Paltrow’s rock star charged: [8 – NSW Metro Edition]
John Stapleton, Sophie Tedmanson. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 21 July 2003: 1.
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Abstract
If [Chris Martin] was upset by the alleged incident he was not showing it last night, when Coldplay closed the Splendour in the Grass music festival in Byron Bay. “We love this festival, it is f…ing great,” he said. The set ended with a rendition of What A Wonderful World. Gwyneth Paltrow was in attendance, watching the band’s performance from the side of the stage, singing and dancing.
Full Text
LEAD singer of British pop band Coldplay, Chris Martin, will face court after an incident in Byron Bay yesterday.
The singer is alleged to have attempted to break the windscreen of a freelance Sydney photographer. He is scheduled to appear in Byron Bay Local Court on October 8 on a charge of malicious damage.
The photographer, 47-year-old Jon Lister, is reported to have followed the singer to Seven Mile Beach, where Martin went surfing with a friend. When he emerged from the surf, Martin is alleged to have become infuriated, saying he did not want pictures of him surfing being circulated.
Lister says the singer demanded that he erase the photographs form his digital camera.
Shortly afterwards, when he reached the beach exit, it is alleged Martin tried to break the photographer’s windscreen and also tried to deflate his car’s tyres. He allegedly ignored initial attempts by the photographer to stop him.
Martin has a reputation as a vegetarian teetotaller, known for being polite but private. Fans commented that the alleged behaviour was out of character.
If Martin was upset by the alleged incident he was not showing it last night, when Coldplay closed the Splendour in the Grass music festival in Byron Bay. “We love this festival, it is f…ing great,” he said. The set ended with a rendition of What A Wonderful World. Gwyneth Paltrow was in attendance, watching the band’s performance from the side of the stage, singing and dancing.
Martin thanked organisers and said the band was happy to travel to the other side of the world for Australian audiences. They will perform in Sydney tonight and tomorrow night before heading to Japan.
Review — Arts, Page 7