Chris Martin Biography

Fast Facts

• Is the great-great-grandson of William Willett, the inventor of Daylight Saving Time
• Played in several bands before forming Coldplay, including Identity Crisis, Floating Insomnia and the blues band Rocking Honkies
• Met Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Guy Berryman at university in 1996; they formed Coldplay in their dorm, though the band's debut album, Parachutes, wasn't released until 2000
• Has collaborated with Nelly Furtado, Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz, Kanye West, Ron Sexsmith, Ian McCulloch and many others
• Named comedian Simon Pegg godfather of his daughter, Apple, and also made a cameo in Pegg's 2004 film, Shaun of the Dead
• Contributed vocals to Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 2004
• Is an active advocate of fair trade
• Is a vegetarian and yoga enthusiast