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Phil Harvey (band manager)

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Phil Harvey
Harvey resting his arms in a fence at the backstage, wearing a black shirt
Harvey at Today Show's backstage in 2021
Born
Philip Christopher Harvey

(1976-08-29) 29 August 1976 (age 48)
Bristol, England
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
Occupations
  • Manager
  • creative director
Years active
  • 1998–2002
  • 2006–present
SpouseYasmin Harvey
AwardsGrammy Award (2004)
Musical career
OriginLondon, England
Labels
Member ofColdplay
Signature

Philip Christopher Harvey (born 29 August 1976) is an English manager and creative director. He is best known for his work with the rock band Coldplay. While attending Trinity College, Oxford, he used to organise and promote student parties at local clubs, dropping out of his course to manage the band and helping them finance Safety (1998). They signed a record deal with Parlophone in 1999 and found global fame with Parachutes (2000) and subsequent albums.

Harvey left Coldplay's line-up for four years due to the stress of managing the group by himself, a job which usually requires a team. He completed a psychology degree at the University of Melbourne during this interval, returned as a creative director, and started to make select cameo appearances in their music videos. He won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year as part of Coldplay. Having sold over 100 million albums worldwide,[a] they are the most successful group of the 21st century.[3]

Early life

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Philip Christopher Harvey was born on 29 August 1976 in Bristol, England.[4] He studied at Sherborne School between 1990 and 1995, in the Lyon house.[5] While at the institution, Harvey met and became friends with Chris Martin.[6] He also played bass for The Rockin' Honkies,[7] a group that performed soul and R&B covers.[8] His position, however, was eventually changed to sound engineer.[7] Martin was invited to become their keyboard player around the same time.[7] After Harvey concluded secondary education, he went to Trinity College, Oxford, enrolling in Classical Studies.[9] Martin then formed Coldplay at University College London.[8]

Career

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Management

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Main article: Coldplay

While studying at Oxford, Harvey worked at local nightclubs setting up and promoting student parties.[9] Despite considering those activities to be basic, he has stated that these gigs helped him to understand how to hire a venue, book a musician or DJ, and try to make money.[9] In 1998, Martin complained that one of the local promoters in Camden was spiteful towards Coldplay, to which Harvey suggested the band should organise a performance on their own at Dingwalls.[9] Around 400 people attended the concert and they sold the first 50 copies of Safety throughout the set.[10] The earnings helped Harvey to pay back his father and a roommate, as they financed the extended play.[10] It was around this period that he dropped out of college to dedicate himself to management,[11] which encompassed calling A&R professionals, reading Music Week and scheduling more shows.[12]

One of the performances arranged by Harvey was for In the City, a festival of unsigned bands in Manchester.[13] Two days later, scout Debs Wild reached out to him, linking Coldplay to the music industry through her connections with Caroline Elleray from BMG Publishing and lawyer Gavin Maude.[12] In 1999, the group wrote "Brothers & Sisters" and recorded it under a short-term contract with Fierce Panda Records.[14] However, when the song was finally released, they already had signed with Parlophone.[15] Harvey later got overwhelmed by the success of Parachutes (2000), as the record topped the UK Albums Chart and led him to work for 16 hours a day: "It was only later that I discovered most international bands have huge teams and organisations supporting them not just one bloke in a shithole office".[10]

Despite Estelle Wilkinson being hired as his assistant to help,[16] he declared that the 2001 Brit Awards was his lowest point, since Coldplay had won British Group and British Album of the Year, but he was feeling exhausted.[17] Harvey announced his departure during the last recording session for A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), a situation he described as dramatic due to his friendship with Martin and the fact he was moving to another continent.[11] His role was jointly taken over by Wilkinson and Dave Holmes, who managed Coldplay in the United States.[17] By the end of the Twisted Logic Tour (2005–07), Holmes had assumed duties alone.[18] He worked for the band until 2022 and sued them over a contractual dispute in the following year.[19] As a result, Harvey became their manager again, but with assistance from Mandi Frost and Arlene Moon.[19]

Creative direction

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Well the band encourage me to say that I'm the Creative Director, which I fucking hate. It makes me sound like I run a ballet company or a marketing agency. I don't know... in the album liner notes they always list me as a band member, which is very sweet.

—Harvey, 2018[11]

Following his years away from the United Kingdom, Harvey went back to London and started to hang out with Martin again.[18] He visited the studio occasionally to give his opinion on what the band were doing,[18] something which became a permanent role by 2006.[20] Two years later, Coldplay published an appeal to Wikipedia via their website to stress Harvey's participation in the line-up, concluding they were actually a quintet.[21] He was included as a member in the liner notes of all albums except Parachutes (2000) and X&Y (2005).[b] As per Jonny Buckland, things are easier when Harvey is around because his presence gives a sense of security to his bandmates.[18]

He was encouraged to describe himself as their creative director, but showed disdain towards it: "I'm not particularly creative, but I guess I do try to give them some direction from time to time".[18] Moreover, Harvey affirmed that his role includes helping with videos, designing live performances, visiting the studio regularly, writing press releases and handling any other possible situations if necessary.[18] He has appeared as an easter egg in several music videos released by Coldplay,[23] and is known for his interactions with fans of the band on social media.[24] Some conversations led to albums and songs becoming more widely available on streaming services, including the track "Flags", from Everyday Life (2019).[24]

Personal life

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It was reported in January 2019 that Harvey purchased a house in Brentwood, Los Angeles for $15.4 million, where he resides with his wife Yasmin.[25] While away from Coldplay, he travelled to South America,[11] studied psychotherapy and counseling at Regent's College, and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a psychology degree.[26] He worked as a volunteer at Upbeat afterwards; the project was launched in Camden to provide lessons, workshops, equipment, rehearsal space and many other services to musicians who had mental health issues.[27] Harvey is a ClientEarth trustee as well.[28] In 2004, he received a Grammy Award for Record of the Year due to his work in "Clocks",[29] while 2006 saw him visit Leeds Metropolitan University to talk with music industry management students about his experience.[30]

Discography

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Main articles: Coldplay discography and songs

Notes

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  1. ^ The term "records" is for album and single sales combined.[1] Coldplay, however, sold 100 million copies in albums alone, while Parlophone have not disclosed the amount of records.[2]
  2. ^ Harvey is credited for management on Parachutes (2000) and "wise words" on X&Y (2005).[22]

References

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  1. ^ "What's The Difference Between A Record And An Album? 5 Things To Know". The Sound of Vinyl. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Coldplay Re-Ups with Warner Music Group for Long-Term Deal Via Parlophone". Variety. 6 October 2021. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Glastonbury 2024: The Reason Coldplay Are the 21st Century's Defining Band". BBC Culture. 25 June 2024. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Profil dan Biodata Phil Harvey Member Kelima Coldplay" [Profile and Biodata of Coldplay's Fifth Member Phil Harvey]. Jatim Network (in Indonesian). 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Sherborne School Alumni". Sherborne School. 31 January 2021. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Chris Martin, El Chico Bueno que Provoca Suspiros y Cree En El Amor Eterno" [Chris Martin, the Good Boy Who Causes Delightful Sighs and Believes in Eternal Love]. Infobae (in Spanish). 6 November 2022. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b c (Wild & Croft 2018, pp. 177–178)
  8. ^ a b "Chris Martin Se Metió al Público Argentino En El Bolsillo" [Chris Martin Put the Argentine Public in His Pocket]. El País (in Spanish). 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d (Wild & Croft 2018, pp. 17–18)
  10. ^ a b c "We Interview Coldplay's Manager" (PDF). Coldplay E-Zine. April 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d "They Played a Tiny Café... There Were Four People in the Audience". Music Business Worldwide. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  12. ^ a b (Wild & Croft 2018, pp. 20–25)
  13. ^ "Coldplay Kick Off UK Tour with Manchester Date". Manchester Evening News. 20 November 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  14. ^ (Roach 2011, p. 17)
  15. ^ (Wild & Croft 2018, p. 35)
  16. ^ "Former Coldplay Manager Estelle Wilkinson Takes on the Biggest Challenge of Her Career". Wales Online. 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  17. ^ a b (Wild & Croft 2018, p. 62)
  18. ^ a b c d e f (Wild & Croft 2018, pp. 116–118)
  19. ^ a b "Coldplay Sued by Former Manager Dave Holmes Over Contractual Dispute (Exclusive)". Variety. 16 August 2023. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  20. ^ "We're About to Be Fed to the Lions". The Observer. 31 May 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Non-Performing Band Members: From Coldplay to The Grateful Dead". Tedium. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  22. ^ (Roach 2003, p. 100)
    • Coldplay (2000). Parachutes (liner notes). Europe: Parlophone. 7243 5 27783 2 4.
    • Coldplay (2005). X&Y (liner notes). Europe: Parlophone. 07243 474786 2 8.
  23. ^ "Conoce a Phil Harvey, el Quinto Integrante de Coldplay" [Meet Phil Harvey, Coldplay's Fifth Member]. Telehit (in Spanish). 13 April 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Coldplay Lança Flags, Faixa Bônus de Everyday Life, nas Plataformas Digitais" [Coldplay Release Flags, Bonus Track from Everyday Life, on Digital Platforms]. Rádio Social Plus Brasil (in Portuguese). 28 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Coldplay's Phil Harvey Dumps $15 Million in Brentwood Park". Dirt. 28 January 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  26. ^ "Charity's Rock of Support". Psychminded. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Environmental Lawyers | Phil Harvey". ClientEarth. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  28. ^ "James Thornton". The Law Society Gazette. 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Phil Harvey". Grammy. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Coldplay's Phil Harvey Visits Innovation North". Leeds Metropolitan University. 2006. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

Bibliography

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