Coldplay : Look at the Stars

Rating:
Summary: A book every Coldplay fan should own
Review: Gary Spivack's "Coldplay: Look at the Stars" is a captivating look into the emergence of Coldplay as a rock phenomenon. With the exception of a few small annoyances (like referring to Will Champion as "Wil" or the song "Politik" as "Politix") this new book provides a colorful view of the evolution of a band that has had numerous ups and downs over the course of its relatively new career.

The many witty band quotes, the enthralling color photos and the day-to-day accounts of the band's many tours make up the silver lining of the book. Spivack does an excellent job of making the reader feel like he or she is "along for the ride," and his "backstage" observations help the reader to understand the true, what Spivack calls "schizophrenic," nature of Coldplay.

"Colplay: Look at the Stars" is a true page turner, and Coldplay fans will have a hard time putting it down. Luckily for them, at just over 130 pages (with pictures included throughout), they will most likely be able to read the book from front to back in a single sitting.

Thank you, Gary Spivack, for sharing your intimate look at a brilliant band and their timeless music with those of us who have been moved, awed and inspired by their musical and emotional contributions to our lives.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasant "Quickie" Read of How Coldplay Broke the US
Review: I'm a big Coldplay fan, and when I saw this book at my local library, I just picked it up out of curiosity. The author, Gary Spivack, was a record label executive at Capitol (he's since then departed) and responsible for marketing/supporting Coldplay in the US.

"Coldplay: Look At the Stars" is Spivack's personal take on how Coldplay broke the US market, and in that it succeeds. He obviously had a lot of contact with the band, and that is where the book succeeds. My favorite part of the book is Gary's recollections on Coldplay's first American tour in February, 2001, for no other reason than I happened to see Coldplay in Portland, OR (the second stop in the US). You could just feel the magic in the air, a band that was about to make it really big.

The author doesn't spend a lot of time on how the band actually formed and where it found its musical origins, and that is the major failing of this book. Nevertheless, this is a quick and pleasant read. Spivack recounts his sacking from Capitol in early 2003, and how quick Chris Martin was there to console him (by phone). But for the definitive Coldplay story, we will have to wait another day and another book.

Rating:
Summary: "Look at the record exec."
Review: I'm a musician and a big Coldplay fan, so I should have loved this book, but it fell short. This book read more like a tour book you'd buy at a concert put together by their marketing people than an insider's story.
The main problem I had is it was written by a record executive who claims to be "insider", but has nothing new to offer. I suppose Gary's perspective would be interesting to fellow record executives and the like, but the book falls short in revealing any real insight on the band that you couldn't read in a magazine interview with the band.
One of Gary's "insights" is how humble Chris Martin is...he quotes Chris in a conversation early in the book where Chris asks Gary "how can I make your job easier" and Gary beams. WHO CARES. Chris Martin is humble and selfless to a fault; no insight here. The problem is most of Gary's interactions with the band are interactions between a record exec. and the band...and it reads that way.
The fact is, Gary had very little to do with Coldplay's success and it's obvious he is not much of an insider. Gary admits himself Coldplay was "lightning in a bottle", signed only after a fierce bidding war between labels. I think Chris Martin is just a really nice guy, who saw someone (Gary Spivack) down on his luck and wanted to help the poor guy out by letting him write this book (Gary had been fired by Columbia just before penning the book).
The author seems to blame his lack of an insightful story on Coldplay's middleclass upbringing and that they're all around good kids (this isn't a drugs, sex and rock and roll type band). I don't agree that an interesting story couldn't be written by the right person.
My biggest problem is this book is written by a record company exec. who approached the project like you would a tour guide sold at a concert venue, only longer. Gary didn't grow up with the band (to the point they were signed), didn't discover the band (they were signed by a sister co. in England), doesn't manage the band (where he'd be touring every night seeing all sides of the members), or produce the band (where he's in the studio witnessing the creavtive process)...he just booked tours and showed up occasionally for concerts and "meet and greets". How does that qualify you to write a band biography?
Coldplay should have their manager, producer or the members themselves write this story...with a side of the story to tell that we don't already know.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Source
Review: Rare is the event where one close to the story is also a gifted writer. This is why Gary Spivack's LOOK AT THE STARS is an event deserving your attention. Spivack was part of the process of Coldplay developing from a brand new British band that nobody had ever heard of to a household name. The author had access to events and behind-the-scenes meetings that will keep you turning pages. This is a must read for anyone curious about the music business ... whether you're a Coldplay fan or not.