Alex James from Blur: Coldplay were 'ordinary'

This is quite a funny article that I just found on the BBC's Newsbeat page. It shows how easy it is to misjudge a new act. Personally, I've been right about some artists in the past, but made some major misjudgements too. For instance, I was totally wrong about the Spicegirls back in the days (I was convinced they'd never make it) and I also am starting to take back my earlier judgement on Katy Perry. I expected her to be a one-hit wonder, but 'Hot 'n cold' ended up growing on me & 'Thinking of you' definitely shows that she is way more talented than I ever gave her credit for.


Anyway, this is that Newsbeat article:

Blur's Alex James has said that he passed on signing Coldplay to his record label in the 90s. The bassist went to see them with his fellow label heads, artist Damien Hirst and late Clash frontman Joe Strummer, but thought they were "ordinary".

"Then again, I still think Coldplay are a fairly ordinary band, although the singer is good," he wrote in The Spectator magazine.

James compared them to The Beatles and Blur - all found it hard to get a deal.
"We all thought they were ordinary and passed on them," he wrote. "I think everybody did, except Parlophone, just like [what] happened with The Beatles - and Blur."

Decca Records rejected The Beatles in 1962 before they signed to Parlophone, famously declaring "guitar groups are on the way out".

James, who will again play with Blur when they reform for a series of gigs this summer, explained that he, Hirst and Strummer preferred forgotten indie band Murry The Hump to Coldplay.

Coldplay's album 'Viva la Vida' number 1 in 36 Countries!

Wow, Coldplay’s album Viva La Vida has been the No.1 selling album in 36 countries around the world, including in the U.S. where it held the top spot for two weeks, and in the U.K. where the album has been No.1 for the last four weeks!

Coldplay’s previous album, the 10 million-selling X&Y didn't do too shabby either. It reached the No.1 spot in 32 countries in 2005.

Viva La Vida (or 'Death and all his friends') has also been certified gold or platinum in 31 countries including platinum in the USA, Germany and Australia and double platinum in the U.K. and Canada.

It has set the record for the highest first week album sales ever on the iTunes Store worldwide & is the biggest album pre-order in iTunes’ history.

So isn't it crazy really, that Coldplay have been getting trashed by the media so much recently? I mean, the public obviously loves what they are doing, yet many journalists are slagging them off for becoming 'the new U2' and turning into 'a stadium act'. What on earth could be wrong with that then? I mean, to be called the new U2 should be one of the biggest compliments a band can get and becoming a stadium act, means that you are popular enough to be filling stadiums. Again...nothing wrong with that. Isn't that the dream of every band?

If you want to see this great 'stadium act' you better get your tickets soon. Coldplay's first dates of the tour in Los Angeles on July 14th and 15th are already sold out and I'm sure the other dates will be sold out soon too.

For more details on the tour visit http://www.coldplay.com/ or http://www.livenation.com/

New Coldplay clip....brilliant!

Coldplay have decided to release a second video to their Voilet Hill track. I definatelly prefer this to the original. It's directed by Mat Whitecross & is filled with lots of dancing, prancing politicians & soldiers. Bloody brilliant if you ask me.