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha. In 2005, he stated in an interview: "I found myself in Amsterdam the other day and I put a-ha's first record on. I just remembered how much I loved it. It's incredible songwriting. Everyone asks what inspired us, what we've been trying to steal from and what we listened to as we were growing up—the first band I ever loved was a-ha." Martin has also performed live together with Magne Furuholmen of a-ha, introducing him as "the best keyboard player in the world". In November 2011, he stated that "back when we didn't have any hits of our own we used to play a-ha songs."

Martin is also a fan of the English rock bands Oasis and Muse; Irish pop group Westlife; English-Irish girl group Girls Aloud; English pop group Take That; and Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. During an interview from 2011, Martin cited the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bob Marley among his favourite acts. In 2014, he inducted Peter Gabriel into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his solo career.

Coldplay performed R.E.M.'s "Nightswimming" with Michael Stipe during their Austin City Limits performance in 2005, as a part of the Twisted Logic Tour. Martin went on to call "Nightswimming" "the greatest song ever written". He has called Richard Ashcroft, formerly of the Verve, "the best singer in the world". He also admires the lyrics of Morrissey. Martin was quoted as calling Coldplay's song "Shiver" a rip-off of Jeff Buckley influenced by Buckley's song "Grace". In 2008, Coldplay released an alternate music video for "Viva la Vida", directed by Anton Corbijn as a tribute to the music video for Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence". It shows Martin dressed as a king, as Dave Gahan was in the original video. The band stated: "This is our attempt at a video cover version, made out of love for Depeche Mode and the genius of Anton Corbijn".

Personal life According to The Times in May 2023, Martin had an estimated net worth of £160 million. In a 2012 interview with the Daily Mirror, Martin revealed that he had been suffering from tinnitus since his early adult years, although he said that he had noticed the symptoms even as a teenager "while listening to loud music". As a result, Martin wears specially filtered earplugs or customised in-ear monitors while performing and has encouraged his bandmates to do the same as a preventive measure. Similarly, he has encouraged his children to wear hearing protection at concerts. Martin has also become an advocate for hearing loss awareness, having partnered with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. PETA named Martin the World's Sexiest Vegetarian in 2005. However, he began eating meat again after divorcing from his then-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow.

Martin is a supporter of Exeter City. He is also ambidextrous. In February 2020, a cassette tape was discovered by a former fellow pupil of Martin's. It contained a three-minute instrumental piece titled "Electric Thunder", which was composed by Martin, aged 12, at Exeter Cathedral School. Martin played keyboards on the track accompanying other pupils performing in a group called Grandisson Ensemble. The cassette was expected to sell for £600 at auction; it ultimately fetched £840. Martin has a habit of going barefoot, in particular while rehearsing for Coldplay shows. He also has performed the songs "All My Love" and "We Pray" with no shoes on Saturday Night Live.

Relationships According to one source, Martin previously had a relationship with live events producer Lily Sobhani around the Parachutes album release. He and Gwyneth Paltrow married on 5 December 2003. Their daughter Apple was born in May 2004 in London. Martin and the band released a song titled "I am your baby's daddy" under the name "the Nappies" in anticipation of her birth. Coldplay's "Speed of Sound" was also inspired by Martin's experience and awe at becoming a father, being the lead single for the band's X&Y album. Actor Simon Pegg and Martin's bandmate Jonny Buckland are his daughter's godfathers, and Martin is godfather to Pegg's daughter. His second child, Moses, was born in April 2006 in New York City. The name was inspired by a song of the same name. In March 2014, Martin and Paltrow announced their separation as a "conscious uncoupling" after ten years of marriage. Paltrow filed for divorce in April 2015 and it was finalised on 14 July 2016. From August 2015 to August 2017, he was in an on-and-off relationship with actress Annabelle Wallis. Martin began dating American actress Dakota Johnson afterwards. They resided in Malibu, California. In 2024, it was revealed the couple had been engaged for several years.

Political views

Despite predominantly living in the United States, Martin still votes in the United Kingdom. In 2006, The Guardian circulated an April Fools' Day piece claiming that the singer would endorse Conservative Party leader David Cameron and write his campaign song for the elections. In 2019, Martin said that he would "probably vote Liberal Democrat" that year.

Martin used to perform with variations of "Make Trade Fair", "MTF" or an equal sign written on the back of his hand. He also criticised President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. During a Teenage Cancer Trust show at Royal Albert Hall, he encouraged the crowd to sing against war. The singer endorsed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry while accepting honours at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, while his wardrobe for the Viva la Vida Tour (2008–2010) included Barack Obama armbands.

While touring Australia in March 2009, Martin and the rest of Coldplay were the opening act at the Sound Relief benefit concert at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, for the victims of bushfires and floods in Victoria and Queensland. Martin appeared in a video for the Robin Hood tax campaign, which proposed a tax on stock trades in the United States. This tax is aimed at levelling the field between the 1% and 99%. In June 2016, he voted Remain at the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. In November 2023, Martin expressed support for Palestine during the Gaza war, stating that "We don't believe in oppression, occupation, terrorism or genocide".

Discography With Coldplay

Parachutes (2000) 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) Music of the Spheres (2021) Moon Music'' (2024)

Solo credits +List of solo creditsYearSongArtistAlbumRole2001 "What's Going On" (The London Version) Artists Against AIDS Worldwide— Featured artistkeyboard 2002 "Where Is My Boy?"FaultlineYour Love Means EverythingFeatured artistco-writer "Your Love Means Everything Part 2" "Gold in Them Hills" Cobblestone Runway Piano 2003 "Sliding"Slideling Backing vocal "Arthur" Backing vocalpiano "See It in a Boy's Eyes" Jamelia Thank You Co-writerbacking vocalpiano 2004 "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" Ash Backing vocal "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band Aid 20— Featured artist 2005 "What Ever Happened to the Cosmic Kid?" Various Co-writer 2006 "All Good Things (Come to an End)" Loose "In the Sun" In the Sun (Gulf Coast Relief) Featured artist "Beach Chair" Jay-Z Kingdom Come Featured artistproducer 2007 "Homecoming" Graduation Featured artistco-writer 2009 "Want" Come to Life Co-writerkeyboard "Dove of Peace" BrünoFeatured artist 2010 "Most Kingz" Jay-Z— "Me and Tennessee" Gwyneth Paltrow Country Strong Writerco-producer "Halo" (Live) Beyoncé Hope for Haiti Now Featured artistpiano 2012 "I Don't Want You to Die" Featured artist "Viva la Vida" (Live)—12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief "Losing My Religion" (Live) "Us Against the World" (Live)—2014 "Wish I Was Here" Cat PowerColdplay Wish I Was HereWriter "Invictus Games Anthem" Various— "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band Aid 30 Featured artist 2015 "True Believer" Avicii Stories Co-writerbacking vocalpiano "Every Day's Like Christmas" Kylie Christmas Co-writerbacking vocal 2017 "Homesick" Dua Lipa Co-writerbacking vocalpiano 2018 "Keep Talking" Julia Michaels Phoenix Unknown 2019 "Joyride" Big Sean—Featured artist "Someone That Loves You '19" Glita "Heaven" Avicii Tim Featured artistco-writerkeyboard "Stratosphere" Beck Hyperspace Backing vocal 2020 "Sondela Forever" Muzi— Co-writerproducer "Times Like These" Live Lounge Allstars Featured artistpiano "Monsters You Made" Burna Boy Twice as Tall Featured artistco-writer 2021 "Red Love" Your Story Executive producer "Love Is a Mighty River" Beautiful Scars Co-writer 2022 "Across the Oceans" Remembrance Featured artistpiano "Riptide" So Far So Good Co-writer 2023 "Queen" Muzi uMuzi Featured artist "Astronaut" Griff Vert1go Vol. 1 Piano 2024 "Over You" Aespa Djesse Vol. 4 Featured artist "Raze the Bar" TravisBrandon Flowers L.A. Times Backing vocal "Wandering Talk" Orlando le FlemingRomantic Funk Wandering Talk Featured artist 2025 "Ma Meilleure Ennemie" (Extended Version) StromaePommeColdplay Arcane League of Legends: Season 2Co-writer "Breathe" Breathe 2026 "Human" Jesse & Joy Britpop Keyboardguitarsynthesiser "Go" Blackpink Deadline Co-writer "Light Up" Kylie Minogue—

Filmography

Television

Films