Feb 7, 2023 - News

The Rock Hall passed on Coldplay, but don't panic

The members of the band Coldplay perform on stage in front of a bright LED screen.

It was all yellow, and a bunch of other colors. Photo: Kevin Mazur/AMA2015/WireImage

It's time to look at another artist fans think has been overlooked by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (so far).

  • Today, we look at Coldplay, one of the biggest bands of the 21st century, which just became eligible for the Rock Hall.

How it works: To be eligible, an artist had to release their first official recording at least 25 years ago.

  • Coldplay released its first EP in 1998 but didn't receive a nomination when the ballot was revealed last week.

Why they matter: Coldplay dominated the 2000s, racking up awards and selling more than 100 million albums when rock music's mainstream viability was starting to fade.

Yes, but: Coldplay has also been a bit of a punchline, lacking the edge of great rock bands past and being overshadowed by Beyonce and Bruno Mars during the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show.

Worthy of your time: Coldplay's first three albums were all monster records, but 2008's "Viva la Vida" is the sound of the band conquering the world.

👍🏾 My thought bubble: I am not a Coldplay fan. However, being the biggest band in the world for a half-decade is a rare feat. The Rock Hall has inducted artists for much less.

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