Coldplay to give away a CD at its concerts

May 2, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

LONDON — Coldplay members say they will reward recession-weary fans by giving away a free CD at all their shows this year.

The band says it will give away the disc, “LeftRightLeftRightLeft,” at all shows starting with the first date of Coldplay’s North American tour in West Palm Beach, Fla., on May 15. Tickets for that show start at about $60. The band will perform at Post-Gazette Pavilion near Pittsburgh on May 30.

The nine-track disc will also be available as a free download from the band’s Web site starting the same day.

It was recorded over the past year in various cities and includes the tracks “Clocks” and “Viva La Vida.”

The band said in a statement Friday that the giveaway was meant as a “recession-busting mark of gratitude” to Coldplay fans.

Today’s birthdays

Singer Engelbert Humperdinck is 73. Country singer R.C. Bannon is 64. Singer Lesley Gore is 63. Country singer Larry Gatlin is 61. Singer Lou Gramm of Foreigner is 59. Actress Christine Baranski is 57. R&B singer Angela Bofill is 55. Actress Elizabeth Berridge (“The John Larroquette Show”) is 47. Country singer Ty Herndon is 47. Wrestler-actor Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) is 37. Actress Jenna Von Oy (“Blossom”) is 32. Singer Lily Allen is 24. Guitarist Jim Almgren of Carolina Liar is 23. Actress Kay Panabaker (“Nancy Drew,” “Summerland”) is 19.