Coldplay's debut album Parachutes was a collection of direct, soulful songs stripped right back to expose an unusual level of raw emotion. It sold nearly five million copies world-wide, winning a clutch of NME and Q awards, two Brits and the Grammy for Best Alternative Album. Martin Roach reveals how the band first met, their early gigs, their self-financed EP and how they maintain a tight degree of control over their output - they co-produced both albums and artistically direct their artwork and image with close precision. He explains how second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, was received with acclaim, winning two Brits and a Grammy in 2003, and reveals the two years' promotional touring of the record.