Jonny Buckland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonny Buckland
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Buckland performing with Coldplay in 2024
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Jonathan Mark Buckland
11 September 1977 London, England
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| Alma mater | University College London |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Chloe Lee-Evans
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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| Origin | London, England |
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Jonathan Mark Buckland (born 11 September 1977) is a British musician and songwriter. He is famous as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay. Jonny grew up in Pantymwyn, Wales. He started playing guitar at a young age. He was inspired by bands like My Bloody Valentine and U2.
Jonny's guitar playing is known for being simple and beautiful. He uses special effects pedals to create unique sounds. He studied astronomy and mathematics at University College London. There, he met Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion. Together, they formed Coldplay. The band became globally famous with their album Parachutes in 2000. As part of Coldplay, he has won many awards. These include seven Grammy Awards and nine Brit Awards. Coldplay has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. They are one of the most successful groups of the 21st century.
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Early Life and Music
Jonathan Mark Buckland was born in Islington, London, England. This was on 11 September 1977. When he was four, his family moved to Pantymwyn, Wales. He learned the basics of guitar at his primary school, Ysgol y Waun. He also played football and rugby.
As a young person, Jonny listened to his parents' records. These included music by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. His brother, Tim, encouraged him to play more guitar. Tim shared music from bands like George Harrison, My Bloody Valentine, and U2. The first chords Jonny learned were from "Kinky Afro" by Happy Mondays.
Jonny had piano lessons when he was seven but did not enjoy them. At 10, he was part of a rap group. He even made computer music using dog barks as beats! When he was 11, he joined the Scouts. He still liked the uniform in 2008. Jonny also shared a funny story about a sheep. An angry sheep attacked him multiple times when he was young. Because of this, he avoids wearing wool and eating lamb. He continued his education at University College London. There, he earned a degree in astronomy and mathematics. This is where he met his future bandmates.
Coldplay: A Band's Journey
Forming the Band
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Jonny Buckland helped start Coldplay with Chris Martin. They met during their university's orientation week in 1996. Both lived in the same student hall. Another band member, Will Champion, said Jonny was not a "show-off." He kept his guitar hidden but was the best guitarist. Chris Martin said meeting Jonny was "like falling in love."
They started practicing and writing songs in early 1997. Guy Berryman joined them later that year. The group was first called Big Fat Noises. Will Champion completed the band in 1998. They changed their name to Starfish for their first show. Then they finally became Coldplay.
Jonny's Role in Coldplay
In Coldplay, Jonny is often seen as quiet and friendly. He is known as "the wise owl" of the group. Chris Martin has said he tries to bring Jonny into the spotlight. This is because he believes Jonny is a guitar hero. In their early days, the band rehearsed in Jonny's bedroom. Their neighbors were very patient with the noise!
Jonny is often the first to give feedback on Chris Martin's song ideas. He has also started songs himself, like "Adventure of a Lifetime." This song was a big hit from their album A Head Full of Dreams (2015). While he mostly plays guitar, Jonny also sings backing vocals on many songs. He even sang the lead vocals on "Don't Panic." This song was on their first album, Parachutes (2000).
Other Creative Work
Jonny has also worked on other music projects. He played guitar on two songs for Ian McCulloch's album Slideling (2003). In 2004, he and Chris Martin had a small role in the comedy horror movie Shaun of the Dead. They later recorded a song called "Beach Chair" for Jay-Z's album Kingdom Come (2006). In 2019, Jonny helped Jodie Whittaker record a cover of "Yellow." This was for BBC's Children in Need album.
Musical Style and Gear
Jonny's Guitar Gear
Jonny often uses a Fender '72 Telecaster Thinline guitar. This guitar is known for its full sound. Sometimes, he also plays Jazzmaster, Jaguar, and Gibson ES-335 guitars. For his sound, he uses two Fender Hot Rod DeVille amplifiers.
He also uses many special pedals to create his unique sound. These include pedals for boosting his sound, adding distortion, and creating echo effects. He uses a Line 6 DL4 pedal a lot. You can hear a special effect from an MXR Phase 90 pedal in the song "Fix You." His favorite Coldplay guitar riff is from "Hurts Like Heaven."
Musical Inspirations
Jonny's guitar style is known for being simple and atmospheric. He once said he was more interested in creating a mood than playing fast solos. He was inspired by guitarists from bands like Mercury Rev and My Bloody Valentine.
His use of a slide bar creates a ringing sound. This has led to comparisons with the Edge, the guitarist from U2. The Edge himself said that Jonny is an inspiration to guitar players. He was proud to know he influenced Jonny.
Personal Life
Jonny Buckland is a big fan of the football team Tottenham Hotspur. He was a vegetarian for a few years. However, on a trip to Japan, he accidentally ate beef. He found out he really liked it! Still, he and his bandmates often have "Meat Free Mondays."
In 2007, his older brother Tim started a band called The Domino State. This band even opened for Coldplay on their Viva la Vida Tour. Jonny married jewellery designer Chloe Lee-Evans in November 2009. They have two children together.
The family lives in London. Jonny is also the godfather to Chris Martin's daughter, Apple. He enjoys reading books in his free time. Jonny's great-grandfather had a band called Vic Buckland's Dance Orchestra. A photo of their band inspired the look of Coldplay's album Everyday Life (2019).
Discography
With Coldplay
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Solo Credits
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See also
- List of people associated with University College London
- List of British Grammy winners and nominees
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of highest-grossing live music artists
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
