Chris Martin on why Coldplay “deserve to take some shit” from haters

Chris Martin has said Coldplay “deserve to take some shit” from haters.

• READ MORE: Exclusive: Coldplay: “When things appear overwhelmingly positive, that’s often because it’s what the singer needs most”

Since the release of their debut album ‘Parachutes’ in 2000, and their subsequent rise to global fame, Coldplay have faced plenty of criticism. But, Martin has now revealed that he’s OK with not being universally loved.

Speaking to Rolling Stone for their January 2025 cover interview, the frontman said: “It would be terrible if we lived in a society where everyone had to [like the same thing].”

Addressing Coldplay haters specifically, Martin went on to say: “We’re a very, very easy, safe target. We’re not going to bite back. We are four white, middle-class men from England. We deserve to take some shit for what our people have done. There’s a reason we get to play all around the world, and part of it is not necessarily very healthy.”

He also spoke about his own approach to taking criticism, saying: “When I’m saying these things about world peace, I’m also talking about my own inside.”

“It’s a daily thing not to hate yourself,” he continued. “Forget about outside critics – it’s the inside ones, too. That’s really our mission right now: We are consciously trying to fly the flag for love being an approach to all things.

“There aren’t that many [groups] that get to champion that philosophy to that many people. So we do it. And I need to hear that too, so that I don’t give up and just become bitter and twisted and hidden away, and hate everybody. I don’t want to do that, but it’s so tempting.”

The frontman continued: “Maybe the theatrics are all part of that,” adding: “It’s a bit Disneyland-ish in terms of ‘OK, let’s exist for a couple of hours in this place where no one hates each other.’” He then said: “The second-happiest place on Earth. Copyright, Coldplay.”

It follows comments from The Snuts‘ Jack Cochrane in November, when he hit out at people who dislike Coldplay, saying: “I think people who don’t like Coldplay are uncool. They’re one of those bands that everybody pretends they’re too cool to properly love, but the performance, the production and atmosphere, with everybody blasting their songs, was unforgettable.”

Though people love to hate on the ‘Clocks’ band, the group have made history as the only band to headline Glastonbury five times. Elsewhere, their ‘Music Of The Spheres’ tour has become the biggest rock tour of all time with the band recently announcing that it will continue in 2025, expanding with stops in Asia.

But despite their clear popularity, speaking to NME back in 2021, frontman Chris Martin revealed that Coldplay would be wrapping things up with a final album in 2025. Later, he elaborated on his comments, revealing his plan for the band’s catalogue to end after 12 albums.

Then, speaking to NME earlier this year, he shared more details and explained how the end of the band’s time writing new music is fast approaching. “Right now, and since about 2008, if something lands in me as a song or as a good idea and it feels authentic, we’ll do it. It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks,” he said, explaining where the band are at now.

“It is 12 albums for sure, but we’re going to be a bit later than that,” he explained exclusively to NME in his only written interview for the release of new album ‘Moon Music’. “There’s one more thing, which is a musical. [That’s] album number 11, but that might have to come out after album 12 because of how long musicals take to animate.

“Our last single is on this album, and that’s called ‘All My Love’. That’s the last ‘single’ single. We have the musical thing, then an album just called ‘Coldplay’, which is the final one. I think that will be a year late – I know it will be.”

He continued: “The 12 album thing is very real, and it’s a nice feeling. It doesn’t mean we won’t tour or finish some compilation things or outtakes or whatever. It just means that the main story is told. That’s just what feels really right. Just knowing that’s happening supercharges all the work we’re doing now.”

Elsewhere in the Rolling Stone January cover issue, Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman discussed Martin’s plan of wrapping up the band’s catalogue at 12 albums and said: “Chris is never going to stop writing, so I kind of take it with a little bit of a pinch of salt.”

He continued: “We’re still years away from any kind of retirement. But I think you have to have a plan. If you’re running a marathon, you know you have to run 26 miles. But if somebody said to you, ‘OK, start running and just don’t stop,’ it’s quite hard to motivate yourself.”

In other news, Coldplay are set to embark on a 2025 UK tour next summer and will take over London’s Wembley Stadium for a 10-night run. Check out a full list of tour dates below and visit here to purchase tickets.

Coldplay’s 2025 ‘Music Of The Spheres’ European and UK tour dates are:

AUGUST 2025

18 – Hull, Craven Park Stadium

19 – Hull, Craven Park Stadium

22 – London, Wembley Stadium

23 – London, Wembley Stadium

26 – London, Wembley Stadium

27 – London, Wembley Stadium

30 – London, Wembley Stadium

31 – London, Wembley Stadium

SEPTEMBER 2025 

3 – London, Wembley Stadium

4 – London, Wembley Stadium

7 – London, Wembley Stadium

8 – London, Wembley Stadium

The band have also promised that 10 per cent of their proceeds will be donated to the Music Venue Trust – helping to keep UK grassroots music venues open and fighting for the survival and development of upcoming artists.

Meanwhile, the band’s recent album ‘Moon Music’ was given a glowing four-star review by NME, and described by Rhian Daly as a record that looks to “pull Martin and those feeling like him back from the brink, one pop song at a time”.

“It’s not just in Coldplay’s lyrics that this resilience can be felt, but in their musical choices too. Multiple songs on ‘Moon Music’ – like ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Good Feelings’ – fade out, only to return to the speakers again,” it read. “These fake-outs don’t just keep you guessing but mirror that feeling of having exhausted all your options, only for you to find the strength to push forward.”