Fans have reacted with dismay to the news that Coldplay will stop recording music as a band in 2025, although quiet glee was also detected among some detractors.
The band’s frontman, Chris Martin, shared the “huge revelation” with the BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley on a special show to be broadcast on Friday from 7pm.
The announcement comes two months after Coldplay released their ninth studio album, Music of the Spheres, which went straight to No 1 earlier this year.
“Our last proper record will come out in 2025, and after that I think we will only tour,” said Martin. “And maybe we’ll do some collaborative things but the Coldplay catalogue, as it were, finishes then.”
Whiley spoke about her interview with Martin on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Wednesday and shared a preview clip where Martin confirmed the news. Whiley told Ball that while Martin is “disarmingly honest” in interviews, she is also “never quite sure if he’s joking or being deadly serious”.
But the news is consistent with statements Martin has made previously. He told the NME in October they intended to make three more albums – to bring the total to 12 – but this is the first time he has put a date on the end point.
The band’s vast following reacted with resigned sadness to the news, with a fan Thomas Rowson tweeting: “Well, we knew the day would come sometime. I guess I was just in denial and hoping it would be longer. It’s the first time they’ve put a date on it … Here’s to the last 3 albums!”
But the news got a mixed reaction elsewhere, with taxi driver Martin Holmes tweeting: “Amongst all the Covid misery, there is a small glimpse of a better future.”
In October, Coldplay announced a world tour with a range of initiatives designed to mitigate its environmental impact. The band have promised to cut CO2 emissions by 50% compared with their 2016-17 world tour, and almost entirely use renewable energy to power the stage show.
The tour, which will start in August next year, will include a “kinetic floor” to harness energy created by fans, a stage made of renewable materials, solar panels, while battery and mains power will be drawn from renewable sources.
Earlier this month Coldplay pulled out of several performances including their planned show at the Capital Jingle Bell Ball in London because of positive Covid tests in their touring party.
Coldplay have been nominated for group of the year and best rock/alternative act at the 2022 Brit Awards to take place in February.