Coldplay legend Chris Martin cracks jokes during a rare private gig without his bandmates – as the kindhearted star is understood to have donated the huge fee to his charitable endeavours
He only finished performing in the last of Coldplay’s record-breaking 10-night run at Wembley on Friday. But Chris Martin had yet another show lined up the following night – which was shrouded in total secrecy.
We can reveal the star did a private gig on Saturday evening, for which he was rumoured to have been paid a sum “in the millions”. It is understood Chris’s fee will be donated to various charitable endeavours.
After playing to crowds of 82,000 people at Wembley, the 48-year-old Fix You singer performed to a far smaller audience of around 70 partygoers. The intimate event was part of an “Indian summer” party on Saturday hosted by multi-millionaire singer-songwriter and philanthropist Miel de Botton at her posh Hampshire home.
Chris at one point told her guests: “There were more people in the toilets at Wembley than there are here.” And he referenced Coldplay’s stadium shows ending by joking to the few guests: “I’m now unemployed.”
Chris performed for 90 minutes at the party. Instead of his usual bandmates he was joined by a bass guitarist he has played with since he was 12, and three female backing vocalists. Miel – whose brother is philosopher Alain de Botton – also took to the stage for a duet of Coldplay’s Magic in French.
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Guests had to temporarily surrender their phones ahead of the show, in which Chris also sang Yellow, Paradise and Viva La Vida. A source said: “The event was a gathering of Miel’s loved ones, friends and directors at the various charities she supports and works with. All those in attendance were asked not to bring gifts and instead donate to a charity of their choosing.” A second source added: “It was a totally joyful night. Chris was delighted to have been asked and raise important funds for charities which he loves.”
Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres world tour has broken all kinds of records. For a band to perform 10 shows at Wembley in one tour is unprecedented. The tour, which kicked off in March 2022, is the highest attended in history, beating Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. More than 13 million tickets were sold across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. In total, they played Wembley 16 times: six shows in August 2022 and 10 shows this August and September, which earned them rave reviews.
Chris has revealed the tour is expected to resume in 2027. The band said the Wembley gigs were powered by 100% renewable energy with no generator use – a world first for a stadium show.
They have project Higher Power Farm in the west of England, which fed more energy into the grid than the shows used. Chris is known for his philanthropic efforts – 10% of Coldplay’s proceeds from their recent run of UK dates will be donated to Music Venue Trust, which supports grassroots UK venues and upcoming artists.