In a surprising revelation, Chris Martin, the iconic frontman of Coldplay, has announced that the band will retire from recording new music after their 12th album. This news comes during an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, while the band is currently promoting their highly anticipated 10th album, Moon Music, set for release on October 4, 2024.
The Decision to Limit Their Discography
During the interview, Martin emphasized the band’s commitment to producing only 12 “proper” albums. “We are only going to do 12 proper albums and that’s real. Yeah, I promise,” he stated. He humorously added, “Less is more,” before acknowledging the opinions of critics, suggesting that for some, even fewer albums would be preferable. Martin highlighted the importance of setting a limit, explaining, “It’s really important that we have that limit.”
Inspired by Musical Legends
The decision to cap their discography was influenced by the band’s musical idols. Martin pointed out that some of their greatest inspirations also had a finite number of albums. “There are only seven Harry Potters. There’s only 12 and a half Beatles’ albums, there’s about the same for Bob Marley,” he explained. This reasoning underscores the band’s desire to maintain high quality in their music, stating, “Having that limit means that the quality control is high right now, and for a song to make it, it’s almost impossible, which is great.”
A Shift in Focus
Martin also reflected on the challenges of producing great albums, suggesting that the collaborative nature of the band requires significant effort and negotiation. “To make an album great as a band, it’s such a lot of wrangling of people, and I want to give the others some of their lives for themselves,” he said. This sentiment indicates a desire to allow band members the freedom to explore personal projects and pursuits outside of Coldplay.
Looking Ahead: The Final Album
Back in 2021, Martin hinted at the future trajectory of the band, revealing that they would release their final album in 2025. Following that, he suggested that while they would remain together, they would likely focus on touring rather than creating new material. “Maybe we’ll do some collaborative things but the Coldplay catalogue, as it were, finishes then,” he affirmed, as reported by HuffPost.
Upcoming Concerts in India
Coldplay is also set to return to the stage with performances in Mumbai on January 18, 19, and 21, 2025. This marks their first concert in India in eight years, following their last appearance at the Global Citizen Festival in 2016. The band consists of Chris Martin (vocals and piano), Jonny Buckland (guitar), Guy Berryman (bass), and Will Champion (drums and percussion), with Phil Harvey managing the group.