‘First time in history’: Huge last-minute change at Coldplay’s Melbourne show

Coldplay opened their massive Australian stadium tour in Melbourne last night, but the show was marred by an unfortunate career-first.

British rock band Coldplay opened their massive Australian stadium tour in Melbourne last night, but the otherwise triumphant show was marred by an unfortunate career-first.

The concert at Melbourne’s Marvel stadium was the first time the group had performed without all four original members on stage. Bassist Guy Berryman was not present, having been taken ill.

“Tonight was the first time in our band’s history that we’ve played a show without all four members onstage. Guy was taken ill unexpectedly just before the show. Thank you for carrying us through it,” the band wrote on Instagram after the show.

The Herald Sun reports that frontman Chris Martin broke the news to fans during the show, announcing: “We will have a slightly different show and we’ll do our best to make it amazing because we are in Melbourne with all you beautiful people.”

Coldplay perform at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“If you see some mistakes and problems, it’s because we don’t have our bass player … You won’t see Guy tonight because he is vomiting.”

Later in the show, Martin thanked Berryman’s replacement, the band’s music engineer and co-producer Bill Rahko, who stepped in at very short notice to fill in as bassist, and wore an alien mask for the gig.

Martin said Bill had “taken it upon himself with about 30 minutes’ notice to wear a stupid helmet and a jumpsuit and look like an idiot for two hours.”

It’s not yet known whether Berryman will be back on stage for tonight’s sold-out Melbourne show. Coldplay’s four-night run at Marvel Stadium will continue with shows on Saturday and Sunday, before the band move to Sydney to play four sold-out shows at Accor Stadium next week.

The east coast run comes after Coldplay courted controversy last year, visiting Australia earlier in the tour – but only playing two nights in Perth.

L-R: Jonny Buckland, Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Will Champion. Melbourne was Coldplay’s first-ever gig without all four members present. Picture: AP

It started in March 2022, but Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres world tour still has another year to go: The mammoth tour is scheduled to finish with a jaw-dropping 10-night stint at London’s Wembley Stadium next August and September. By the time they finish, the band will have played 222 shows on the tour.

Coldplay’s Melbourne night one setlist:

1. Higher Power

2. Adventure of a Lifetime

3. Paradise

4. The Scientist

5. Viva la Vida

6. Hymn for the Weekend

7. Everglow

8. Charlie Brown

9. Yellow

10. Human Heart

11. People of the Pride

12. Clocks

13. WE PRAY

14. Something Just Like This

15. My Universe

16. A Sky Full of Stars

17. Sparks

18. The Jumbotron Song

19. Fix You

20. GOOD FEELiNGS

21. feelslikeimfallinginlove