A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour

A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour
Tour by Coldplay
Associated album	A Rush of Blood to the Head
Start date	21 January 2003 (2003-01-21) (official tour) 19 June 2002 (2002-06-19) (including 2002 shows)
End date	8 September 2003 (2003-09-08)
Legs	5 (official) 10 (including 2002)
Shows	70 (official) 126 (including 2002)
Coldplay tour chronology
U.S. Club Tour (2001) A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour (2002–2003) Twisted Logic Tour (2005–2006)

A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour was a global concert tour by Coldplay launched in support of the band's second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. Officially, the tour ran for almost nine months in 2003, covering five continents in the process. In 2002, Coldplay also performed a series of concerts in Europe and North America to support the album. However, these shows were not advertised as being part of the official album tour. The tour DVD Live 2003 was shot at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia on 21 and 22 July 2003. Supporting acts for the tour included extended appearances by Idlewild and Ash in 2002 and Feeder, The Music, Eisley, and Ron Sexsmith in 2003.

Background

Overall, Coldplay's concerts during this period showcased its progression as a bona fide live act. The band began playing more shows in arenas and amphitheatres, moving away from the club venues that dominated earlier tours. Shows also had more elaborate stage and lighting effects. For example, strobe lighting for the song "Daylight" featured the image of a rotating sun superimposed over the stage. Taking a cue from U2's Elevation Tour and Nine Inch Nails' Fragility Tour, Coldplay also adopted a series of back screens that displayed video footage of each band member simultaneously.

Other highlights included:

• Lead singer Chris Martin sang with Ron Sexsmith on the track, "Gold in Them Hills" during the headline set.
• Guitarist Jon Buckland regularly played a harmonica solo on the track "Don't Panic". He tossed the harmonica into the crowd after the solo's completion. Buckland also performed an original electric guitar introduction for the track.
• The aforementioned back screens were unfurled mid-concert, usually during the beginning of "One I Love".
• At some shows, Martin sang lyrics after inhaling from a helium balloon.
• Martin usually wore a Make Trade Fair t-shirt during 2002 shows to promote the Oxfam campaign. Make Trade Fair booths were present at venues, where concert-goers could sign petitions and learn about the campaign's objectives.

Setlist

Coldplay's show during this period was noted for its use of strobe lighting.

The 2002 shows contained a rough 50/50 split in material from Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head. The official tour in 2003 focused on songs from the second album, as well as many unreleased tracks. For example, future Live 2003 song "Moses" and "Fix You" B-side "Pour Me" were introduced during the tour. Other new songs included "Gravity", "Your World's Turned Upside Down" and "Ladder to the Sun".

Coldplay also made a habit of covering other artists on the tour, often as outros to their own songs. Covers ranged from a tongue-in-cheek excerpt of Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi" to the Louis Armstrong classic "What a Wonderful World". Coldplay also regularly covered Echo & the Bunnymen's "Lips Like Sugar" in its entirety, in homage of Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch's role as a mentor during the recording of A Rush of Blood to the Head.

The musical introduction to the concert featured selections from Brian Eno's Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks.

The following is a sample setlist, taken from a concert in Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia on 21 June 2003.

Main set

1. "Politik"
2. "God Put a Smile upon Your Face"
3. "A Rush of Blood to the Head"
4. "Daylight"
5. "Trouble"
6. "One I Love"
7. "Don't Panic"
8. "Shiver"
9. "See You Soon"
10. "Everything's Not Lost"
11. "Moses"
12. "Yellow"
13. "The Scientist"
14. "What a Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong Cover)

Encore 1

1. "Clocks"
2. "In My Place"
3. "Amsterdam"

Encore 2

1. "Life Is for Living"

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
Europe
19 June 2002	Edinburgh	Scotland	Queens Hall
20 June 2002	Liverpool	England	Mountfield Hall
22 June 2002	London		Royal Festival Hall
24 June 2002	Bath		Bath Pavilion
25 June 2002	Portsmouth		Pyramids
26 June 2002	Truro		Hall for Cornwall
28 June 2002	Pilton		Worthy Farm
30 June 2002	Werchter	Belgium	-
2 July 2002	Stockholm	Sweden	Gota Kallare
3 July 2002	Ringe	Denmark	-
5 July 2002	Amsterdam	Netherlands	Heineken Music Hall
7 July 2002	Rome	Italy	Valle Giulia
9 July 2002	Hamburg	Germany	Grosse Freiheit
11 July 2002	Oslo	Norway	Rockefeller Music Hall
North America
2 August 2002	Chicago	United States	Rockefeller Music Hall
6 August 2002	Boston		Paradise Rock Club
7 August 2002	Philadelphia		TLA
10 August 2002	Washington		Nightclub 9:30
12 August 2002	New York		Bowery Ballroom
14 August 2002	Minneapolis		First Avenue
18 August 2002	San Francisco		Bimbo's
20 August 2002	Los Angeles		El Rey
Europe
27 August 2002	Paris	France	Olympia
29 August 2002	London	England	Forum
North America
4 September 2002	Seattle	United States	Paramount Theatre
6 September 2002	San Francisco		The Greek Theatre
7 September 2002	Las Vegas		The Joint
9 September 2002	San Diego		SDSU Open Air Theatre
10 September 2002	Los Angeles		The Greek Theatre
14 September 2002	Atlanta		Masquerade Music Park
16 September 2002	Baltimore		Pier Six Concert Pavilion
17 September 2002	Boston		Fleet Boston Pavilion
19 September 2002	New York		Jones Beach
21 September 2002	Toronto	Canada	Air Canada Centre
24 September 2002	Chicago	United States	UIC Pavilion
Europe
4 October 2002	Glasgow	Scotland	S.E.C.C.
5 October 2002	Newcastle	England	Telewest Arena
7 October 2002	Birmingham		N.I.A.
8 October 2002	Nottingham		Nottingham Arena
11 October 2002	Manchester		MEN Arena
14 October 2002	Brighton		Brighton Centre
15 October 2002	Bournemouth		International Centre
17 October 2002	Plymouth		Pavilions
18 October 2002	Port Talbot	Wales	Afan Lido FC
20 October 2002	London	England	Wembley Arena
21 October 2002
23 October 2002	Belfast	Northern Ireland	Odyssey Arena
25 October 2002	Dublin	Ireland	Point Theatre
27 October 2002
29 October 2002	London	England	London Astoria
3 November 2002	Brussels	Belgium	Forest National Hall
5 November 2002	Rotterdam	Netherlands	Ahoy Stadium
6 November 2002	Paris	France	Zenith
8 November 2002	Koln	Germany	Palladium
10 November 2002	Munich		Colosseum
12 November 2002	Montpellier	France	Le Zenith
15 November 2002	Madrid	Spain	La Riviera
16 November 2002	Barcelona		Razzmatazz
18 November 2002	Milan	Italy	Filaforum
20 November 2002	Berlin	Germany	Columbiahalle
21 November 2002	Copenhagen	Denmark	VK Hall
23 November 2002	Stockholm	Sweden	Hovet
24 November 2002	Oslo	Norway	Spectrum
North America
8 December 2002	Los Angeles	United States	Universal Amphitheater
9 December 2002	San Francisco		-
11 December 2002	Boston		-
12 December 2002	New York		Nassau Coliseum
13 December 2002	Washington		-
15 December 2002	Philadelphia		-
21 January 2003	Orlando		Hard Rock Cafe
22 January 2003	Miami		University of Miami
24 January 2003	Birmingham		BJCC
25 January 2003	Charlotte		Grady Cole Center
27 January 2003	New Orleans		Saenger Theatre
28 January 2003	Houston		Verizon Wireless Theater
29 January 2003	Austin		Frank Erwin Center
31 January 2003	Grand Prairie		Next Stage
1 February 2003	Oklahoma City		Civic Center Music Hall
3 February 2003	St. Louis		Savvis Center
4 February 2003	Kansas City, Missouri		Memorial Hall
6 February 2003	Denver		The Fillmore
7 February 2003	Salt Lake City		Salt Air Pavilion
8 February 2003	Scottsdale		Martini Ranch Nightclub
9 February 2003	Phoenix		Dodge Theater
24 February 2003	Ottawa	Canada	Corel Centre
25 February 2003	Montreal		Bell Centre
27 February 2003	Wallingford	United States	Oakdale Theatre
28 February 2003	Camden		Tweeter Center
2 March 2003	Pittsburgh		Palumbo Theatre
3 March 2003	Detroit		Fox Theatre
4 March 2003	Indianapolis		Murat Theater
6 March 2003	Atlanta		Arena at Gwinnett Center
7 March 2003	Nashville		Ryman Auditorium
9 March 2003	Columbus		PromoWest Pavilion
10 March 2003	Louisville		Palace Theatre
12 March 2003	Milwaukee		Eagles Ballroom
13 March 2003	Minneapolis		Target Center

2003.24 Leg (European Tour)

• 15 March - London, England Shepherd's Bush Empire
• 25 March - London, England Maida Vale Studios
• 27 March - Lille, France Zenith
• 28 March - Strasbourg, France Hall Rhenus
• 30 March - Paris, France Zenith
• 31 March - Frankfurt, Germany Jahrhunderthalle
• 2 April - Munster, Germany Halle Munsterland
• 3 April - Düsseldorf, Germany Philipshalle
• 5 April - Boblingen, Germany Sports Hall
• 6 April - Zurich, Switzerland Hallenstadion
• 9 April - Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon Arena
• 10 April - Madrid, Spain Vista Alegre Bull Ring
• 11 April - Barcelona, Spain Badalona Arena
• 14 April - Manchester, England Evening News Arena
• 16 April - London, England Earls Court
• 17 April - London, England Earls Court

2003.25 Leg (American Tour)

• 20 May - Edmonton, AB, Canada Shaw Conference Centre
• 21 May - Calgary, AB, Canada Pengrowth Saddledome
• 23 May - Vancouver, BC, Canada GM Place
• 24 May - George, WA Gorge Amphitheater
• 25 May - Bend, OR Les Schwab Amphitheater
• 27 May - Boise, ID B of A Center
• 28 May - Sacramento, CA Sac Valley Amphitheater
• 30 May - Mountain View, CA Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheater
• 31 May - Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
• 2 June - Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
• 3 June - San Diego, CA SDSU Cox Arena
• 5 June - Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater
• 6 June - Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater
• 9 June - Chicago, IL UIC Pavilion
• 10 June - Cleveland, OH Tower City Amphitheater
• 11 June - Toronto, ON, Canada Molson Amphitheatre
• 13 June - New York, NY Madison Square Garden

2003.42 Leg (European Arena Tour)

• 20 June - Schee?el, Germany Main Stage
• 21 June - Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany Main Stage
• 23 June - Rome, Italy Centrale del Tennis
• 24 June - Fano, Italy Piazza XX Settembre
• 27 June - Roskilde, Denmark Main Stage
• 29 June - Werchter, Belgium Main Stage
• 1 July - Nijmegen, Netherlands Goffert Park
• 3 July - Kristiansand, Norway Idrettsplassen
• 12 July - Ratoath, Ireland Fairyhouse Racecourse
• 13 July - Kinross, Scotland Main Stage

2003.5 Leg (Asia/Australasia Tour)

• 18 July - Melbourne, Australia Rod Laver Arena
• 20 July - Byron Bay, Australia Splendour in the Grass
• 21–22 July - Sydney, Australia Horden Pavilion
• 24 July - Auckland, New Zealand Carter Holt Pavilion
• 26 July - Naeba, Japan Naeba Ski Resort
• 29 July - Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok Arena
• 16 August - Chelmsford, England Hylands Park
• 17 August - Stafford, England Weston Park

2003.75 Leg (Latin American Tour)

• 3 September - São Paulo, Brazil Via Funchal
• 4 September - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ATL Hall
• 7 September - Mexico City, Mexico Palacio de los Deportes
• 8 September - Mexico City, Mexico Palacio de los Deportes

External links

• Official website