Will Champion
| Will Champion | |
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Champion performing with Coldplay in 2011.
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| Background information | |
| Born |
31 July 1978 Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Parlophone, Capitol, Atlantic |
| Associated acts | Coldplay, a-ha, Ricky Gervais |
| Notable instruments | |
| Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Slingerland drumkit, Pro-Mark American Hickory 5A sticks and Ludwig Supraphonic Snare, Remo Drumheads Coated Ambassador | |
William "Will" Champion (born 31 July 1978) is a British musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is the drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Coldplay.
William Champion was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, on 31 July 1978 and was brought up in the Highfield suburb of the city, close to the University of Southampton, where his father, Timothy Champion, is a professor of archaeology; his mother, Sarah Champion, was also an archaeologist.
As a youth, Champion's musical influences included Tom Waits, Nick Cave and traditional Irish folk music. He learned to play piano and violin when he was 8 and he learned to play the guitar when he was 12. He also has experience on the bass, and tin whistle. Before he joined Coldplay, Champion performed in a band called Fat Hamster.
Champion attended primary school at Portswood Primary School, secondary school at Cantell Maths and Computing College, and college at Peter Symonds College. He attended Highfield Church. As a youngster he also played cricket for Chandler's Ford CC along with his older brother.
English comedian Ricky Gervais is Will's former boss.
Champion was the last of the four band members to join the ensemble on 31 July 1997. He took up the position as drummer with no prior experience, but quickly adjusted to fill the role. In 1999, lead singer Chris Martin sacked Champion, but the band asked him to return soon after.
In Coldplay, he is often regarded as the rationality of the group. They say of him: "Will does have a very sensible head on his shoulders and when it comes to making band decisions he's really good at putting valid points across and keeping everyone focused. He frequently has the casting vote and his decision can sometimes override the consensus!" As Chris Martin has said in multiple interviews, "We [Coldplay] are all just working for Will Champion."
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