Coldplay To Rock In The New Year In Abu Dhabi

UK rockers, Coldplay, are destined to pick up a £1 million fee for playing a concert on New Years Eve in Abu Dhabi. The band has been booked by organisers at the request of Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan - the Crown Prince of the Arab nation.

Coldplay will play at the city's Corniche's Breakwater on the opening night of the Volvo Ocean Race - the world's premiere ocean race. Normally taking about nine months to complete, this race subjects the crews to the extremes. No fresh food is taken on board, only freeze dried food. The crew will experience temperatures ranging from -5°C to +40°C, but are allowed only one change of clothes.  The total staff on board is a crew of eleven, including sailors with medical training, a sailmaker, an engineer, and a media crew member.

Each of the race legs are usually more than twenty days at a time through some of the most treacherous seas on the planet.  The Ocean Race began in Alicante, Spain in October 2011 and will conclude sometime next July at the finishing post in Galway Ireland. The total distance travelled will be around 39,000 nautical miles (72,000 km).

Coldplay last played in Abu Dhabi in March 2009 to a crowd of some 20,000 fans during a storm where it bucketed down. Despite the inclement weather, fans were surprised at how great a concert it was. The performance was brilliant. Chris Martin showed how well he connects with his audience. Fans are never disappointed with a Coldplay concert.

This New Years Eve, the seven time Grammy Award winners will headline the concert as the curtain-raiser to the Volvo Ocean Race.

Coldplay released their latest album, Mylo Xyloto, last October.  The hit Paradise was the second single to come off the album.

Coldplay - "Paradise"