That Time David Bowie Rejected Coldplay’s Offer To Collaborate
Coldplay worked with David Bowie collaborator Brian Eno on Viva La Vida and its follow-up, the conceptual Mylo Xyloto, which I guess you could say was the band’s most Bowie-esque era, if you could say that at all. But they never got a chance to work with Bowie himself — though, they tried. Guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion revealed to NME that Bowie once rejected the band’s offer to collaborate.
After writing a song with a “David Bowie-type character,” Chris Martin sent a letter to the Thin White Duke asking if he’d want to sing on the track. The legend’s simple response: “It’s not a very good song, is it?”
But the Coldplay dudes took the rejection in stride. “He was very discerning,” Champion said. “He wouldn’t just put his name to anything. I’ll give him credit for that.” Watch them reminisce about Bowie and recount the story below.
