Coldplay inspired by Ash

Coldplay's new record features a track inspired by Ash's 'Dare To Dream'.

The 'Violet Hill' group recently worked with Tim Wheeler from the 'Girl From Mars' group on a tack which frontman Chris Martin admitted had been inspired by the band's 2010 single.

Tim told BANG Showbiz: "I showed up one day and they were working on a song which Chris was saying had taken a bit of inspiration from one of our recent single 'Dare To Dream'.

"I had randomly gone to the studio for lunch and it was the day they happened to be working on that song, so I sat in and jammed with them and Brian Eno, which was really amazing."

Despite playing with the band, Tim said he couldn't make out much about how their forthcoming fifth album will sound, as their level of experimentation and attention to detail meant they keep changing arrangements and structures of their tracks.

He added: "All I've heard is this one track, and during that afternoon the song changed rhythm about four times.

"They have a very flexible way of working. They'll go in one direction, then they'll rip it up again."

Tim also explained how he's been close friends with Chris since Coldplay's first album, Parachutes, came out in 2000.

He added: "Me and Chris met just after their first album came out, and became really good friends. We toured with Coldplay in America, and he' sang on a couple of Ash tracks.

"We're the same age and I think he even saw us play at the Astoria when he was at University. He's always said he like our music."

Tim is presently assembling a set of covers of tracks by the band Pixies, which he will perform at this year's JD Set concert in London on March 24.