Ask any Coldplay superfan where Mecca is and they’re tell you The Bakery, London, NW3.
Since 2008, Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion have used this largely unnoticeable and – from the outside, at least – faceless building as their hub, practise space, recording studio and all round HQ.
“This is basically a giant version of Jonny’s bedroom at Camden Road,” Will tells us in the exclusive video below, referencing the first place the band used to meet back in the day. He’s not wrong either: stepping into the building, you first enter a live room (couple of pianos, a few song titles scrawled messily on a wall, lots of roadie gear), before opening another door into a smaller, den-like space which is stuffed full of beautiful guitars, vintage keyboards, laptops, branded Coldplay plectrums, mic’s and fairy lights.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid12850839001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAABumiUU~,CmZu1qzq0Nydx8DqfQUoDJv2_kpwyWWq&bctid=4720258316001
It’s got an airy, cosy vibe to it, and also feels utterly blocked off from the outside world – the perfect place for the band to write (sometimes with “uncle” Brian Eno if he’s in town too, apparently). It’s also the place where we interviewed them to talk about why this modest building, sandwiched between an estate agent and tiny restaurant is so crucial to the well-oiled, globe straddling machine the band have become.
Coldplay are now confirmed to pick up the Godlike Genius award at the NME Awards 2016, with Austin, Texas. The ceremony takes place at O2 Academy Brixton in London on February 17, and will also see the band play live on the night.