H-Metro Reporter
THIRTY-six years ago, the Bhundu Boys blazed a trail when they played the supporting act for superstar Madonna in her “Who’s That Girl World Tour” concert at Wembley before 80 000 fans.
For Biggie Tembo and his group, these were the days of their lives, just a year after arriving in London to set base in the British capital.
They would go on to sign a record deal with Warner Brothers before everything came crashing down for them.
Tomorrow, a rising Zimbabwean-born musician, Adrian Dzuke, will perform before a sold-out 60 000 crowd at the Optus Stadium in Perth as an opening act for British super group Coldplay.
How big is this?
Well, it’s HUGE!
Coldplay are the biggest pop band in the world right now.
No one comes close to their concert numbers.
Last year, the 200 000 tickets for the band’s four concert dates in Barcelona sold out in a matter of hours.
In Argentina, Coldplay played before over half a million people over 10 days at the River Plate Stadium, even though the cheapest tickets cost about US$115.
Their Head Full of Dreams Tour in 2012 grossed US$524 million and attracted 5.4 million fans over 115 shows.
“Coldplay is one of the most successful rock bands in the world, selling over 100 million records and becoming a household name since their debut album Parachutes was released in 2000,” said planet radio.
“The band has achieved incredible success both critically and commercially, with multiple Grammy Awards, numerous number-one singles and albums, as well as headlining some of the biggest music festivals worldwide.
“Coldplay’s music has become known for its anthemic sound that appeals to fans across all generations.
“The four-member group consists of Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, and Guy Berryman.
“They have gone on to become one of the most successful UK bands of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide and playing headline stadium shows across the globe.
“The band’s live performances are renowned for their spectacular production and captivating energy.
“Coldplay has headlined some of the world’s biggest music festivals, such as Glastonbury in England and Coachella in California.”