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 and drummer Will Champion; manager Phil Harvey is also credited as a full member. The group are best known for their live performances and have had a significant impact on popular culture.

Coldplay initially went by the names Big Fat Noises and Starfish. Following the independent release of the EP Safety (1998), the band signed a record deal with Parlophone in 1999 and issued their debut album, Parachutes (2000), which included the breakthrough single "Yellow"; the album won a Brit Award for British Album of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The follow-up, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), earned the same accolades. X&Y (2005) concluded what Coldplay viewed as a trilogy, and their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album; both releases topped the charts in over 30 countries, becoming the best-sellers of their respective years worldwide. Viva la Vida's title track was the first song by a British act to reach number one in the United States and United Kingdom simultaneously in the 21st century.