Coldplay to retire after 12th studio album, Chris Martin confirms
SHAH ALAM - Iconic British rock band Coldplay has officially announced their decision to retire from recording new music after the release of their 12th studio album.
Frontman Chris Martin confirmed this in a recent interview, marking a significant moment in the band’s career that has spanned over two decades.
The announcement was made as Coldplay was promoting their highly anticipated 10th album, Moon Music, set for release on Oct 4, this year.
According to international media reports, Martin said the band was committed to producing only 12 "proper" albums, a decision influenced by their musical idols.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining high quality in their music, ensuring that each album reflected the band’s creative best.
"We are only going to do 12 proper albums and that’s real. I promise.
"Because less is more and for some of our critics, even less would be even more. It’s really important that we have that limit," he shared in an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, released on Tuesday.
Influences and inspiration
Coldplay’s decision to limit their discography to 12 albums was inspired by their musical heroes, such as The Beatles and Bob Marley, who also had finite bodies of work.
"There are only seven Harry Potters, 12 and a half Beatles albums and about the same for Bob Marley," Martin said, explaining how these artists influenced the band’s approach to their own legacy.
Martin also reflected on the challenges of maintaining a high standard across multiple albums.
He said creating an album as a band required significant effort and collaboration, noting that limiting their output allowed each member more time to focus on personal projects outside of Coldplay.
Moon Music, the beginning of the end
Coldplay’s 10th album, Moon Music signalled the start of their farewell journey. While this news may come as a disappointment to many, fans can still expected two more studio albums before the band officially retired from recording.
The decision was aimed at preserving the quality of their music and ending their studio career on a high note.
Despite their plans to stop recording new music, Coldplay has not ruled out future live performances.
The band will likely continue touring, giving fans a chance to experience their music live for years to come.
Coldplay's final chapter, 2025 and beyond
Coldplay's 12th and final album was expected to be released in 2025, with Martin previously hinting that the band will focus on touring rather than producing new material afterward.
"Maybe we’ll do some collaborative things, but the Coldplay catalogue, as it were, finishes then," he added.
The band’s decision to retire from recording has been met with both sadness and excitement, as fans anticipated their final contributions to the music world.
Upcoming performances in India
Excitement was building for Coldplay's return to the stage, with performances scheduled in Mumbai on Jan 18, 19, and 21, 2025.
This will be their first performance in India since the Global Citizen Festival in 2016.
However, the band’s concert has faced controversy after reports of ticket scalping and black-market sales emerged.
According to Indian English daily Business Standard, BookMyShow chief excutive officer Ashish Hemrajani was currently under investigation by the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for alleged involvement in the illegal sale of tickets.
Despite the controversy, fans remained eager to see Coldplay perform live as they embarked on their final musical journey.
As Coldplay prepared to bid farewell to recording new music, their influence on the global music scene remained undeniable.
