Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland met at the University College London during their study years. At first, they formed the duo called Pectoralz, but later renamed the collective in Starfish after their school friend Guy Berryman joined the group. The trio started giving concerts in local small clubs. In the beginning of 1998, Will Champion entered the collective. Initially he was going to be the drummer, but after he learned how to play the drums, he became the guitarist, bassist and keyboardist for the band.
Soon after Champion joined the command, it was renamed in Coldplay - the artists got this title from the other band that refused from it, considering it 'too depressive'. The same year, Coldplay recorded its first EP Safety, which brought the band the contract with the independent label Fierce Panda. By that moment the artists were finishing the college - they switched to major studio Parlophone after they graduated.