Coldplay

In 2000, Coldplay emerged seemingly out of nowhere to become a worldwide smash with their debut album PARACHUTES and hit single "Yellow". While often associated with the Britpop crowd, they favoured a more thoughtful, melodic, Travis-esque piano-centric pop approach than arena-rock chest-beaters like Oasis. Led by charismatic frontman Chris Martin, the band expanded its horizons (and its fanbase) throughout the 2000s, while remaining true to its basic form. One of the only British rock bands of their era to make a major impact on the US charts, Coldplay proved that simple, memorable, straightforward pop-rock can still be striking even in the post-everything 21st century.

• rock
• pop