Coldplay Countersue Former Manager for $17 Million over Bespoke Stage Pylons

The band also claim Dave Holmes borrowed $20 million from Live Nation to develop property in Canada

Photo: James Marcus Haney

BY Sydney BrasilPublished Oct 10, 2023

Coldplay have filed a countersuit against their ex-manager Dave Holmes, eclipsing the cost of his original lawsuit. The band are asking for $17 million USD from Holmes after he sued the band for $12 million in August, as per reporting by Variety.

The original suit claims that Holmes is owed unpaid commission from Coldplay's 2021 album Music of the Spheres, as well as an upcoming 11th album that has yet to be announced. In retaliation, the band claims that Holmes let their Music of the Spheres tour fall into a financial hole.

This is where the story gets wild, and dips a little into CanCon: not only do Coldplay say that Holmes wasted $10 million on bespoke stage pylons (whatever that means) and a massive video screen, but they also claim that their ex-manager borrowed $20 million from Live Nation to fund a property development in Canada.

Speaking with The Sunday Times, a rep for Holmes said, "Coldplay know they are in trouble with their defence. Accusing Dave Holmes of non-existent ethical lapses and other made-up misconduct will not deflect from the real issue at hand — Coldplay had a contract with Dave, they are refusing to honour it and they need to pay Dave what they owe him."

We're still stuck on the term "bespoke stage pylons" and how they could cost so much — perhaps they're owed a spotlight on Goop?

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