News

Chris Martin Gets Auctioned Off

Coldplay's Chris Martin has sold out, but for a good cause. This week, he put himself up on the auction block, offering to play a solo song in a lucky winner's living room. The "Auction of Promises" was a fundraiser for London's Canonbury Primary School. Coldplay business manager Paul Makin has a child at the school.

Bidding heated up quickly, with parents reportedly forming alliances in attempts to raise enough coin (in the end, it took £5,000 to earn the "Sold!" cry). The rules of the auction stipulated that no more than 10 people could be present for the mini-concert. Also, the winner had to provide a piano.

Not to be outdone, novelist Nick Hornby offered up some donated books. Okay, so maybe he was outdone. Martin was also believed to fetch a higher price than the other man whose visitation services were up for auction: Schools Minister Lord Adonis.

Martin is probably glad to see his name back in the press for flattering reasons, as he's been taking verbal blows from some fellow musicians lately -- not necessarily a new problem for him. Darkness singer Justin Hawkins accused Martin of getting involved with Band Aid only to raise his own profile, allegedly ditching out on "working our behinds off" for the organization alongside Hawkins and his bandmates. And Alison Goldfrapp, coming off an opening slot on a leg of Coldplay's tour, questioned Martin's sanity after discovering that he flew back and forth from home on a private jet in between gigs.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
05.19.06