Viva La Coldplay? Band Faces Post-Halftime Backlash

Following the death of Eagles singer/guitarist Glenn Frey on Jan. 18, along with the outpouring of shock and sympathy came an ugly backlash against the Eagles, the band Frey fronted for decades. One of the most successful rock acts of all time found themselves the target of haters, even as they were mourning the death of one of their own. Now it seems Coldplay are the new Eagles, as they are experiencing a similar backlash. Thankfully, nobody died this time, but the British group is under the glare of the spotlight after playing the world’s biggest stage – the Super Bowl halftime show – and inviting guests Bruno Mars and Beyoncé, who basically upstaged Coldplay at the band’s highest-profile show ever.


Perhaps giving more fuel to the Coldplay haters was frontman Chris Martin’s marriage and subsequent “conscious uncoupling” with actress/self-proclaimed lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow, who has her own share of detractors. Then there’s Martin’s and Coldplay’s endless stream of superstar collaborations, which often come off as marketing stunts rather than legitimate creative endeavors.

Indeed, the addition of guest performers Bruno Mars and Beyoncé, who both have previous recent Super Bowl halftime performances under their belts, to Coldplay’s halftime concert seemed to fall into that category.