Let’s agree: celebrities are a lot more intriguing when they have a fascination with aliens. Sometimes, we don’t want famous people to live like us; they should be living lives that we can only dream of, or maybe not even imagine. From cosmic myths to a belief that “the truth is out there,” Coldplay is a prime example. Chris Martin – the band’s frontman – seems deeply captivated by aliens, something clearly reflected in their current Music of the Spheres tour.
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Since their early days, Coldplay has often been labeled as a “boring” and uncool band, yet they’ve retained a loyal fanbase through every turn. The band has shifted from melancholic alt-rock to anthemic space-pop, beginning with the 2011 album Mylo Xyloto – a conceptual record set on the fictional planet Silencia. Moving from one planet to entire galaxies, Chris and the band have woven a backstory so rich that Coldplay even developed an app for fans to explore it. On Calypso, for instance, the primary language is “Aquamarine,” and fans can use the Coldplay app to calculate their carbon footprint (taking the train makes you a “carbon hero”) or use AR to summon a dancing creature called a Kaotican from Kaotica, the “trash planet.”
Music of the Spheres is a billion-dollar tour running from 2021 until September 2025, with nearly 10 million tickets sold, making it the most attended tour of all time, surpassing even Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. The recent Melbourne show began with an unexpected announcement: Chris Martin stepped onto the stage to tell the crowd that bassist Guy Berryman was sick and couldn’t perform – a first in Coldplay’s live history. Stepping in for Guy was Bill Rahko, the band’s sound engineer, dressed as a “strange, weird alien friend” to fill in the role.
Throughout the night, Chris Martin expressed his gratitude to the audience, like a passionate minister leading a congregation. He frequently asked the crowd to raise their hands and shine lights during moments when he talked about sending positive energy “to the Holy Land, to Palestine, Israel, Iran, and everywhere.” The fusion of music, lights, and fireworks created a truly magical atmosphere.
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Still, the show felt “overly polished and meticulously staged.” The audience loved when Chris asked them to put away their phones to experience A Sky Full of Stars in the moment – a request he makes at every show. He also brought up the reason Coldplay hasn’t returned to Australia since 2015: a negative review of their last show in Brisbane. In reality, though, the band did perform two exclusive shows in Perth last year, thanks to an $8 million grant from the Western Australian government. “What I’ve learned from this is that it’s OK if someone doesn’t like you – as long as you’re doing your best. Maybe you’re helping them by being an easy target,” Martin said, with a hint of irony.
Coldplay’s dedication to environmental initiatives is admirable and perhaps their greatest legacy. From kinetic dance floors to compostable LED wristbands and cooking oil-powered generators, Coldplay has reduced their emissions by 59% – setting an inspiring example for other artists. However, their newer tracks about peace and love, like the trite We Pray, don’t resonate as well, even in a sold-out stadium. Songs like People of the Pride feel like something Muse would’ve done a decade ago. I’d argue that A Rush of Blood to the Head retains a dark urgency that still feels thrilling, and Parachutes was an incredible debut, even if Yellow has been overplayed. Unfortunately, performances of older hits like Clocks, Sparks, and The Scientist only emphasize that Coldplay sounds better when their guitars and drums aren’t drowned in neon synths and simplistic slogans.
Just like their recent sound, Music of the Spheres has a bit too much of everything: four firework displays, endless confetti guns, streamers, an anime sequence about robotic overlords, a tribute to Shane Warne, and even segments featuring alien Muppet-like characters. The line between spectacle and overindulgence has certainly been crossed.
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In stepping into Music of the Spheres, the audience is drawn into a surreal journey where reality and fantasy, music and space intertwine. It’s an emotional experience where Coldplay strives to take their fans on a journey that blends sound with visuals, leaving them with profound messages about love, the environment, and cosmic wonder.
