Chris Martin has apologised to fans from India for Britain’s colonial past in a heartfelt on-stage speech.
On Saturday (January 18), Coldplay performed at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium where they were surrounded by 75,000 fans. During the performance, the 47-year-old singer addressed the supportive crowd with an apologetic message about Britain’s historical actions against India.
He told his devoted fans: “It is amazing to us that you welcome us even though we are from Great Britain. Thank you for forgiving us for all the bad things that Great Britain has done.”
The star’s comments came during Coldplay’s first major Indian concert since 2016, as part of their Music of Spheres world tour.
The dad-of-two, who arrived in Mumbai last Thursday (January 16) with actress girlfriend Dakota Johnson, made remarks during what has been described as an electrifying performance by local outlets.
Coldplay are set to play two more shows in Mumbai this week, followed by concerts in Ahmedabad on Saturday and Sunday (January 25 and 36).
The Ahmedabad performances, which are set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, will be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar. The band initially planned two Mumbai shows but added another show due to the overwhelming demand from fans.
The tour’s ticket sales proved controversial, with the BookMyShow website crashing under the pressure as 700,000 users attempted to purchase the must-have tickets simultaneously. Digital queues reportedly reached 11million people, leading to widespread frustration among fans.
Following the initial sale, tickets appeared on rival sites at hugely inflated prices, while scammers emerged on social media offering fake tickets through supposed lucky draws.
Martin’s apology comes amid a significant period in Coldplay’s career, with the band currently on their highly anticipated Music of Spheres world tour across Asia. The tour includes stops in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Seoul, marking their first return to Hong Kong since 2009.
Last year, Martin revealed plans for Coldplay’s eventual retirement, announcing the band would only release “12 proper albums”. Martin told Zane Lowe in an Apple Music interview: “Where we could be kind of coasting, we’re trying to improve.”
The frontman explained this limit would help maintain the same quality control as their previous successful albums, including 2000’s Parachutes, 2008’s Viva la Vida, and 2021’s Music of the Spheres.
Coldplay has sold more than 100million albums worldwide, making them the most successful group of the 21st century.
