Coldplay is a solo rock performer.
Coldplay are a British rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist and keyboardist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London ( UCL ) . Creative director Phil Harvey is often referred to as the fifth member by the band . In December 2015 , the band released their seventh album , A Head Full of Dreams , which reached the top two in most major markets , but received generally mixed reviews . The Blue Room is the second EP released by British rock band Coldplay , and their first release after signing with the Parlophone label in October 1999 .