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 on September 11, 1977) is a British musician and songwriter. He is famous for being the lead guitarist and a co-founder of the rock band Coldplay.
Jonny grew up in Pantymwyn, Wales. He started playing guitar when he was young. He was inspired by bands like My Bloody Valentine, the Stone Roses, and U2. His guitar playing is known for being simple and beautiful. He uses special effects pedals to create unique sounds.
Jonny studied mathematics and astronomy at University College London. There, he met Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion. Together, they formed Coldplay. The band signed with Parlophone in 1999. They became globally famous with their album Parachutes in 2000. Coldplay has sold over 160 million records worldwide. They are one of the most successful music groups of the 21st century. Jonny has won many awards with Coldplay, including seven Grammy Awards and nine Brit Awards.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jonny Buckland was born in Islington, London, England. This was on September 11, 1977. He is the second child of John and Joy Buckland. When he was four, his family moved to Pantymwyn, Wales.
He went to Ysgol y Waun for primary school. There, he learned the basics of playing the guitar. He also enjoyed playing football and rugby. Jonny continued his studies at Alun School. He took music lessons and showed a special talent for writing music.
Musical Beginnings
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. Jonny was inspired to play guitar after hearing George Harrison's first album. The first chords he learned were from "Kinky Afro" by Happy Mondays.
Jonny had piano lessons when he was seven but did not like them. At age 10, he was part of a rap group. He also experimented with computer music. He even used dog barks to make beats! Later, he joined the Scouts when he was 11. He once had a funny experience with an angry sheep. This made him avoid wearing wool and eating lamb.
Jonny went on to study at University College London. He earned a degree in mathematics and astronomy. It was there that he met the other members of Coldplay.
Music Career
Forming Coldplay
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Jonny Buckland and Chris Martin met during their first week at University College London in 1996. They both lived in the same student hall. Will Champion said that Jonny was not a "show-off" even though he was the best guitarist. Chris Martin felt like he "fell in love" when he met Jonny.
They started practicing and writing songs together in early 1997. Guy Berryman joined them later that year. At first, they called themselves Big Fat Noises. Will Champion completed the band in 1998. He quickly scheduled their first live show in London. The band changed their name to Starfish for that show. Later, they became Coldplay.
Within the band, Jonny is known for being quiet, friendly, and wise. Chris Martin has said he tries to help Jonny step into the spotlight more. In their early days, the band rehearsed in Jonny's bedroom. Jonny is often the first to give feedback on new song ideas. He has also written songs on his own, like "Adventure of a Lifetime". This song was a big hit from their 2015 album, A Head Full of Dreams. While he mostly plays guitar, you can hear Jonny's voice in some songs. He even sings the main vocals on "Don't Panic" from their first album, Parachutes.
Other Music Projects
Jonny has also worked on music outside of Coldplay. He played guitar on two songs, "Sliding" and "Arthur," for Ian McCulloch's album Slideling in 2003. In 2006, he and Chris Martin recorded "Beach Chair" for Jay-Z's album, Kingdom Come.
He also made a small appearance in the comedy film Shaun of the Dead in 2004 with Chris Martin. In 2010, he was featured in an independent film called Slashed. In 2019, Jonny and Will Champion helped Jodie Whittaker record a cover of Coldplay's song "Yellow" for the BBC's Children in Need album.
Musical Style and Influences
Jonny Buckland often plays a Fender Telecaster Thinline guitar from 1972. This guitar is known for its full sound. He sometimes uses other guitars like the Fender Jazzmaster and Gibson ES-335. For their recent tours, he uses many guitars and special amplifiers. He also uses various effects pedals to create his unique sound. These pedals help him make sounds like distortion, reverb, and tremolo.
Jonny's guitar style is known for being simple and atmospheric. He once said he was more interested in creating a mood than playing long guitar solos. He was influenced by guitarists from bands like Mercury Rev, My Bloody Valentine, and the Verve. His use of a slide bar creates a ringing sound. This has led to comparisons to the Edge, the guitarist from U2. The Edge even said that Jonny is an inspiration to guitar players.
Jonny has shared playlists of his favorite songs from different decades. These playlists included artists like the Velvet Underground, Joy Division, Kate Bush, and Björk. His favorite Coldplay guitar part is from the song "Hurts Like Heaven".
Personal Life
Jonny Buckland is a big fan of the Tottenham Hotspur F.C. football team. He was a vegetarian for several years. However, during a trip to Japan, he accidentally ate beef. He found out he liked it, but he still tries to have "Meatless Mondays."
His brother, Tim, is in a band called The Domino State. This band even opened for Coldplay on their Viva la Vida Tour in 2008-2010. Jonny married jewelry designer Chloe Lee-Evans in 2009. They have two children together.
The family lives in London and also owns apartments in New York City. Jonny is a godfather to Apple, who is Chris Martin's daughter. He enjoys reading books when he's not making music. Jonny's great-grandfather had a band called Vic Buckland's Dance Orchestra. A photo of their band inspired the look for Coldplay's 2019 album, Everyday Life.
Discography
With Coldplay
- Parachutes (2000)
- A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
- X&Y (2005)
- Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)
- Mylo Xyloto (2011)
- Ghost Stories (2014)
- A Head Full of Dreams (2015)
- Everyday Life (2019)
- Music of the Spheres (2021)
- Moon Music (2024)
Solo Credits
- "Sliding" (2003) – played guitar
- "Arthur" (2003) – played guitar
- "Beach Chair" (2006) – played guitar
See Also
- List of people associated with University College London
- List of best-selling music artists
