The Mylo Xyloto Tour was the fifth concert tour undertaken by British rock band Coldplay. It was announced in support of their fifth album, Mylo Xyloto (2011), continuing their progression from arenas to stadiums after the Viva la Vida Tour (2008–2010). The concert run featured 76 shows across four continents, starting at Glasgow's SEC Centre on 3 December 2011 and ending at New York City's Barclays Center on 31 December 2012. A visit to Latin America was originally set for 2013, later being cancelled.
Prior to the tour, the band embarked on a series of promotional and festival performances, including Austin City Limits, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, and Rock in Rio. Coldplay held concerts in Cape Town and Johannesburg as well. They became the first musicians to make use of LED wristbands at shows, popularising them in the live music industry. According to Pollstar, the tour grossed over $181.3 million from 2.1 million tickets sold across 75 reported dates.
Background After devoting the summer of 2011 to a promotional tour in Europe, the Americas and Africa, Coldplay announced the tour on their Twitter account in September 2011. Initial dates revealed shows in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Belgium. A set of rehearsal concerts were added for October and November, seeing the band partake in radio festivals and fan-exclusive gigs. Later, in November, extra dates were scheduled at stadiums across the United Kingdom for June 2012. The shows at Coventry's Ricoh Arena, Manchester's Etihad Stadium, Sunderland's Stadium of Light and London's Emirates Stadiumsold out in two hours. The tour kicked off with a live-streamed concert in Madrid. Each member of the band received £10.2 million after tax from the £118.4 million made.
Broadcasts and recordings Prior to the tour, the band gave a promotional concert in Madrid which was streamed live on YouTube (as part of the Unstaged series). The band performed songs from Mylo Xyloto alongside their previous hits. The concert streamed on 26 October 2011. The show was not only streamed on YouTube but was also seen in New York City's Times Square. Internet users were able to view exclusive content, including a pre-show interview and footage from the band's soundcheck, and were also able to select their camera view, spanning from "front of stage" to "aerial". The show was directed by Anton Corbijn and presented by American Express. The live webcast was reported to have been viewed by 20 million people. The 1 June concert at London's Emirates Stadium was broadcast on Absolute Radio. Titled Coldplay: Live at the Emirates, the full show was aired live and uninterrupted. Before the concert aired, DJ Geoff Lloyd hosted a "Coldplay Hometime Special". The programme featured interviews with the band, alongside the band's hits.
Commercial performance According to Pollstar, Coldplay grossed $181.3 million from 2.1 million tickets sold in 75 reported dates. More than $170 million came from the performances in 2012, which made the band rank at number four among the most successful tours of the year. They also became the first act to perform at London's Emirates Stadium three times on a single tour, earning $14.4 million from 173,596 tickets. It was the group's most successful boxscore engagement at the time, both in revenue and attendance.
Legacy The Mylo Xyloto Tour was the first to make use of LED wristbands, with Coldplay being widely credited with popularising the feature. The concert at Mount Smart Stadium on 10 November 2012 had an economic impact of $2.5 million on Auckland's economy.
Accolades +List of awards and nominationsYearCeremonyCategoryResult2012 Live UK Music Business Awards Spectacle of the Year Parnelli Awards Lighting Designer (Paul Normandale) Video Director (Andy Bramley) Production Manager (Bill Leabody) Tour Manager (Marguerite Nguyen) 2013 Helpmann Awards Best International Contemporary Concert Pollstar Awards Major Tour of the Year Most Creative Stage Production
Set list This set list was taken from the 1 June 2012 concert in London, England. It does not represent all shows throughout the tour.
Main stage "Back to the Future" "Mylo Xyloto" "Hurts Like Heaven" "In My Place" "Major Minus" "Lovers in Japan" "The Scientist" "Yellow" "Violet Hill" "God Put a Smile upon Your Face"
B-stage "Princess of China" "Up in Flames" "Warning Sign"
Main stage "A Hopeful Transmission" "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" "Viva la Vida" "Charlie Brown" "Paradise" "Us Against the World" "Speed of Sound" "Clocks" "Fix You" "M.M.I.X." "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
Tour dates +List of 2011 concertsDate (2011)CityCountryVenueOpening actsAttendanceRevenue3 December Glasgow Scotland SEC Centre Emeli Sandé 9,243 / 9,654 $779,0774 December ManchesterEngland Manchester Evening News Arena Marina 18,103 / 18,305 $1,534,3009 December London The O2 ArenaEmeli Sandé 16,632 / 16,800 $1,437,08614 December Paris France Bercy Arena 16,500 / 17,000 $1,170,33815 December Cologne Germany Lanxess Arena 16,139 / 16,139 $1,187,49217 December Rotterdam Netherlands Ahoy Rotterdam 7,799 / 7,799 $446,08718 December Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis 18,340 / 18,340 $1,516,40520 December FrankfurtGermany Festhalle 15,148 / 15,148 $1,179,50321 December Berlin O2 World 14,623 / 14,623 $1,146,062
+List of 2012 concertsDate (2012)CityCountryVenueOpening actsAttendanceRevenue17 April EdmontonCanada Rexall PlaceMetronomyThe Pierces 14,306 / 16,238 $1,221,74318 April Calgary Scotiabank Saddledome 14,463 / 14,463 $1,273,38720 AprilVancouverRogers Arena31,766 / 34,000$2,774,38021 April City and ColourThe Pierces24 April PortlandUnited States Rose GardenMetronomyThe Pierces 12,966 / 12,966 $1,076,56725 April Seattle KeyArena 14,244 / 14,244 $1,209,54427 AprilSan JoseHP Pavilion33,894 / 33,894$2,612,39528 April1 MayLos AngelesHollywood Bowl49,466 / 49,466$4,158,2052 May4 May18 May Porto Portugal Estádio do DragãoMarinaRita Ora 52,457 / 52,457 $4,631,90820 May Madrid Spain Vicente Calderón Stadium 50,873 / 50,873 $3,820,45122 May Nice France Stade Charles-Ehrmann 43,364 / 43,364 $2,902,59224 May Turin Italy Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino 39,778 / 39,778 $2,752,18826 May Zürich Switzerland Letzigrund 48,826 / 48,826 $6,389,49529 May CoventryEngland Ricoh Arena RobynRita Ora 40,498 / 40,498 $3,609,6301 JuneLondonEmirates Stadium MarinaAsh173,596 / 173,596$14,421,5062 JuneRobynRita Ora4 June7 June Sunderland Stadium of Light 52,320 / 52,320 $4,331,8919 JuneManchesterEtihad Stadium RobynCharli XCX113,256 / 113,256$9,082,66010 June RobynRita Ora22 JuneDallasUnited StatesAmerican Airlines CenterRobynWolf Gang33,532 / 33,532$2,581,06423 June25 JuneHoustonToyota Center26,763 / 26,763$2,237,21926 June28 June Tampa St. Pete Times Forum 15,934 / 16,830 $1,205,47529 June Miami American Airlines Arena 18,266 / 18,266 $1,314,1472 July Atlanta Philips Arena 17,218 / 17,218 $1,220,7183 July Charlotte Time Warner Cable Arena 15,509 / 15,509 $1,230,5565 JulyPhiladelphiaWells Fargo Center33,680 / 33,680$2,745,1296 July8 JulyWashington, D.C.Verizon Center32,666 / 32,666$2,710,1169 July23 JulyTorontoCanadaAir Canada CentreMarinaEmeli Sandé35,434 / 35,434$3,371,99524 July26 JulyMontrealBell CentreMarinaCharli XCX36,893 / 36,893$3,211,76227 July29 JulyBostonUnited StatesTD GardenMarinaEmeli Sandé32,248 / 32,248$2,744,12930 July1 August Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills 15,401 / 15,401 $1,185,3873 AugustEast RutherfordIzod Center37,225 / 37,225$3,286,6924 August7 AugustChicagoUnited CenterMarinaCharli XCX33,995 / 33,995$2,893,2208 August10 AugustSaint PaulXcel Energy Center28,257 / 33,666$2,472,72811 August28 August Copenhagen Denmark Telia Parken 50,595 / 50,595 $3,642,34530 August Stockholm Sweden Stockholm Olympic Stadium 33,801 / 33,801 $3,044,8762 September Saint-Denis France Stade de France 77,813 / 77,813 $6,346,6114 September Cologne Germany RheinEnergieStadion 43,952 / 43,952 $3,358,2786 September The Hague Netherlands Malieveld 68,274 / 68,274 $5,119,66212 September MunichGermany Olympiastadion 54,017 / 54,017 $4,200,99714 September Leipzig Red Bull Arena 35,075 / 37,000 $2,668,98916 September Prague Czech Republic Synot Tip Arena 34,609 / 34,609 $2,600,69619 September Warsaw Poland Stadion Narodowy 40,492 / 40,492 $2,337,94222 September Hanover Germany AWD-Arena 43,414 / 43,414 $3,295,51610 November Auckland New Zealand Mount Smart StadiumThe Temper TrapThe Pierces 37,394 / 37,394 $3,939,00213 November MelbourneAustralia Etihad Stadium 63,378 / 63,378 $7,271,33217 NovemberSydneyAllianz Stadium92,717 / 92,717$10,755,46418 November21 November Brisbane Suncorp Stadium 51,435 / 51,435 $6,014,80429 December UncasvilleUnited States Mohegan Sun ArenaNaturally 7 6,518 / 6,518 $918,35530 DecemberNew York CityBarclays Center 16,014 / 16,014 $1,934,87231 December 16,105 / 16,105 $2,871,570 Total 2,100,124 / 2,113,801 (99.3%) $181,396,540
Cancelled shows +List of cancelled concertsDate (2013)CityCountryVenueReason5 February São PauloBrazil Estádio do Morumbi"Circumstances beyond our control" 7 February Porto Alegre Estádio do Zequinha9 February La Plata Argentina Estadio Único de La Plata12 February Santiago Chile Estadio Monumental15 February Mexico CityMexico Foro Sol18 February Zapopan Estadio Tres de Marzo19 February San Nicolás Estadio Universitario
Personnel Credits adapted from the band's official tour book, which was sold exclusively on merchandise booths and their online store.
Performing members Chris Martin – lead vocals, piano, keyboards, rhythm guitar Jonny Buckland – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards Guy Berryman – bass, backing vocals, keyboards, percussion Will Champion – drums, backing vocals, percussion
Main crew Dave Holmes – manager Phil Harvey – creative director Marguerite Nguyen – tour manager EJ McDonald, Jessie Collins – artist assistant Dan Green – sound engineer and producer Miller – Pro Tools, website Rik Simpson – record engineer and producer
3D Management Arlene Moon Mandi Bursteen Aziyn Babayan
Production Bill Leabody – production manager Steve Iredale – stadium site coordinator Craig Finley – stage manager Nicole Erin Kuhns – production coordinator Tiffany Henry – wardrobe
Backline Matt McGinn, Craig Hope – guitar tech Sean Buttery – drum tech Neil Lambert – keys and digital tech Paul Newman – bass tech
Sound Chris Wood – monitor engineer Tony Smith – FoH assistant Nick Davis – monitor assistant Ali Viles – RF tech
Sound crew Sid Rogerson (chief) Kyle Walsh (chief) Nick Mooney Conor Dunne Josh de Jong Craig Gordon Matt Latham John Switzer Victor Arko Jordan Kolenc Kurt Wolf
Lighting crew Mick Stowe (chief) Graham Feast (operator) Phil Sharp Ricky Butler Kris Lundberg Wayne Kwiat Marta Iwan John Bailey Gareth Pritchard Paul Burke Ben Rogerson Mark Goodwall
Video crew Andy Bramley (director) Ed Jarman (engineer) Ben Miles (media servers) Phil Johnston Pieter Laleman Sacha Moore Robyn Tearle Chip Wood
Rigging crew Russell Glenn (head rigger) Jerry Hough (coordinator) Bjorn Melchert Matt Rynes
Carpenters Pat Boyd Mike Humeniuk Andy Pearson
Special effects David Kennedy – laser and pyro designer Mike Hartle – lasers John Lyons – pyro Derek Purciful – confetti
Security Andy Frost, Kelly Samuels – artist security Jackie Jackson – venue security
Stage Paul Normandale – lighting and production designer Misty Buckley – stage and prop designer Paris, Reggie Matherson, Lynden Mallinson – painter
Trainer Dan Portanier
Catering Soozie Coll Alicia Boardman Pauline Austin Jesse Davies Piers Dawson Sharon Jackson
Stadium dressing rooms Dave Loudon Ian Thomason
Representatives Hal Hamer, Dan Vitt – merchandise (North America) Paul Nolan – merchandise (Europe) Julie Matway – Live Nation Rachel Edwards – Oxfam Gavin Maude, Jonathan Petch – legal
VIP ticketing coordinator Tiffany Hiliard Arman Chaparyan
Xylobands Jason Regler Hillside Design