Brits Awards 2001

Coldplay - the four piece who became the first band to top the album chart during 2000 with a debut release - put their success down to friendship.

"Things work so well because we were all mates before we got together in a band," explains drummer Will Champion. In fact Champion, bassman Guy Berryman, guitarist Jonny Buckland and vocalist / pianist / guitarist Chris Martin all lived in the same University halls of residence in London before any thoughts of forming a band were hatched.

"Coldplay was formed around friendship not a strict screening process to find people who played right," adds Champion.

To further emphasise the point Martin explains, "Nothing gets done in the band unless everybody agrees; it's all very democratic."

One thing all four were seemingly agreed on at the outset was the name Coldplay, which was given to them by another friend who thought it up for his own band, discounted it and let his mates use for their own new enterprise.

Coldplay's debut album Parachutes not only earned the band a Mercury Music Prize nomination and multi platinum record sales in the UK but also brought them praise from upon high.

"We know what people have said about us and all the comparisons, but we try not to let it affect us," explains Martin. "We are already extremely ambitious and put enough pressure on ourselves without thinking about what people say or expect from us."

He goes on to analyse people's reaction to Parachutes. "They all certainly suggest that we have a lot more experience with ladies than we actually have!"

It was in 1998 that Coldplay began rehearsing for the first time, a year later they released their debut single on the indie Fierce Panda and soon after came their deal with the major Parlophone label.

Then came their first taste of chart success in March last year as Champion recalls. "When Shiver entered the top 40 it was a real buzz. It was a great surprise and a great thrill."

Next came Parachutes, co-produced with Ken Nelson and written by the band who have an established modus operandi which starts with Martin writing a melody and some chords before Buckland chips in with his guitar part.

"It's like a factory production line", says Champion. "It just moves on to the next stage and it's not over until all of us have done our bit. And all our bits have to be agreed on by everyone else."

And emphasising the four heads are better than one theory, Martin adds; "People like Richard Ashcroft and Morrissey are brilliant but when there's a band there's a little bit of spark there; a bit of tension maybe that makes it work."

With one hit album under their belts - not to mention a University degree each - Coldplay are in demand on the live circuit while they also face the 'follow-up' album scenario.

"Playing live is our job. It's what we do," says Champion while Martin sees live work as less pressure than recording. "You don't have to worry about the perfect take and you can just enjoy it for the moment."

And Martin is all for savouring Coldplay's first taste of success. "The idea of making another album isn't very appealing at the moment. We want to enjoy this one before we have to worry about the next one.

But having said that we do have loads of ideas for our next record but most of them have been rubbish!"

Coldplay singer Chris Martin has said his NME Carling awards mean more to him than success at the Brits 2001, and has revealed their second album will be "very passionate".

Speaking to UK press reporters, Martin said the new record, which should be released by the end of the year, will annoy critics because it will be "great". He said: "'I don't think the critics want it to be good.

But they will just be annoyed because this album will be great. At the end of the day we do mess around and we don't take ourselves too seriously, but we are taking this record very seriously. It's going to be a very passionate album."

Martin said the band have new songs "coming out of our ears". They have been playing various new songs throughout their recent Australian and US tours.

Martin added that their recent success at the NME Carling Awards, where they picked up the Brats for 'Best Single', 'Best New Artist' and 'Radio 1 Evening Session Session of the Year', meant more to them than this week's Brit Awards. At the Brits, Coldplay were honoured in the 'Best British Group' and 'Best British Album' categories.

He said: "'The NME awards meant more to us actually as we're more 'into' the NME. But the Brit awards were fine because we got to meet Ant & Dec. We're big fans of theirs!"