On Tour with Coldplay: The Superfan in the Cart

Fan life

And when she achieved another long-awaited dream in 2022 – her own campervan – one thing led to another: “I bought the van in March, and the first German concerts were in July.” And now she was on the road with a fellow Coldplay fan. Converted truck It provides her with everything she needs: a bed, a table, a kitchen, a toilet, even a bathroom, and solar panels on the roof provide electricity. “I have gas costs, but at least I save on housing costs.”

Assuming she finds one. parkingBasically, your current version is optimal – if it's not banned. “It wasn't as hard as in Vienna. I didn't know the entire city was a short-term parking zone. But I accept the fine, it's my personal parking fee.”

What excites you most about Coldplay? “That's it. Total Package“,” says the young woman after a moment of reflection. On the one hand, the exciting atmosphere of live concerts, the feeling of belonging to the fan base, the music, and the band’s warmth towards its fans. But it’s more than that: “The band supports environmental projects, stands up for equality and against exclusion. This is mine too.” Values“

Music therapy

the music The band means a lot to her. For a long time she associated Viva with a sad time in her life. When Heike Keller's father died, it was her constant companion. “And then I couldn't listen to Coldplay for about a year, just Chris Martin's voice made me cry.” But one day she sat down and listened to the album once and cried – “and then it was good. It was like music therapy.” Since then, Coldplay songs have resurfaced. An integral part of their lives.

That’s exactly what she wanted to say to the four band members. And that’s exactly what she had the opportunity to do. They say: Never meet your heroes. You’ll always be disappointed. Heike Keller couldn’t confirm that. After all, that’s what belongs Meets With their personal heroes to their absolute highlights. After a long tour, there was only one thing missing from the perfect fan truck – the band members' autographs.

An unforgettable encounter

So when the band manager noticed the eye-catching vehicle and started talking to Keller, I jumped over its shadow and spoke to him directly about it. And it worked: after a few stops on the tour in Brussels, the invitation came to drive backstage in the truck. And there, finally, came the long-awaited meeting with the band – who excitedly showed us the truck and took it with us. Dedication and personal drawings available.

“Chris Martin saw the concert listing on the door and asked, ‘Why does it only say ‘London’ once? We’re playing six times?’” “I explained to him that we only had tickets for one concert, and he said, ‘No problem, you’re invited.’” And so Keller and her boyfriend ended up at the next seven concerts. Guest ListWe've known each other ever since. Chris Martin greets Heike Keller, who's always in the front row, from the stage at concerts; the truckers on stage are already old friends.

The only downside: Despite a coat of clear coat and UV protection, the band's signatures on the Keller truck have almost completely faded. But there will still be room for one. repetition.