They broke off last year and are now claiming millions of pounds for breach of contract and lack of professional ethics. Coldplayy Dave Holmes, who represented the English band for two decades until 2022, have become embroiled in a bitter dispute that could end in a high-profile public trial at the High Court of England and Wales. The opposing parties sue each other compensation of between 10 and 14 million pounds (11.5 and 16.2 million euros at today’s exchange rate) for alleged non-payment of commissions and breach of contractual obligations.
Holmes took the first step in the legal vendetta against the four musicians – Chris Martin, leader and vocalist; Guy Berryman, bass; Johnny Buckland, guitar; and Will Champion, drummer – for whom he had worked since 2001. With the band embarking on his pioneering ecological tour Music of the Sphereswith new dates added to the world itinerary until the summer of 2024, the already fired manager claimed 10 million pounds in pending commissions in a complaint sent to the High Court, based in London.
The response from Chris Martin’s group has been clear and direct. Holmes is accused of take financial advantage of his association with the band, of wasting money on technical equipment and neglecting the production of the world tour. They demand 14 million pounds in damages, according to the Sunday newspaper The Sunday Timeswho had access to the text of the counterclaim.
Coldplay alleges that their old manager used them as covert endorsement in a couple of loans he requested from Live Nation, the multinational that promotes tours and manages the sale of tickets for concerts by large and small artists. According to the newspaper, Holmes had access to funds of 20 and 10 million dollars, in separate transactions in 2015 and 2018, at the low interest rate of 2.72%, with which would have financed a real estate project “in or around Vancouver, Canada.”
The band argues that Holmes achieved both credits “thanks to his position as Coldplay’s manager” and alleges a conflict of interest in his dual dealings with Live Nation. The written allegation includes the suspicion that the then representative would not have been willing to negotiate the best conditions in the management of Music for the Spheres due to the debt contracted with the producing company.