The Coldplay archives are about to spill its secrets, and we can't get enough! A treasure trove of early recordings, including an unheard demo by Chris Martin for the 1999 James Bond film 'The World Is Not Enough', is hitting the auction block. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to peer into the band's formative years, a time when they were still finding their feet and crafting the sound that would propel them to global stardom.
The collection, owned by British producer Chris Allison, who played a pivotal role in shaping Coldplay's early sound, is like a time capsule from 1999. It boasts original audio tapes, alternate mixes, and demos recorded at London's Orinoco Studios – the band's "earliest professional studio sessions" that laid the groundwork for their critically acclaimed debut album 'Parachutes'.
The Bond demo, though ultimately not used for the film, is a tantalising glimpse of an alternative direction for the 007 franchise. Martin's stripped-back acoustic guitar and vocal rendition offers a fascinating contrast to Garbage's more conventional take. You can almost hear the creative wheels turning as Coldplay pushed the boundaries of what a Bond theme could be.
The archive also includes multiple mix DATs labelled 'Coldplay Mixes #1', '#2', and '#3', alongside reference CD-Rs of final master mixes. These contain early iterations of songs like 'Spies', 'See You Soon', 'We Never Change', 'Shiver', and 'Bigger Stronger'. Some versions are so different from the final commercial releases, you'll be left wondering what might have been.
But that's not all – the auction also features a promotional package for 'The Blue Room' EP, an early demo archive, a pre-studio demo cassette, and a live recording cassette. Chris Allison will even donate a portion of his proceeds to Restore The Music, a charity dedicated to addressing inequality in music education.
Coldplay's own history is peppered with Bond-themed attempts – Chris Martin once revealed they tried their hand at writing themes for around five films over two decades. Though they didn't quite hit the mark, it adds another layer of intrigue to this unparalleled collection, begging fans and collectors to take a closer look.
Ahead of the auction, we can only imagine what secrets these early recordings hold – the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that shaped Coldplay into one of the world's most beloved bands. It's an opportunity not to be missed for anyone who's ever been swept up in their music.