Chris Martin

Singer/Songwriter
Chris was born on 2nd March 1977, in Exeter, Devon, the eldest child of an accountant and a music teacher. He formed his first band while still at prep school and another while at Sherborne School, but their music was not well received. It was while he was at school that he met Phil Harvey, who later became Coldplay’s manager.
Chris continued his studies at University College London where he gained a first class honours degree in Greek and Latin. It was at university that he met three new friends – Will Champion, Guy Berryman and Jonny Buckland – and in 1998 they formed Coldplay. Their debut album ‘Parachutes’ was released only two years later in 2000 and was a hit. Several further albums have since followed and the band continues to enjoy success.
He has also collaborated as a solo artist with Jamelia, Nelly Furtado, and rap star Jay-Z and credits A-ha and U2 as having had a very strong influence on him musically. Chris admits to enjoying most types of music including Girls Aloud and Take That. He has also done a little acting, with cameo roles in the film ‘Shaun of the Dead’ alongside his good friend actor Simon Pegg, and the television series ‘Extras’.
Chris is vegetarian, non-smoking and teetotal. He was openly critical of the Iraq War and supported Barack Obama in his campaign for the presidency of the United States.
He is married to the actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who he met after one of Coldplay’s concerts. The couple have two children and live in London.