Will Champion

William Champion (born 31 July 1978) is an English musician and songwriter best known as the drummer and backing vocalist of the rock band Coldplay.

Raised in Southampton, he learned a variety of instruments during his childhood, being influenced by Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and traditional Irish folk.

His energetic drumming style is based on prioritising the song's essential elements and he occasionally takes lead vocal duties during live performances.

Champion has a 2:1 degree in anthropology from University College London, where he completed Coldplay's line-up with Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland and Guy Berryman.

William Champion was born on 31 July 1978 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, being the second child of archaeology lecturers Timothy and Sara Champion.

He was raised in the Highfield suburb of the city, close to the University of Southampton, where his parents worked.

He studied at Portswood Primary School while secondary education was held at Cantell School and Peter Symonds College.

During his youth, Champion played cricket for Chandler's Ford CC along with his older brother; they attended Highfield Church regularly.

He commented that music was "constantly on the stereo at home", which included listening to "anything from Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Nick Cave to traditional Irish folk", and performed in a group called Fat Hamster.

His upbringing influenced him to start lessons on multiple instruments, including violin and piano from the age of eight, guitar at 12, and eventually bass and tin whistle.

However, Champion did not always enjoy the sessions: he was not able to read music and the songs were played from memory instead: "I watched my teacher's hand on the piano, memorized it, and ended up doing it myself".

Despite performing drums at school and with a neighbour's kit, he was not interested in the instrument yet either.

He did work experience at Nuffield Theatre's box office and backstage when he was 14 years old.

Champion's education continued in University College London, where he attained a 2:1 degree in anthropology and met Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland and Guy Berryman, eventually forming Coldplay.

He worked as a doorman at a bar ran by Ricky Gervais while studying.

Years later, he said that his experience in other instruments helped with coordination and offered a different perspective on drumming, being an important part of his style: "Knowing the difference between the major and minor key is very important too, and I was lucky to learn all that before I was playing drums. That has more to do with the feel of a song [and what's right for it] instead of knowing how to play powerfully for a second".

Champion was the last performing member to join the band in 1998.

He explained that Martin, Buckland and Berryman came to his house because a roommate had a drum kit and was a good drummer, but he had not turned up, "so I just said I would give it a go".

They recorded the session and he was eventually invited to the ensemble in spite of not having substantial prior experience.

The band signed with Parlophone in 1999, finding global fame through the release of Parachutes (2000) and following records.

He has won seven Grammy Awards and nine Brit Awards as part of Coldplay.

Having sold more than 100 million albums worldwide as of 2021, they are the most successful group of the 21st century.

In 1999, he was temporarily sacked from the group by Martin over heated discussions regarding his abilities as a drummer: "Three days later, the rest of us were feeling miserable, [...] we asked him to come back. They made me have lots of vodka and cranberry juice in remembrance of what a nasty piece of work I was being".

The incident became an inspiration for "Trouble", which was written as an apology to him.

In Coldplay, Champion is often regarded as the rationality of the band, with Martin saying "When I think of him, I think of something heavy and granite-like. Like the base of a statue. Without that, the thing topples".

While answering questions from fans, other members added that he "does have a very sensible head on his shoulders and when it comes to making decisions he is 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".

They often praise his multi-instrumentalism as well, describing him as a "human jukebox".

Champion guested on a-ha keyboardist Magne Furuholmen's debut album, Past Perfect Future Tense (2004), along with Berryman.

Although Buckland and Berryman have taken part in backing vocals, Champion has remained the most prominent, as shown during the Viva la Vida Tour (2008–10), when he performed "Death Will Never Conquer".

His version of the song was included on LeftRightLeftRightLeft (2009).

Lead vocals are also heard on "The Goldrush", released as a B-side of "Life in Technicolor II".

In 2011, the drummer was part of a video for the Beat for Peace campaign, which "called on global leaders to take urgent diplomatic action" and "prevent all out conflict returning to Sudan".

He also made a guest appearance as one of the Red Wedding musicians in the "Rains of Castamere" episode from Game of Thrones, which aired on 2 June 2013.

In the following year, he contributed to Brian Eno and Karl Hyde's collaborative album, Someday World (2014).

Champion is known to support food and wine magazine Noble Rot as well, becoming an investor in their namesake restaurants.

In 2017, he visited the University of Southampton to talk with music students about composing, studio recording, live performances and managing stardom.

Additionally, the drummer played an acoustic rendition of "In My Place" featured on Live in Buenos Aires (2018).

Along with Buckland, the drummer assisted Jodie Whittaker in her cover of "Yellow" for BBC's Children in Need album in 2019.

Moreover, he has guested on DrumathonLIVE, a charity event focused on raising money for children's mental health.

In 2023, he received an honorary degree as Doctor of Music from the University of Southampton.