Known as much for their personal integrity as for their dramatically original sound, Coldplay has skyrocketed to superstar status since the release of their stunning debut album, Parachutes. Their follow-up, A Rush of Blood to the Head, which went multiplatinum like the first, was still selling 40,000 copies a week even a year after it first topped the charts, and the band sells out the world's largest arenas.
But life wasn't always so glorious for these boys from Britain. Plagued during their early years by self-doubt, the foursome has broken up, backed out of high-profile gigs, even choked onstage in front of a roomful of industry types. Now, for the first time, the highs and lows of their life on the road to superstardom are revealed. This is the story behind the angst and despair that nearly ripped the band apart just as they were perched on the brink of galactic success. It is a chronicle of Coldplay's transformation from a flailing, insecure band into the two-time winners of the Grammy Award for Alternative Album of the Year and one of the most powerful international rock acts around.
Penned by an industry insider who has toured extensively with the band -- and including never-before-seen photos and exclusive quotes from the group -- Coldplay: Look at the Stars puts you on the tour bus, in the studio, and backstage with four men who've won over the hearts of millions of music fans worldwide.
Customer Review: Pleasant "Quickie" Read of How Coldplay Broke the US
I'm a big Coldplay fan, and when I saw this book at my local library, I just picked it up out of curiosity. The author, Gary Spivack, was a record label executive at Capitol (he's since then departed) and responsible for marketing/supporting Coldplay in the US. "Coldplay: Look At the Stars" is Spivack's personal take on how Coldplay broke the US market, and in that it succeeds. He obviously had a lot of contact with the band, and that is where the book succeeds. My favorite part of the book is Gary's recollections on Coldplay's first American tour in February, 2001, for no other reason than I happened to see Coldplay in Portland, OR (the second stop in the US). You could just feel the magic in the air, a band that was about to make it really big. The author doesn't spend a lot of time on how the band actually formed and where it found its musical origins, and that is the major failing of this book. Nevertheless, this is a quick and pleasant read. Spivack recounts his sacking from Capitol in early 2003, and how quick Chris Martin was there to console him (by phone). But for the definitive Coldplay story, we will have to wait another day and another book.
Customer Review: "Look at the record exec."
I'm a musician and a big Coldplay fan, so I should have loved this book, but it fell short. This book read more like a tour book you'd buy at a concert put together by their marketing people than an insider's story. The main problem I had is it was written by a record executive who claims to be "insider", but has nothing new to offer. I suppose Gary's perspective would be interesting to fellow record executives and the like, but the book falls short in revealing any real insight on the band that you couldn't read in a magazine interview with the band. One of Gary's "insights" is how humble Chris Martin is...he quotes Chris in a conversation early in the book where Chris asks Gary "how can I make your job easier" and Gary beams. WHO CARES. Chris Martin is humble and selfless to a fault; no insight here. The problem is most of Gary's interactions with the band are interactions between a record exec. and the band...and it reads that way. The fact is, Gary had very little to do with Coldplay's success and it's obvious he is not much of an insider. Gary admits himself Coldplay was "lightning in a bottle", signed only after a fierce bidding war between labels. I think Chris Martin is just a really nice guy, who saw someone (Gary Spivack) down on his luck and wanted to help the poor guy out by letting him write this book (Gary had been fired by Columbia just before penning the book). The author seems to blame his lack of an insightful story on Coldplay's middleclass upbringing and that they're all around good kids (this isn't a drugs, sex and rock and roll type band). I don't agree that an interesting story couldn't be written by the right person. My biggest problem is this book is written by a record company exec. who approached the project like you would a tour guide sold at a concert venue, only longer. Gary didn't grow up with the band (to the point they were signed), didn't discover the band (they were signed by a sister co. in England), doesn't manage the band (where he'd be touring every night seeing all sides of the members), or produce the band (where he's in the studio witnessing the creavtive process)...he just booked tours and showed up occasionally for concerts and "meet and greets". How does that qualify you to write a band biography? Coldplay should have their manager, producer or the members themselves write this story...with a side of the story to tell that we don't already know.
Spiritual Parenting helps your children to affirm their innate sense of truth.
The core of your child's being is his spirituality.
From here grows his sense of self esteem and the values and morals which bring his sense of belonging.
Spiritual Parenting allows you to nurture your child's spirituality by creating magic through dancing, music and nature, and through sharing feelings and imagination.
Music
Sing together often. Use music cd's, dvd's, instruments, pot lids, the sound of the wind, rain drumming on the roof, your voices, concerts, community events. Sing while you walk, bath, cook, clean and play. Make up songs, create nonsense rhymes and tunes, sing the words of favourite books instead of reading them.
Dance
Dance with your children often - through this glorious experience children learn about the joy of music and movement. Be a mirror to your child through your own sense of delighting in dance.
Imagination
Open your child up to beauty and wonder by endowing the daily routine with peace and magic. Reveal this through loving guidance, through imaginative play and through your words, actions, songs and joy.
Nature
Go out often into nature through the changing seasons. Let your child get wet in puddles, skip together instead of walking, stop often to notice a different smell, make sure that you yourself delight in the marvel of the great outdoors. Learn together the names of plants and trees and delight in each others knowledge. Set up a nature table at home where new discoveries can be invited and encouraged.
Feelings
Teach your children to name their feelings by acknowledging and naming your own. "I'm feeling sad right now. That makes me feel very happy. I feel upset. I feel surprised". "I feel" statements will encourage your children to come up with their own, thus creating a healthy and wholesome sense of self. Ask them often, "How does that make you feel?"
Listen to your child as well as talking with him. This validates not only his sense of self, but allows for the growth of his intuitive self. Really listen for what he is saying and show him that you hear.
Magic
Show your child that life is magical, enchanting, rich and astonishing by creating unexpected pockets of surprise for them. Spiritual parenting helps your child cope well with change in life by giving life a mystical quality instead of a fearful approach. This enables a sense of adventure.
Years later my two eldest children still talk about the time their father woke them up at midnight, and then took them in their pyjamas on a car ride to see the first lights on the village Christmas tree. By creating a magical adventure through his own infectious joy, their father gave them an opportunity to extend their own inner magic through his spiritual parenting approach.
Silence
Don't be afraid to teach them about the beauty of silence. Encourage your young children to enjoy undisturbed quiet moments in your company. Show them by enjoying moments of silence in their presence, sitting quietly with your eyes closed. Teach them the value of walking together without talking. This is how they learn to feel their own inner peace.
Cherishing
Cherish them with physical affection, with words of love, with little gifts of flowers, unusual finds in the garden, written notes and through reading, playing and singing together.
Give them your undivided time and attention when you are walking with them, encouraging them to talk about their day, their friends, their hopes and dreams and encourage, encourage, encourage.
Bedtime
Create bedtime rituals that focus on the special nature of each of your children. Settle them into sleep feeling nourished, cherished and special. Try telling them "I love you today because..." and add a new reason for every night. Spiritual parenting in this way is a calm, child centred approach.
Helen Williams
Editor Consistent Parenting Advice.com
http://www.consistent-parenting-advice.com/index.html
I believe that being a consistent parent is both vitally important and totally necessary to ensure a happy family life. However, becoming a consistent parent is rather like trying to push water uphill if we are not consistent within our selves. This website addresses HOW to adopt a firm, clear, consistent parenting approach, while enabling you to enhance and increase your emotional well-being.
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