Coldplay are an English alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After forming Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a drummer, backing vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, completing the lineup. Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. The band renamed themselves "Coldplay" in 1998, before recording and releasing three EPs; Safety in 1998, Brothers & Sisters as a single in 1999 and The Blue Room in the same year. The latter was their first release on a major label, after signing to Parlophone.

The early material of the band was compared to acts such as Radiohead, U2, A-ha, and Travis. They achieved worldwide fame with the release of the single "Yellow" in 2000, followed by their debut album released in the same year, Parachutes, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The band's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), was released to favourable reviews and won multiple awards, including NME's Album of the Year, and has been widely considered the best of the Nelson-produced Coldplay albums. Their next release, X&Y, was initially met with mixed reviews upon its release in 2005. However, the band's fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), was produced by Brian Eno and released again to largely favourable reviews, earning several Grammy nominations and wins.

Albums:

Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, often referred to as simply Viva la Vida, Spanish for: "long live the life", is the fourth studio album by English alternative rock band Coldplay, released on 11 June 2008 on Parlophone. The album was named after a Spanish phrase that translates in English as "long live life". Lyrically, the album contains references to life, death and war. Track List:
1. "Cemeteries Of London"
2. "Lost!"
3. "42"
4. "Lovers In Japan / Reign Of Love"
5. "Yes"
6. "Chinese Sleep Chant [hidden song]"
7. "Viva La Vida"
8. "Violet Hill"
9. "Strawberry Swing"
10. "Death And All His Friends"
11. "The Escapist [hidden song]"
12. "Life In Technicolor II [Prospekt's March Edition]"
13. "Glass Of Water [Prospekt's March Edition]"
14. "Rainy Day [Prospekt's March Edition]"
15. "Prospekt's March / Poppyfields [Prospekt's March Edition]"
16. "Lost+ [Prospekt's March Edition]"
17. "Now My Feet Won't Touch The Ground [Prospekt's March Edition]"