Coldplay's Chris Martin Comes Clean

Wrapping up their U.S. tour and preparing for a string of dates abroad, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and guitarist Jonny Buckland dropped by the Rolling Stone office in New York to field a barrage of random questions from the staff.

Martin, ready for whatever we threw his way, went on about everything from his childhood taste for Phil Collins (his first album was But Seriously) to riding in Wayne Coyne's pickup when Coldplay performed in Oklahoma. "His life there is extraordinarily weird and fantastic," said Martin. "He lives next door literally to pimps."

While Coldplay now has to deal with their reputation as "biggest band in the world" -- their latest release, X&Y, has already sold more than three million copies -- Martin admitted that he still can't get over their success.

"We feel very much humbled by the fact that we can even play [in America], and we're happier that we got bigger and bigger," he said. "But we still feel like one of those fish that swim beside a whale and just get flicked off." A serious Michael Jackson fan, the singer added, "We haven't done anything better than 'Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough.'"

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

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