The New Issue of Rolling Stone: Chris Martin of Coldplay

Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends stands to be one of the biggest albums of the year, and fittingly, frontman Chris Martin graces the cover of the new issue of Rolling Stone, which hits newsstands today. Martin is a rare, complicated rock star, reluctant to dwell too much in the spotlight but eager to put his fame and influence to good use. Click below for an excerpt from the interview with Martin, including how he thinks the election of Barack Obama would change the world, and also check out the gallery of live photos from Coldplay's career.

• The Jesus of Uncool: Chris Martin — The Rolling Stone Interview

• Coldplay Live: Concert Photos From Throughout the Band's Career

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  MOVIES 'Great Gatsby' Is a Crushing Disappointment
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  TV Why You Should Watch 'Happy Endings'
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  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

More Song Stories entries »

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