Why Bono Doesn’t Consider Coldplay To Be a Tried and True Rock Band

Few pairs of bands draw more comparisons than U2 and Coldplay. Ever since Coldplay emerged into the mainstream in 2000, the masses have seemingly viewed the two parties in a similar light. For Coldplay, this is not an issue or a comparison they do not welcome, as Chris Martin and Johnny Buckland have consistently spoken about U2’s influence on their music. There are certainly a good number of similarities between the bands; however, Bono believes Coldplay sits in a different category, because he doesn’t view them as a tride and true rock band.

Videos by American Songwriter

80s rock music differed greatly from the rock music of the 2000s. U2 was certainly an 80s rock band, but their music was not even relative to other acts of the generation, such as Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Def Leppard, and Guns N’ Roses. Like U2, Coldplay’s music exists on the outskirts of 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s rock music. And for this reason, Bono doesn’t consider Coldplay to be a rock band.

To Bono, Coldplay’s Music Doesn’t Come From a Place of “Rage”

Coldplay’s affinity for U2 is not one-sided, as Bono has also voiced his affinity for the band on several different instances. In this specific instance, Bono participated in the BBC Sounds series Music Uncovered: The Genius Of Coldplay to voice the love he has for his musical successors.

Articulating how Coldplay existed on the outskirts of typical rock music, Bono stated, “I should mention Coldplay are not a rock band. I hope that’s obvious. There is something much more interesting going on there, like the Isley Brothers or something.” “They should not be judged by rock rules… Rage is the river running under most rock formations. Coldplay’s music has a different source and I think it’s best revealed in this song, ‘Clocks’,” added Bono.

To some, or at least us, Bono’s comments are spot on. Coldplay’s lyrics and sound don’t reside under the general umbrella of anger. Rather, they reside under a far more introspective and sentimental location conducive to emotional reasoning and not a purely cathartic release of rage.

Unlike many other musical acts of the 21st century, Coldplay does not fit into one genre or range of emotion. Instead, their music is delightfully all-encompassing. Consequently, they, to an extent, are undefinable. As a matter of fact, their undefinability is arguably the very thing that defines them. Only a few musicians have pulled this off, and Bono knows that one of them is Coldplay.

Photo by Dave Simpson/WireImage