The boys are back in town: Coldplay bid for a piece of the Christmas action with yuletide themed single

By Sarah Fitzmaurice
Updated:

They haven’t released a new song since early last year but after months of working on their next album Coldplay are finally ready to do what they do best.

The English band will be releasing their latest single ‘Christmas Lights’ on Wednesday December 1.

Frontman Chris Martin, 33, treated fans to a sneak peek of the new track yesterday as he and the band filmed the video on the South Bank of the River Thames.

Coldplay
Viva la voice: Frontman Chris Martin clutches at his heart before reaching for the sky during filming of the video

Viva la voice: Frontman Chris Martin clutches at his heart before reaching for the sky during  filming of the video

Boys are back in town: After a long break alternative rock band Coldplay are set to release their new single on Wednesday 1 December. The boys looked smart on the set of their new video 'Christmas Lights'

Boys are back in town: After a long break alternative rock band Coldplay are set to release their new single on Wednesday 1 December. The boys looked smart on the set of their new video 'Christmas Lights'

The rockers performed the song surrounded by old instruments on a theatre –inspired stage complete with red velvet curtains, an Elvis-themed backing band and flashing lights.

Aboard a boat on the water a group of people were lit up holding balloons which were then released en mass into the night’s sky.

Coldplay’s long awaited next album, the name of which has not been announced, is the culmination of months of work from the group.

Lights, camera, action: Coldplay perform their new single Christmas Lights on a stage draped with red velvet and littered with antique instruments before the lights and pyrotechnics engulf the stage
Lights, camera, action: Coldplay perform their new single Christmas Lights on a stage draped with red velvet and littered with antique instruments before the lights and pyrotechnics engulf the stage

Lights, camera, action: Coldplay perform their new single Christmas Lights on a stage draped with red velvet and littered with antique instruments before the lights and pyrotechnics engulf the stage

Front man Chris Martin told Q magazine that the album took inspiration from the White Rose movement where a group of young people living in Germany in WWII printed anti-Nazi flyers.

The Viva La Vida singer said: ‘I admire it. I've spent a lot of my life playing it a bit safe or conforming to something, even though I don't agree with it.

'So I have great respect and admiration for people who don't.’

Balloons: On a boat on a the Thames a group stood with their balloons raised lit up as part of the video

Balloons: On a boat on a the Thames a group stood with their balloons raised lit up as part of the video

Up, up and away: The balloons are released and make their into the sky with London in the backdrop

Up, up and away: The balloons are released and make their into the sky with London in the backdrop

Scribble: The boys posted a handwritten note to their website telling fans about their new song

Scribble: The boys posted a handwritten note to their site telling fans about new song Christmas Lights

To announce the release of their new song a handwritten note (right) was posted on the official Coldplay website dated 24 November 2010.

As well as telling fans that the song is written in the key of G, the release date and that it will be available on iTunes, a portion of scrawl had been scribbled out which fans have worked out to read: We are doing the video right now. It is a mid-tempo number.

The single marks the bands return to centre-stage, but it has been Chris Martin’s wife who has been hitting headlines recently by flexing her musical muscles.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 37, has received rave reviews for her single ability and acting skills playing Kelly Canter in the movie Country Strong.

And Martin was on hand to give his wife a helping hand teaching her how to play the guitar for her role as the country singer.

The Oscar winner stars as an alcoholic singer who embarks on her career resurrection tour after she is plucked out of rehab by her husband.

The Nashville-based film also stars Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl fame and Garrett Hedlund.

Christmas Lights is out on Wednesday December .

Gwyneth's new film Country Strong opens in US cinema on December 22

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