The spotlight is about to shine brightly on a piece of Coldplay history that's been hidden in the shadows for far too long. Up for grabs at an upcoming auction are some seriously rare treasures from the band's early days – and we're not just talking about any old recording, but a demo by Chris Martin himself, penned specifically for the 1999 James Bond film 'The World Is Not Enough'.
The unheard acoustic track is one of many gems being let loose on the music world by British producer Chris Allison, who worked closely with Coldplay as they were breaking into the scene. We're talking about a time when the band was still riding high on the success of their second EP, 'The Blue Room', which dropped in October 1999.
Now, it's worth noting that Martin's demo shares its title with Garbage's official Bond theme – but here's the million-dollar question: did Chris actually submit his track for consideration? We may never know, but what we do know is that Coldplay have long been fans of the Bond franchise. In fact, they've cited composer John Barry as a huge influence on their music, and it shows in tracks like 'Spies' from their debut album 'Parachutes'.
But this auction isn't just about Martin's James Bond experiment – oh no! It's also an opportunity to get your hands on some truly one-of-a-kind Coldplay memorabilia. We're talking original master tapes for 'The Blue Room', which was the band's first release under Parlophone, as well as unheard alternate versions of fan-favourites like 'Spies' and 'Shiver'. And if that wasn't enough, you'll also find unreleased tracks like a demo version of 'Bigger Stronger' – it's like being given a backstage pass to the band's formative years!
But wait, there's more! Beyond Coldplay's treasures, the auction features material from other artists Allison has worked with over the years. Think The Beta Band and their early EPs, Steve Mason's solo project King Biscuit Time, and even some rare recordings from The Wedding Present's George Best era. And as if that wasn't enough, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Restore the Music, a music education initiative – so you can feel good about splashing out on these limited-edition goodies.